The Green Parent

If you’re searching for an easy, earth-friendly activity to share with your kids, look no further than the night sky. Stargazing is as low-impact as it gets…you simply wait for it to get dark and then enjoy the view. And with all of the mystery, history, and mythology in the night sky, stargazing is sure to be a hit with every member of the family. Here’s how to get started:

Shining Stars:

Look up! You don’t need to purchase fancy telescopes or computer programs in order to enjoy stargazing. Just lay out a blanket and look up. Talk to your kids about the planets and stars. Try to find the brightest star, twinkling stars, blue-hued stars, etc. On a clear night you can see about 1,000 stars with your naked eye…that should be plenty to keep you busy!

Starry-Eyed: Want a little more from your stargazing experience? First check out these stargazing tips and this constellation guide to find see detailed sketches of the most popular constellations, then head over to the sky chart for an overview of what the March sky looks like throughout the night and a better idea of where these constellations are in relation to one another. Then get out there with your kids and see who can find each one first.

All-Stars: For uber-nerds who want the whole enchilada, check out Starry Night a site where you can pinpoint star, planet, and constellation locations by time, date, latitude and longitude. If you and your family really get in to it, you might consider purchasing a good pair of binoculars (a pair of 7-power binoculars is powerful enough to see the craters on the moon or the head and tail of a comet) or a telescope. Keep it eco-friendly by looking for a secondhand model on Craigslist or Ebay.

For more info about family stargazing, check out these FAQ’s for answers to everything from How Do Stars Get Their Names? to How Many Stars Are In The Milky Way?

Photo credit: Nick Greene