Long before this old English rhyme was composed, ancient peoples were fascinated with falling stars and considered them a good omen. Many cultures still believe a shooting star is a good time to make a wish for something positive.
The names of most of the constellations we know came from ancient Middle Eastern, Greek and Roman cultures. However, other cultures across our earth recognized these same patterns of stars. Prehistoric peoples used constellations to guide their way across the Pacific, and thousands of years later we’ re still looking up at the same constellations that the ancients did.
If you are interested in learning about the wonders of the night sky, there is no need to buy a telescope. You can start by studying the stars with your naked eye. Binoculars are also effective and can serve as a small telescope. The software program Stellarium, a planetarium on your desktop, will help you plan an observing session. You can change the time, date, and view to determine what the night sky will hold for you. Skyportal, a free application for your smartphone, will identify an object when you point your device at it.
Edmund Scientifics has an inexpensive Star and Planet Locator. It is a wheel chart that shows the location of significant planets and stars. First, you select the month and date, then turn the dial to the time of evening you will be viewing the sky. The chart will show stars and constellations
that, assuming it is a clear night, will be visible at your selected time. The kit contains a concise instruction manual.
Sky and Telescope magazine includes a wealth of information. For those of you who are photographers, the publication offers a free Astrophotography Primer you can download. Stargazer’ s Almanac is a monthly guide that shows when twilight ends, when the moon rises, and which planets you will see on a given night. Planispheres offers a variety of star wheels that locate stars and planets by the month.
If you want some company and assistance in getting acquainted with the night sky, there are two active groups you could join. Lowcountry Stargazers is a diverse group of amateurs who enjoy promoting astronomy in the Charleston area. Their monthly meetings( on the first Thursday of the month) cover topics that appeal to beginner and advanced amateur astronomers. More information is available on their website, www. lowcountrystargazers. org. The Kiawah Island Naturalist Group( KING) is organized under the Kiawah Island Community Association. The group typically meets about once a month to explore the natural and cultural world on Kiawah and in the Charleston area.
There are more than a few good places to observe the stars on Kiawah. Here are some suggestions: the back deck and beach at the Sandcastle overlooking the ocean; the open field behind The Station at Freshfields; multiple points on the Ocean Course; and the boardwalk at the old inn. NK
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