by Jessica A. Tucker

Created on: February 21, 2010

The wilderness of British Columbia is a great place to stargaze, especially when camping.  Once you have ventured away from the last looming lights of civilization, a dark sky can usually be found sparkling and littered with light.  Deep into the night, stargazers can find skies rich in stars, planets, galaxies and sometimes even comets or a Milky Way.  Sometimes, these objects can even look as if they are close enough you could reach out right out there and touch them. 

Camping often brings with it the perfect opportunity to stargaze, as generally, camping is done in desolate areas away from urban sprawl where the lights of city life often mask the night sky. The best tip for stargazing while camping is to find a comfy spot, away from large light sources, to enjoy the starry view.  This is where you will find the most unfiltered view of the night sky and the many beautiful gems that it holds. 

At night, when campfires and lanterns are the only lights seen around the campsite, stargazing can sometimes even be done right from the comforts of your own chair, placed warmly in front of the fire.  If your campsite is found in a sheltered or treed area, a night of stargazing may involve a bit more work than tipping your head back in your chair; however, is an experience that is well worth the extra effort.

If you find yourself in the place where you may need to do some searching for your perfect stargazing spot, be sure to save a few daylight hours to hunt out your view point.  Some great choices for stargazing spots can often be found in meadows or clearings, on mountain tops, lakesides or even on the lake, if a boat is accessible. One of the most important tips for any activities when camping is to always go prepared and be safe. 

Some important items to consider taking while stargazing (past the common sense items, such as, warm clothes and a flashlight) can include:

SAFETY

♦Extra batteries or a second flashlight (for your dark walk back to camp)

♦Head lamp (to free up your hands)

♦A whistle and some form of protection (in the case of a wild animal encounter or loosing your trail)

COMFORT

♦Extra warmth (blanket, jacket, hand warmers or foot warmers)

♦Your favorite warm drink and a snack

♦A folding camp chair (depending how far away you are planning on venturing) 

STARGAZING TOOLS

♦Binoculars, Night Vision or another form of magnification

♦Your favorite astronomy book or star charts

♦A camera (you may be surprised what your images your camera will pick up from a dark night sky)

This is not a list of everything you could take when stargazing or everything you need to take; however, it is a great list to start with.  So, now that you have found the perfect spot for your night of stargazing and are ready to go, all you need to do is wait for darkness to fall and hope for a cloud free night.  As stars can often be seen as soon as the sun drops from the horizon, stargazing can begin usually quite early in the evening.  If you have the ability to stay up late or wake up very early in the morning, the best time for stargazing is usually between the hours of two and four in the morning.  This is when the sky is most alive. 

The final tip for stargazers…  Now is the time to grab your drink, wrap up in your blanket and get comfy.  Now, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular show of a starry night sky. 

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