How to plan your stargazing

“Wait… what? How hard can it be? You just have to look up!”

What we are trying to say here is that stargazing isn’t just about glancing at the night sky—it’s about making the most of it. A little planning can go a long way. Whether it’s checking the Moon phase, finding the best time to observe your favourite deep-sky objects, or picking the right spot away from city lights, planning is totally worth it before you go stargazing.

When is best to go stargazing ?

There's no need to wait until it gets dark to look in a telescope.

If you have a telescope available, as soon as the Sun goes down, you should be able to see objects in it. However,

If you wish to Learn the constellations, check out the planets, comets and the Moon, look up during the Civil Twilight – the sky is still bright enough to see the horizon, and not cluttered with too many stars, making it easier to recognise the brightest stars of the constellations, as they appear and observe the planets. Some planets are only in the sky early in the evening so it’s a good idea to go stargazing just after sunset (or before sunrise) to see these.
Spot binocular objects during Nautical Twilight and darker – If you only have a pair of binoculars and no telescope, the darker sky during the nautical twilight reveals fainter stars and bright deep-sky objects like star clusters.
Best for deep-sky observing: Astronomical Twilight and darker – If you have access to a telescope and wish to see faint objects like galaxies and nebulae, is best to look as the last traces of sunlight fade.
Best for astrophotography: Night – The sky is as dark as it gets, perfect for capturing faint details.

Fav Sky Apps

Stargazing

A Review of SkySafari 7 Pro

The app we use to navigate around the night sky is SkySafari 7 Pro. Developed by Simulation Curriculum Corp, this app is a great way to learn about stars, planets and deep sky objects.