how to go star gazing

searching the night sky in reverence, the stars and constellations twinkling like jewels above, each of us is a star gazer. moments held precious and eternal, a life of cosmic matter and spirit; we are one joined by many. it’s the perfect time to begin looking up and outwards! here are a few simple tips as you begin your exploration of the universe.

 HOW TO STAR GAZE

the naked eye is capable of observing many of the night sky's extraordinary sights, including constellations and the milky way. sky maps and star finders can help guide your discovery, pointing out the locations of celestial objects. you can also transform your smartphone into an interactive star finder using appropriate apps.

a red LED flashlight is the best means of illuminating your path in the dark. binoculars will allow you to see the moon's craters, and a telescope expands your viewing range to include planets, galaxies and nebulae.

1. check the local weather forecast.

make sure it's calling for clear night skies, and remember to dress appropriately as star gazing can be a chilly endeavour!

2. step outside and move away from city lights.

cities are filled with light pollution from buildings, street lamps and cars, all of which make seeing those dimmer stars and planets more difficult.

3. seek an unobstructed view.

perch at an elevated height to see as close to the horizon as possible, with no trees or buildings interrupting your gaze.

4. reach out to a local astronomy club.

other like-minded amateur astronomers can be an amazing resource. visit the royal astronomical society of canada

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

stars

varying in colour and brightness, the twinkling dots above us are all mostly stars. they give the appearance of twinkling because the earth's atmosphere is in motion, which bounces the light they emit.

shooting stars

especially abundant during meteor showers and one of the most ethereal night sky events, shooting stars are actually small grains of cosmic dust that burn up in our atmosphere. don’t forget to make a wish!

planets

have you ever seen a bright star that’s not twinkling? fun fact! what you're actually seeing is a planet.

constellations

have you heard of orion? or maybe you've seen the big dipper? a wonder to behold in the night sky, constellations are special groupings of stars that have been named for their unique shapes.

the milky way

appearing as a hazy whitish lane streaking the dark sky, summer months in the northern hemisphere are the best time of year to behold this spellbinding spectacle. find each other under the milky way tonight.

the moon

la belle lune! rising and setting at different times throughout the year, the phases of the lunar cycle, which last about 27 days are visible for all to enjoy.

meteor showers

streaking across the night sky, meteor showers delight a couple of times a year with their astonishing outbursts of shooting stars! the greatest meteor shower peaks are:

• the quadrantids, in early january
• the perseids, in mid-august
• the geminids, in mid-december

lunar and solar eclipses

offering the opportunity for us to see things anew, an eclipse occurs when one heavenly body, the moon or a planet, moves into the shadow of another heavenly body. a lunar eclipse occurs when earth casts a shadow on the moon, while a solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks out the sun. eclipses can be partial or total.

the northern lights

appearing rarely in the night sky of the northern hemisphere as shafts or curtains
of coloured light, the northern lights are one of several astronomical phenomena
also known as the aurora borealis.

NOT TO MISS: UPCOMING SIGHTINGS

supermoons

magnificent and bright, supermoons are not simply a swollen variation of a regular full moon. they are in fact the moment in the moon’s orbit when it is at the closest point to earth which is about 226,000 miles from earth. In 2022 there will be three supermoons:

• tuesday, june 14
• wednesday, july 15
• friday, august 12

mars close approach

referring to when mars and earth come nearest each other in their orbits around
the sun, close is a relative term as the minimum distance from earth to mars is about 54.6 million kilometers. occurring about every 26 months, the next mars close approach is scheduled for december 8th 2022.

lunar and solar eclipses!

be ready! there is a partial lunar eclipse upcoming on november 19th 2021. in 2022 there will be two total lunar eclipses on may 16th, which will be visible throughout north america, and on november 8th.

a total solar eclipse will be happening on december 4th 2021 while there are two
partial solar eclipses occurring in 2022, on april 30th and october 25th.

what else?

try capturing the magic and beauty of our ever-changing, enchanting night sky with astrophotography. more tips found here

OUR CELESTIA COLLECTION

as you gaze upon the night sky, embody an alchemy of possibilities and eternal union with our celestia collection. featuring matte gold with tone-on-tone etching, midnight blue enamel and brilliant stones sprinkled throughout, each celestia piece is a signifier of your ethereal journey.

guidance pavé star pendant necklace

no matter the road you choose in life, you will always find guidance within. dotted with diamonds and set in recycled yellow gold, our guidance pavé star pendant necklace lights the way forward from within.

guidance pavé star bracelet

the stars in the night sky remind us that we are not alone in life, no matter where we wander. embrace the cosmic orbit of your life’s journey with our dainty guidance pavé star bracelet, set in recycled 14k yellow gold and speckled with shimmering white diamonds.

guidance pavé star stud earring

we are like stars on a celestial course — voyaging the unknown on our way towards something great, and individual to each of us. the guidance pavé star stud earring is the perfect talisman to celebrate your unique journey, because we all need a star to light the way ahead.

dream state enamel ring

a crescent moon signifies change, the perfect emblem for the precious phases in your life journey. our dream state enamel ring celebrates positive change with a sky scape made of recycled 14k yellow gold and white diamonds, set within midnight blue enamel for the perfect statement ring.

polaris enamel pendant

finding inner strength and your true north within, the eternal dancing motion of the cosmos, this flip pendant has a hand-enamelled 14k yellow gold face that spins to reveal two striking cosmic motifs. on one side, the north star is represented with a diamond while the ursa minor constellation is set within enchanting midnight blue enamel, mimicking the night sky with a diamond. on the other side, an engraved compass - and guidance to your true north - is adorned with a diamond centre.

 

 

this blog was written by Kathryn Daw