Mother Nature will leave you breathless.
For many reasons, I love to go camping in the fall, but stargazing tops my list. The clear, crisp nights and the tilt of the earth provide views of the soon disappearing summer stars, and when I look in the other direction, I see the winter stars making their annual appearance.
The autumn sky invites sky gazers of all ages to step outside and enjoy nature’s star-studded spectacle, making it one of the best seasons for stargazing in Ohio and surrounding areas. Enjoying the sky above is as easy as walking outside your home however, if you want to see more, head away from the city lights, where you have to look up to the stars to see any lights.
If you want to see and learn more, Ohio is home to various places you can visit and observe the stars. Many offer expert instruction, so you don’t have to be astrophysicists to understand what you see.
THE JOHN GLENN ASTRONOMY PARK: LOCATED IN RURAL SOUTHEASTERN OHIO, THE ASTRONOMY PARK IS A VENUE WHERE VISITORS CAN SEE THE NIGHT SKY THROUGH A LARGE TELESCOPE. AT THE SAME TIME, EXPERTS DESCRIBE WHAT THEY ARE SEEING. THE JASP OFFERS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND FOR THE NOVICE AT HOME, THEIR BLOG PROVIDES DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CELESTIAL SKY.
Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
Observatory Park: located in rural Geauga County in the northeastern part of the state, is home to the Nassau Astronomical Observing Station. According to Geauga Park District Executive Director John Oros, the telescope is one of Ohio’s largest public viewing scopes. Observatory Park also has the distinction as a Dark Sky Park, which promotes and preserves the nocturnal environment for scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and public enjoyment.
These are just two of the many sights around the state to observe the nighttime sky. Check out Space Tourism Guide for more places to visit.
You are only a few steps away from the unimaginable wherever you live. The world above is beyond our comprehension and yet draws us to her, and it is something I never grow weary of seeing.
