Take advantage of the COVID-19 staycation days to do some Dark Sky Park stargazing.
Ever since COVID-19 hit, it seems like things are changing by the minute—even in the astronomical world where generally things can be pretty predictable. For example, in the northern hemisphere summertime offers prime viewing of the Milky Way and the Perseids meteor showers become visible. But this spring, the surprise comet NEOWISE sprang onto the scene, quickly become an Instagram star. “NEOWISE turned into a big deal because it was the first noticeable naked-eye comet since Hale Bopp in 1977. Comets are only usually observed when they get close to the sun and start warming up and develop a glow and a tail,” says Roy Alexander, astronomer, and director of learning at Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory in England.
With the COVID-19 isolating-in-place restrictions, people everywhere have had fewer distractions, with the result that more people are turning to astronomy for the first time. “One of the positives to come out of lockdown, is the motivation it gave people to discover that naked eye or binocular astronomy was available to them and that phone app stores are full of free or cheap apps to guide and help them,” says Alexander.
Over the next couple of months, the night skies continue to look exciting. “In the Northern hemisphere, the big thing is that the nights become astronomically dark again, which means plenty of opportunities to spot the Milky Way and the aurora borealis,” Alexander notes. This winter is the first of a new solar cycle, set to peak in about 2025, so from here on, the auroral activity is going to go up.
Dark sky parks and preserves, certified by the International Dark Sky Association (there are 130 in the world), promote astronomy and help fight against increasing light pollution. Light pollution doesn’t just affect our star-viewing but also affects the Earth’s daily light-dark rhythm, which has negative implications for plant and animal ecosystems, human health, and bio-rhythms, in addition to contributing to climate change. So break out your binoculars, and prepare for some stellar night-sky viewing at these amazing North American Dark Sky Parks.