Constellations are the stars of this party

Have you ever stopped to consider for a moment how the night’s sky has changed since your youth? Did the stars seem brighter, the sky darker, the constellations clearer? When was the last time you really stopped to watch the sky at night?

Stargazing is one of the few activities that has been universally shared across every culture in the world. Travelers have relied on the stars at night for navigation for millennia, while early astronomers would rely on the position of the moon and the stars to track the seasons for planting crops and planning for the future.

Today, stargazing is an accessible task for all of us. Technology has made telescopes more accessible and powerful for the average person, including adding the ability to capture picture and video directly onto your smartphone through the lens of your telescope.

Interested in getting started? Stop by the library and check out the Dark Skies display over in the children’s area! Here you can find a ton of information on the effects of light pollution as well as some references to gauge just how clear the night sky is where you live.

Keep an eye on the library’s events calendar on our website, too! We will be hosting an evening viewing party in May, which will be a great opportunity to jump into the hobby.

Brenden Bobby can be reached at the East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint, by phone at 208-263-6930, or email at brenden@ebonnerlibrary.org.