Top Tips for Stargazing with Children
If you fancy a night time adventure, wrap up warm, head outdoors and try to spot as many constellations as you can - read on to learn our top tips and facts for stargazing with children.
Let your children stay up late one evening as a treat and see how many stars they can find and name. You could even camp out under the stars in your own garden or head further afield.
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How to get started
Begin by looking at a star chart - this is a representation or a map of the night sky. These can be very useful for introducing stars and constellations to children. Can you spot the moon? This is a great starting point for kids to practice their stargazing. However, it might not always be there and might change shape, so keep your eyes peeled!
Find the Big Dipper
⭐ Determine which way is north - you can use a compass to locate it. Look up! ⭐ In spring, the Big Dipper (or Plough as it is also known) will be higher in the sky than in other seasons ⭐ The Big Dipper is shaped like a bowl and a handle. There are three stars in the Big Dipper’s handle organised in a line, it looks a bit like a kite ⭐ The Big Dipper is made up of seven stars: Alkaid, Mizar, Alioth, Megrez, Phecda, Merak, and Dubhe.
Find Orion's Belt
⭐ From the Northern hemisphere, Orion is located in the North-Western sky ⭐ The three stars of the Orion’s Belt are evenly spaced and form a more or less straight line ⭐ The stars are known as the Three Kings, Three Marys, Frigg’s Distaff, Three Sisters or the Weighing Beam.
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Top tips for stargazing
⭐ Stargazing is best done before the moon is full, so look into the next new moon dates before you set out on your adventure ⭐ Step foot in your local park or garden, ideally away from any artificial light, to see up clearly into the sky. Having a clear view will enable children to see as much of the sky as possible ⭐ Even with clear skies or warmer temperatures, stargazing can be a cold activity. Be sure to wrap up, stay cosy and wear appropriate clothing ⭐ During your stargazing sessions, you will witness some truly beautiful sights - it's a fantastic activity for children. Over time they may want to see more of the sky and explore new patterns; your budding astronomer may even need a pair of binoculars or even a telescope to help.
