When was the last time you looked up at the stars?
We love to go outside with our children and explore the sky. From the many constellations to the planets, comets and shooting stars, there is so much to see… and it’s a show that is right above our heads (and it’s free to watch!). Here are a few dark sky activities you and your young ones can do.
You need a nice clear sky to play these games, warm clothes (depending on your location) and something soft to lie down on, like a sleeping bag. We recommend using pillows to avoid getting stiff necks. A pair of binoculars can be really handy too as many objects in the sky cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Tip: If you are using a torch or flashlight, put some red tape or a thin red cloth over it to help maintain your night vision. It can take a few minutes for your eyes to get accustomed to the dark.
Shooting Stars
Shooting stars are actually small fragments of dust and rock that burn up as they pass through our atmosphere. Many simply bounce off back into space, but some can create wonderful display, like a fiery streak zipping across the sky.
Satellite spotting
There are around 3000 satellites zipping around the Earth. You might think they would be easy to spot with that many up there, but they are not… and that makes them a great idea for a spotting game.
The aim of the game is to be the first one to spot 10 satellites. They look a bit like slow moving stars. You could add a bonus point for spotting the International Space Station (ISS) which moves very quickly across the sky and is very bright.
Find The Constellations
Just like playing ‘join the dots’ shapes can be made by connecting the stars in the sky. These shapes (we call them constellations) can take the form of animals and people. How many can you find?
Learning to understand the position of the stars was crucial to our ancestors for navigating there way around. With the creation of GPS and high quality maps, this is a skill that many of us have lost.
The Northern Lights
You usually have to be pretty far north to get a chance to see this wonder of nature. Our kids still haven’t seen them! Definitely worth a camping trip up north to see. You can find out more about the Northern Lights here >>>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora
Lots more to come soon…
Clare & Stephen