T he universe is a big place. While you may have learned to navigate the night sky on a basic level, are you getting as much as you can from your observing? You may be a casual stargazer, or you may have more serious ambitions; either way there are some tried-and-tested ways of doing things better. Many things can determine when you should step outside, from the phase of the Moon to how well prepared you are. Are you dark-adapted? Are you dressed for the occasion? Are you looking at the star clusters and nebulae properly? From understanding your eyes to pushing yourself to learn more, these tips will help you improve your night under the stars and get better results. As always with stargazing and astronomy, there’s always something new to learn.
1 CHECK THE MOON
Areyou stargazing at the right time of the month? During full Moon our satellite rises at dusk and sets at dawn, effectively acting as a giant light polluter all night long. That makes the night of the full Moon the worst night of the month for stargazing and astronomy. The four or so days either side of full Moon also see a bright Moon dominating the night sky, blotting out stars and constellations. So when
