5 TIPS FOR STARGAZING

Residents participate in a wide variety of hobbies at our senior housing center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. One of the most popular hobbies requires little effort, but it does require impeccable timing. We are talking about enjoying astronomy on a clear night by stargazing. With Albuquerque experiencing an average of 310 clear to mostly clear days a year, the impeccable timing part of stargazing is easy to achieve.

However, stargazing at our assisted living facility is much more successful if you follow five proven tips.

Find a Spot Away From City Lights

Like other large cities, Albuquerque lights up at night. Light pollution from cars, buildings, and street lamps diminishes the quality of the views available of the night sky. Even the brightest stars and planets have trouble breaking through light pollution. Because Rio Rancho sits far enough away to decrease the impact of light pollution, you do not have to drive far from our assisted living facility to stargaze.

Choose the Right Night

Lights are not the only obstacle that limits or even prohibits a view of the stars. You also have to ensure the night sky is free of clouds. Check the forecast for the night you plan to stargaze to prevent going out when the sky fills with clouds. Weather also matters for comfort, as you should dress for the weather by wearing layers if the night air turns chilly. You also want to avoid the rare night when it rains.

No Obstructions

You can move far enough away from city lights on a night when not a cloud appears in the sky, and still find stargazing to be difficult to achieve. The reason is you have chosen a spot that is full of vision-blocking trees. There are several forests located near our senior housing center in Rio Rancho, NM. Select a spot to stargaze that is not surrounded by trees. One of the large open desert areas nearby is the best spot to set up a stargazing camp.

Join an Astronomy Club

Other amateur astronomers can be valuable resources to tap into concerning the knowledge they have about what moves across the night sky. Astronomy clubs also are typically led by an expert astronomer who enriches your stargazing experience with plenty of helpful knowledge. Not only do you get to identify various star alignments, but you also discover how long they have been there and the story behind how they formed their amazing configurations. By joining an astronomy club, you should be able to identify the different constellations, as well as each of the eight planets. You also might catch a shooting star and/or a meteor shower.

Use Helpful Tools

You can observe what is in most of the night sky such as the Milky Way with just your eyes. However, you can dive much deeper into the shapes and colors of objects in the sky by using helpful tools like a telescope and a pair of binoculars. For example, you should be able to see the Moon’s many craters by using a standard pair of binoculars. A telescope is the best tool to use for spotting smaller objects such as planets and galaxies.

Stay Busy at MorningStar of Rio Rancho

One of the most effective ways to fend off feelings of loneliness and isolation is to stay active. At our assisted living and memory care facility in Rio Rancho, we offer a busy activities calendar that includes virtually every type of popular hobby. Discover what we have to offer at our senior housing center in Rio Rancho by scheduling a tour.