Stargazing 101

The twinkling stars of the night sky have captivated humanity for millennia. Making sense of the Cosmos is something we share with our ancient ancestors and a legacy we will pass on to future generations. Beneath this constant, unchanging canopy, every story of humankind has unfolded, from the dawn of civilization to the present day. It's a powerful thought: every person who has ever lived, every culture and story that has played out, has existed under the very same night sky. While the world below has transformed significantly over the millennia, the stars have remained constant. Thankfully, exploring the cosmos is now easier than ever. You don’t need fancy tools or expertise knowledge—all you need is curiosity and a willingness to look up, just like our ancestors. This guide will walk you through the essentials to begin your stargazing journey.

Embrace the Darkness

The first and most crucial step to good stargazing is finding dark skies. Unfortunately in today's modern society, we suffer light pollution which can drown out (or in some cases completely remove) all visibility to the stars above our heads. City lights, house lights and even bright streetlights all wash out the faint glow of distant stars, and this means you might not be able to see more than a handful of stars at best. Make an effort to get away from urban areas to a rural location. Even a short drive to the outskirts of your town can make a significant difference, however as a rule of thumb, the more rural you go away from other people, the better the stars will be. You will be greeted by a canopy of twinkling stars, up to 2500 stars in the most ideal locations.

Once you’ve found a dark location, be patient and let your eyes truly dark adapt. We recommend avoiding using a mobile phone for the entire duration of stargazing as the bright screens can stop your eyes becoming truly dark adapted, which takes about 15-20 minutes. If you are using a phone stargazing app to learn the stars, be sure to keep the screen brightness dimmed and on the red screen setting. The red light setting on some devices is less disruptive, but ideally, keep light use to a minimum. A dim red flashlight is a great tool for checking star charts or adjusting equipment without ruining your night vision. Remember to choose a moonless night or when the Moon is in its new moon phase for the darkest possible skies.

Navigating the Celestial Sphere

Now that your eyes are adjusted, how do you make sense of all those pinpricks of light? This is where learning about constellations comes in. Constellations are groups of stars that ancient cultures connected with imaginary lines to form patterns representing animals, mythical figures, or everyday objects. There are 88 officially recognized constellations across the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, 17 of them are named after mythological characters. The vast majority of these constellations are rooted in ancient Greek myths and legends, with some also drawing inspiration from Mesopotamian mythology. 

From our vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere, we have a unique view of the cosmos. Iconic constellations like the Southern Cross (Crux), Centaurus (containing Alpha Centauri), and Carina (with the brilliant Canopus) grace our skies. These are different from the well-known constellations of the Northern Hemisphere, such as the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major) or Orion, although some, like Orion, can be partially visible from both hemispheres at certain times of the year. People in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for the most part see completely different constellations, with a few exceptions of constellations closer to the equator, where they both get some overlap.

The primary reason people in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres see (for the most part) completely different constellations is due to the curvature of the Earth. Think of the Earth as a giant sphere, with you standing on its surface. As you look out into space, your view is limited by the horizon. From the Northern Hemisphere, your line of sight is directed toward a different half of the celestial sphere than someone in the Southern Hemisphere. The constellations you see are determined by your geographical latitude. For instance, the star Polaris (the North Star) is visible only in the Northern Hemisphere because it sits almost directly above the North Pole, while the Southern Cross is visible only from the Southern Hemisphere because it is located in the southern part of the sky. The celestial sphere is a full circle around us, and our position on Earth dictates which portion of that circle is above our horizon. This is why observers on opposite sides of the equator have a completely different, almost non-overlapping, view of the night sky.

After a few hours of stargazing, you'll notice that constellations appear to move across the sky throughout the night. This is due to the Earth's rotation on its axis. Furthermore, the constellations visible at a particular time of night change throughout the year as the Earth orbits the Sun. This means that certain constellations are only prominent during specific months. For example, here in Brisbane, the Southern Cross is best seen during autumn and winter evenings, whilst Orion the hunter is visible during the Summer months. 

Tools for Exploration:

Thankfully, you don't need expensive equipment to begin your stargazing adventure. Here are some helpful tools:

Star Charts and Planispheres: A traditional planisphere is a rotating star map that allows you to select in the current date and time to see which constellations are visible. They are inexpensive, durable, and a fantastic way to get a tangible understanding of the night sky. Star charts, often found in astronomy books or online, provide more detailed views of specific regions of the sky.

Astronomy Apps: Our smartphones can be powerful tools for stargazing! Numerous astronomy apps use your location and the phone's sensors to show you real-time maps of the sky. Simply point your phone towards the heavens, and the app will identify stars, planets, constellations, and even deep-sky objects. Popular apps include Stellarium Mobile, SkyView Lite, and Star Walk 2. Remember to use the night mode feature on these apps (usually a red filter) to protect your dark adaptation and turn the screen brightness down.

Astronomy Books: There's a wealth of knowledge to be found in astronomy books. Beginner guides often include detailed star charts, information about constellations, and tips for observation. They can provide a deeper understanding of the science behind what you're seeing.

Discovering the Zodiac:

You might have heard of the zodiac constellations. These are a band of twelve (or actually thirteen!) constellations that lie along the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun across the sky as seen from Earth. Traditionally, these twelve constellations were associated with different times of the year. From our perspective, as the Earth orbits the Sun, the Sun appears to pass in front of each of these constellations throughout the year, making them generally invisible during the daytime when the Sun is in that part of the sky.

The traditional twelve zodiac constellations include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. However, there is actually a thirteenth constellation that also lies along the ecliptic: Ophiuchus. While not traditionally included in the astrological zodiac, Ophiuchus is a real constellation that the Sun passes through each year. The Babylonians recognized that Ophiuchus sat more or less along the ecliptic but omitted it because thirteen constellations didn't fit a twelve calendar month!

Learning to identify these constellations can be a fun way to track the Earth's movement around the Sun over the course of a year.

Stargazing is a rewarding hobby that connects you with the vastness of the universe. Start simple. Find dark skies, let your eyes adjust, and use the resources available to you – whether it's a planisphere, a phone app, or a good book. As you begin to recognize constellations and learn their names, you'll unlock a deeper appreciation for the beautiful and ever-changing night sky above you, no matter where you are on the Earth.

Happy stargazing!