Observing the Night Sky
Helpful for tips and resources for getting started
Choosing a Location
Pick a place with…
Reasonably clear views to the southeast, south, and southwest
No tall trees or buildings blocking the lower views
No street lights less than a block away in the viewing direction
Refer to the following articles for suggested Colorado locations:
Will the skies be clear?
You can plan ahead by checking the following weather resources:
National Weather Service
A helpful weather forecast page with a 7-day outlook, includes latitude, longitude, and elevation
Clear Sky
Charts that predict cloud cover, transparency, seeing and more that may affect your viewing quality
Jet Stream Forecast
One of several sites that shows the location of the jet stream, which can impact your stargazing. Read more in this related article.
What to bring
A lot can be learned with binoculars or the unaided eye,
as well as by using a telescope.
If you do need to borrow a telescope, check out our resources page on the Library Telescope Program.
What to look for?
Check out the following resources for monthly inspiration and viewing ideas
Tonight’s Sky (YouTube)
A new video posted every month with viewing ideas and constellation history from the Space Telescope Science Institute.
What’s Up (YouTube)
Each month NASA’s Jet Propulsion lab posts a video on the night sky targets.
Club Resources
The monthly newsletter also contains stargazing tips and targets for the coming month.
Viewing Tips
Make the most of the sky
Do not use regular flashlights or smartphone lights
Use Red light filters or headlights with a red light setting
It can take up to 30 minutes for your eyesight to maximally adjust to the dark
For more info, read Earth Sky’s article for additional stargazing tips.
