Stargazing Tips for Campers: How to Enjoy the Night Sky
In this blog post, our team at Rjourney will give you various stargazing tips and ideas for your next RV camping adventure.
With the darkening skies of nighttime out in the great outdoors, one popular activity that campers across the country like to participate in is stargazing. However, you’ll need the right tools, knowledge, and setting to get the most of your stargazing experience. Let our team at Rjourney provide some stargazing tips and show you how to identify stars and appreciate the beautiful night sky.
1. Do Some Research
Before you book your camping trip, do a little research about stargazing. Visit a local bookstore or library and get books containing illustrations and suggestions on how to identify constellations and stars. There are also plenty of digital resources you can use to learn more about upcoming celestial events such as meteor showers and when certain constellations become visible.
2. Choose the Right Spot
As you decide where to stargaze, make sure you choose a quiet and dark place with a clear view of the night sky. Along with choosing the right time, make sure you find an area where light is limited as excessive light pollution can hinder your view of the stars.
3. Bring the Right Supplies
Another crucial part of optimizing your stargazing experience is to bring the right supplies. This not only includes tools to view the stars and other celestial phenomena with–it also deals with making your experience on Earth as comfortable as possible. Here’s a checklist of items you should bring along with you:
- Binoculars or a telescope
- Comfortable chair and blanket
- Water
- Snacks
- Safety supplies
- Stargazing map
4. Give Your Eyes Time to Adjust
Once you arrive at your campsite, allow your eyes enough time to adjust to the darkness. To do so, turn off all flashlights, lanterns, phone screens, televisions, and car headlights. For a specific measure of time, give yourself at least half an hour to let your eyes relax. This process is commonly called “dark adaptation” and involves your pupil expanding to adapt to the reducing light levels
5. Look for Incredible Views
When you look up at the sky, look out for the following celestial phenomena:
- Constellations. Groups of stars named after people, animals, and objects.
- Star colors. As stars age and develop, they change colors. Try looking out for white, blue, orange, yellow, and red stars.
- The Milky Way. The galaxy will appear as a faint cloud made up of the light of millions of stars. It’s most often visible between February and October.
- Moon phases. Check to see which moon phase will be visible during your trip. Different moon phases provide different stargazing experiences.
Stargaze on Your Next Camping Trip With Rjourney
At Rjourney, you can make the most of your time underneath the night sky and in the great outdoors. With scenic and clear views across our RV resorts and campgrounds, there’s no better backdrop to your stargazing experience than with us. Contact us online to book your adventure now!