Summer Stargazing

Astronomy Series: Part ONE.

Welcome back! Today I’m jumping into the Astronomy Series with a post about STARGAZING as a magical gateway.

I am allergic to doing SCHOOL in the summer. Yet, truth be told, our summers are accidentally full of learning. I think the energy comes from: LEISURE.

A rested mind restores JOY in learning.

So here’s how astronomy happened. We found ourselves up north at a little cabin that barely fits us, on a vacation timed perfectly (and randomly) with the Perseid Meteor shower. I convinced my whole crew to stay up late and trudge down the hill to the pier to humor my need to see ‘just a few’ shooting stars. For a city girl, the depth of unquantifiable stars has always been entirely mesmerizing. Seeing a shooting star is awakening, being witness to ancient space matter colliding with the normal. Yet I’m the same girl with her hands forever in the dishwater and scrubbing the grass stains out of the baseball pants, going entire weeks barely looking up, scarcely aware of the moon’s existence. I need to be shaken from complacency — and LEISURE does that.

I will never forget being back inside the safety of the cabin, sitting at the window, listening to the night sounds of the forest. The rest of the family was asleep, and I was alone reveling in the majesty of Creation, soaking in my smallness– when a bright meteor zipped across the sky. Suddenly I was the solo audience, being personally wooed and awed by my Creator.

Isn’t all of learning truly a wooing… an awakening… an enticement?

Honestly, maybe the best way to start an astronomy adventure is to do NOTHING for a little while. REST. Let the heavens do their good work.

Then, when you’re ready, come back here and check out these ASTRONOMY-AWE STARTERS:

1. Catch a sky event! Meteor shower? Lunar eclipse? International space station spotting? Here are some resources to help you locate what’s going on up there! I hear there are night-sky-apps…but I’m old fashioned and say: let your phone sleep.

SPOT THE STATION –Find out when the International Space Station is going to pass above your house. I’ll never forget the first time we saw it, all huddled in my boys’ room looking out the window.. the youngest spotted it first! We were hooked! Over the summer we saw the ISS as it randomly passed overhead while we were out enjoying a campfire with Grandpa and Grandma.

AMERICAN METEOR SOCIETY –Find the dates of meteor showers, and watch clips of fireballs! (Will you spot a fireball??)

FIND A DARK-SKY PLACE — There may be an area near you designated as a “dark sky space” with certified low levels of light pollution, optimal for star gazing. It is NOT necessary for success–but it will amplify what you are able to see. Light pollution limits what we are able to perceive in the night sky. In fact, in modern times we are no longer able to see the Milky Way from Saint Remy, France, where Van Gogh painted his famous “Starry Night” masterpiece. Dark sky enthusiasts caution that light pollution is stealing inspiration–and limiting the human experience. Don’t get me started on all the companies planning to send thousands of satellites into orbit around earth in order to provide internet service (Amazon, Tesla’s CEO, etc). It’s a travesty. The companies are actually calling their investments “constellations.” Soon the night sky may never be the same. (Shop wisely, friends! When we purchase from such companies–we are the wind in their corrupt sails! Sales? Accidental pun!! I’ll leave it.)

2. *FREE* SUMMER STARGAZING COURSE FOR FAMILIES!

This free course was one of our FAVORITE astronomy experiences! It is SO well done. I just heard they are offering it AGAIN this summer and sign-up is just around the corner. In the near future I will show you how we creatively fit the course into our lesson plans, and will share pics of my course notes–and how we used them in our home education. Hint: GAME.

If you are looking for a full-year online Astronomy course for your child, one that you don’t have to teach, I highly recommend Luke Gilkerson’s teaching style. He offers several courses over at Journey Homeschool Academy, including online Astronomy classes for elementary, middle, and high school. The free 8 week course above is an excellent way to preview his style!

If you are interested in their full course listing, you can find it HERE. Or click the logo below:

I feel it only right to end with one of my favorite songs. Until next time, peace and joy upon your home, my friends.