Depending on the weather, winter can provide some of the best stargazing conditions of the year.
Thomas Robertson, chairman of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said winter skies are made clearer by cold fronts, which get rid of the humidity in the air.
"You have sort of ideal observing conditions," he said. "In the summertime, frequently when it's clear, there's a lot of humidity and the sky isn't as transparent. So in the terms of transparency, winter does provide some unique opportunities."
Although there are interesting things to see in the night sky year-round, Robertson said astronomical observing is seasonal.
"There are certain things you can see in the wintertime that you can't see in the summertime," he said.
In the early evening, Robertson said the light of the Milky Way galaxy, the constellation Orion and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, are visible in winter.
He said it is good for people to look up at the stars because naked-eye observation provides a sort of grandeur that is difficult to capture with a telescope.
"In a telescope you see very tiny portions of the sky, you see one or two objects, but with the naked eye you can see lots of things," Robertson said.
Stargazing also gives people some perspective, he said.
"Our sun is a star — every time you see a star, it's like our sun," Robertson said. "The questions that are logical questions include: Are there planets around each of those stars? How long have stars been there? How long will they continue to be there? Are there people out there looking back, wondering about us?"
For ideal observing conditions, stargazers should find a location far away from city lights. Halfway in between two cities is typically a good spot, Robertson said.
He said there are many faint stars and shooting stars, which occur about once every 10 minutes, that are only visible to the naked eye when outside of city lights. In order to see these fainter astronomical objects, conditions needs to be dark enough that your pupils have time to dilate; this is called dark adaptation. Dilated pupils have an easier time seeing objects in the dark.
People would also be better off stargazing on nights without a larger portion of the moon showing, Robertson said.
"Just like the sun illuminates the daytime sky, the full moon illuminates the nighttime sky," he said.
The moon would be easy to see, but the stars and constellations wouldn't be as visible.
TIPS
For stargazing, it's best to travel outside of the reach of city lights. The best place to observe from is between cities, where the lights are the lowest. Before beginning, allow your pupils a few minutes to dilate. This will allow you to see better at night.
GAZING TIMELINE
7 p.m.
• Moon waxing crescent in SW about 45 degrees above the horizon (will set just after 11 p.m.)
• Jupiter S of W about 10 degrees above the horizon (will set at about 8:15 p.m.)
• Mars N of E just a few degrees above the horizon
9 p.m.
• Moon S of W about 25 degrees above the horizon (will set a little after 11 p.m.)
• Jupiter not visible (below western horizon)
• Mars E about 25 degrees above the horizon
11 p.m.
• Saturn will rise
Midnight
• Saturn will be visible just S of E
*These positions will be similar at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. during the next few nights (Thursday to Saturday).
CONSTELLATIONS
CANIS MAJOR meaning: the great dog
Canis Major represents one of Orion's hunting dogs, pursuing other celestial animals, such as the nearby constellation Lepus the hare.
ORION meaning: the hunter
Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky. In Greek Mythology, some stories say Orion was a great hunter who was killed by a scorpion. Zeus placed Orion and the scorpion — or Scorpio — in the stars as constellations. Orion is sometimes depicted hunting neighboring constellations, such as Taurus the bull, with his two dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor.
CANIS MINOR meaning: the lesser dog
Canis Minor represents one of Orion's hunting dogs.
STARS
SIRIUS meaning: scorching star
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is also known as the "dog star" due to its importance in the constellation Canis Major. For the Ancient Greeks, Sirius's heliacal rising marked the beginning of the "dog days" of summer – weather that was so hot only dogs were crazy enough to go outside.
BETELGEUSE
Betelgeuse is the brightest star in the constellation Orion and represents the hunter's shoulder.
PROCYON meaning: before the dog
Procyon is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor. Procyon means "before the dog" in Greek because it rises about an hour before the "dog star," Sirius.
PLANETS
MARS was named for "Mars," the Roman god of war. He was the son of Jupiter. In Greek mythology, he is called "Ares."
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