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There is nothing better than lying under the open sky with a carpet of twinkling stars above. For this reason, stargazing definitely tops the list of city lovers. It takes people away from urban noise and congestion to quiet, clear areas where there is no light pollution for the best views.
Today on International Astronomy Day, take a look at this hobby…
‘There is a lot of interest as curiosity is at its peak towards star gazing’
On weekends, groups of stargazers flock to these designated spots to witness the celestial wonders and the numbers are increasing. “Yes, there is a lot more interest than before because curiosity is at its peak and people want new experiences. This is happening all over India,” says astronomer Vikram Virulkar.
‘People now travel even 100-150 kilometers away from their homes in search of dark skies’
Vikram says, “So many people are getting into astronomy and astrophotography as a hobby. People have access to cameras and they are going outside. Earlier, if you had a camera, you could only capture wildlife or scenery. used to shoot, but now there is a vibrant community of astrophotographers. This growth has been fueled by the Covid years as well, when people only had to point their cameras skyward from their balconies; now, they can capture dark skies. They are also traveling 100-150 kilometers from their homes to search for it. Which has become even more difficult to do.”
best part? it’s for anyone
Stargazing or amateur astronomy is a hobby that anyone can take up, but location matters. Vikram explains how celestial objects are best viewed from certain locations. He says, “From a city, you can see the stars and the moon, but to see hazy constellations with deep-sky binoculars, you have to go out of town a bit. It also helps to have a guide or an astronomy teacher.” The expert will explain and show you what each star is about. Being at a camp will give you a chance to meet other hobbyist astronomers and more importantly it will help you avoid mistakes. “Will help with what you’ll be making.”
Celestial objects like the Milky Way are a beauty
There’s definitely a lot to see. Vikram elaborates, “Nebulae are definitely an upgrade from the rural sky. Seeing the Milky Way with the naked eye is an experience that most people will not forget, especially those who grew up in cities and had no idea about it.” There’s no context as to what it would look like.” ,
He adds, “The Milky Way first appears as a cloud between the constellations Scorpio and Sagittarius. For a very long time, people did not realize that they were looking at the dim light at the center of a galaxy containing billions of stars. As the galaxy rises in the sky, it approaches the zenith (the highest point above you) and then it becomes clear that it is no longer a cloud. It appears as a light white band extending from one end of the sky to the other. No color is visible. Color is visible only in long exposure photographs.”
first timer? pay attention to these
⦁ For the best view from dark skies without light pollution, get out of the city.
⦁ Go stargazing in a group as it is safer with campsites etc.
⦁ Urban people have no idea about the night sky and its celestial bodies, so they should go beyond downloading the app and seek help from an expert.
⦁ Carry a pair of binoculars and a night bag with essentials. Campsites will have their own telescopes that they provide.
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