Wowed by the winter sky

"The sky conditions are better. Usually there’s less air turbulence. And other than snows, we get a lot of clear evenings. There’s also a wide array of really wonderful things to see in the winter sky that you can't see in the summer nighttime sky. Another advantage is it gets dark earlier, so you don't have to stay up so late.”

El Valle Astronomers doesn’t typically plan wintertime public star parties “unless there's a special event,” Nicholls says, “because we find most people don't want to go out when it's cold. We normally run from March through end of October.”

Club members, however, are undeterred. Nicholls notes, “We frequently go out when it's cold.” Nicholls bundles up in a one-piece winter suit, “the sort of thing you can get for a hunting expedition,” and wears boot heaters.

Dressing for winter observing is like dressing for other cold-weather activities — layers, wool socks, waterproof boots, hats and gloves — with a few additions. The NASA story “Winter Stargazing Tips” suggests bringing blankets, a yoga mat to stand on, chemical or battery-operated heating pads, and a thermos with something warm to drink.

Spend 20 minutes or more letting your eyes adjust to the dark, and we promise you'll be dumbfounded with the number of stars you can see on a clear, moonless night.

For help navigating the universe, Nicholls recommends skymaps.com. “Every month they put out a new star chart, and on the reverse of that star chart is a list of things you can see with your eye, a list of things you can see with binoculars, and a list of things you can see with the telescope." Whether you're an amateur stargazer or seasoned astronomer, the wonder of the star-soaked skies remains the same. "Whatever gear people have got, they can find things.”