Calling all space nerds: Download WinJupos on your PC. It’s a free, fun way to travel the planets, sun and moon.
Use this site to find the best place to stargaze near you
Astronomers have only begun to understand what lies in the galaxy beyond our planet. Billions of stars, asteroids and planets hang above our heads every night. Tap or click here for an app to help see which constellations and planets are out tonight.
If you enjoy staring at the night sky, you may be disappointed in your view, depending on where you live. Cities and a rising world population have given birth to light pollution, making the night sky incredibly difficult to see, especially if you want to locate a particular planet or star.
This website hopes to help you find the perfect stargazing spot to see the Milky Way or Big Dipper free of light pollution. Here is how to find the ideal location to view the night sky.
Dark Site Finder
DarkSiteFinder.com was created by a fellow stargazer who wanted to be free of the light pollution in big cities and find the perfect places around him to get a good glimpse of the universe.
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The website covers international locations to find the perfect viewing spot anywhere. The areas are broken down by color scale — the darker the color scale, the better the viewing possibilities.
The website does warn that while the places listed are optimal for viewing the sky free of light pollution, it doesn’t consider certain factors that can affect what you see, like humidity and localized lights.
How to use the map
The overall map can seem a little complicated, but thankfully the owner has created a handy map information page to walk you through how to use it. You can access that here.
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Starry-eyed humans have admired the cosmos for centuries. Astronomers of the past would have burned in envy of modern-day stargazers. The best astronomy apps of 2022 let you understand the stars better than your ancestors could.
How to see which constellations and planets are out tonight
Depending on where you live, the night sky might not be clear to view. Tap or click here to see what NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope photographed on your birthday. Even if you have a clear view of the stars and planets, it’s hard to know what is what without an astronomy background.
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For centuries, people have turned to the stars to explain their lives. According to astrology, the planets’ alignment during our birth charts the course of our lives. And it’s not all superstition: astrology’s contributed to many scientific discoveries over the years.