ONE
We love astronomy, but this is not the primary topic of this website.
You will indeed find plenty of articles about astronomy-related topics, but the focus here is on experiencing the night sky. Those experiences may be in your backyard, at an observatory or planetarium, in an exceptionally dark location, or even at an ancient astronomical site.
TWO
It’s all about building stargazing into your lifestyle.
Stargazing is not a one-time experience. As you learn the night sky and start paying attention to its seasons, you’ll find yourself wanting to engage with it more and more.
THREE
Children should have a chance to fall in love with the dark.
There seems to be a built-in expectation that children will be afraid of the dark. What if they grew up with regular interaction with the night under a starry sky? What if they were familiar with the phases of the moon and could spot some easy constellations? It could change the way they feel about the dark.
FOUR
And adults, too!
Adults should also have a chance to fall in love with the dark. We tend to fly through our busy days and then push that busyness into the night because we can light up our homes with artificial light. We can benefit from slowing down, turning the lights down low, and sitting under the stars for a spell. And to do it often.
FIVE
Everyone should learn the basic constellations.
If you could chat with your ancestors from two hundred years ago, they would probably be baffled that you didn’t know the significant zodiac constellations. Or that you couldn’t locate the North Star. Even if you only learned how to find 15 constellations, it would change your stargazing experiences forever.
SIX
We honor the cultural astronomy of people across history and into the present.
The Greeks and Romans were not the only cultures to have star stories and mythologies. At Night Sky Tourist, we seek to learn about the star stories and related origin stories of indigenous cultures worldwide. We honor their efforts to keep those stories alive.
SEVEN
We advocate for dark sky protection in a world of increasing light pollution.
It’s heartbreaking to know that 80-percent of the people on Earth can no longer see the Milky Way. Light pollution does not have to rob us of the night sky or disrupt the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. More thoughtful lighting practices can reduce the impact of light pollution. I am a member of several organizations tackling this issue and serve as an Advocate with the International Dark Sky Association.
EIGHT
Adding night sky experiences to your travels can enhance your visits to other places.
Have you taken a trip somewhere for the express purpose of stargazing under a super dark sky? Even if you are traveling to a more urbanized area, there might be stargazing or astronomy-related experiences. A trip to Los Angeles could include a visit to Griffith Observatory or add a visit to the Hayden Planetarium when you travel to New York City.
NINE
We advocate for connecting with nature in meaningful ways, including nighttime experiences.
You’ve probably read about some of the benefits of spending time in nature. Those benefits extend into the nighttime hours, too. And we can’t think of a better way to do that at night than stargazing.
TEN
We are here to inspire a new appreciation for the night sky.
Through blog articles, podcast episodes, newsletters, and our interactions on social media, we aim to inspire you to connect with the night sky, embrace your night sky heritage, and fall in love with the dark.
