can open our eyes to the bigger picture . If we step out of our self-centric mode of thought and instead view ourselves as just a blip on the cosmic scale , a lot of the problems that we stress over may not seem as important . It can give you a chance to stop and assess what you value most and what you want to be doing with your life .
Spending time under the night sky can also foster a deep sense of connection with others . We ’ re all comprised of the same matter that makes up the stars themselves , under the same sky , on the same wild , mysterious ride . Quite literally , we are the universe experiencing itself . And part of what makes that experience so special is that we can share it with each other . “ When you go out and look at the night sky , strangers will be like , ‘ Whoa ! Did you see that ?’ and you strike up a conversation . You probably won ’ t leave and be fast friends forever with these people , but for that brief moment you ’ ve reconnected with another human being , which we don ’ t do a lot of these days in person ,” Chesebrough said . Stargazing provides a moment to cherish how great it is that in this jumbled , chaotic mess of a universe , somehow everything aligned in a way where we could share a part of our existence with someone else .
Now that the nights are warmer , school ’ s out , and everyone ’ s on vacation , it ’ s a perfect time to observe the night sky . The great thing about stargazing is that it can be done for free in your backyard , though you might not get an ideal view if you live in an urban area because of light pollution . If you want a better experience , Chesebrough recommends using websites and apps like Dark Sky Finder or Dark Sky Map , which show you the levels of light pollution in your area and where to find the best spots to see a lot of stars . He finds that places like Death Valley or Big Sur offer stunning views that are worth the road trip , so it might be a great vacation destination this summer .
For stargazing spots a little closer to home , the Lick Observatory on Mt Hamilton has an Evening with the Stars program as part of their summer series . Visitors can get a chance to view the stars through the observatory ’ s historic 36-inch Great Lick refractor telescope and listen to talks from astronomers and scientists . You could also look for group stargazing events online , which are held by astronomy enthusiasts and are usually free to the public . “ The folks that do this kind of stuff are typically friendly and they want people to be interested because it ’ s sharing something meaningful to them ,” Chesebrough said . He recounted a fun time where he attended one of these events and was given meteorite fragments to keep when he said he ’ d never seen an asteroid before .
For those interested in photography , Chesebrough is teaching an astrophotography workshop in collaboration with the Morgan Hill Calibri Gallery August 18th through the 20th , where he will take a small group to the Henry Coe State Park to capture images of the night sky . He plans on having more of these workshops in the future , so if you miss your chance in August , there will be others .
Whether it ’ s on your own or with loved ones , stargazing is something worth trying at least once . You might be amazed what thoughts or feelings bubble up when you take a moment away from the hustle and bustle . It may help you shine a little brighter .
MAIN IMAGE : The Church of the Good Shepherd , Lake Tekapo , New Zealand . BELOW : Bixby Bridge beneath the Milky Way , Big Sur , CA . On Highway 1 , 18 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea . Matt Chesebrough / mattchesebrough . com
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