Poets, common people, children and adults alike, we all wonder at the beauty of the night sky once in a while. There is magic to the night’s majestic picture, and they way people have perceived it throughout the ages of history. Most antique cultures devoted a great attention to the study of the sky map and planned all their major life events accordingly: cults of the sun, ritual astronomic sites, calenders and even legends and myths gravitate around constellations, stars and other celestial bodies. And all these start from the premises that Earth is connected by invisible links with the rest of the bodies in the universe. Modern man is no longer paying that much attention to the night sky.
Why We Explore The Night Sky
Presently we have other means to study the night sky and different purposes in mind: we are looking for scientific evidence to support the theory of UFO visitation, we watch major cosmic events through huge telescopes that get to peek in the inner life of the galaxy or we sheerly want to admire the majesty of the universe.
This is why you might want to expose your kids to the mysteries of the universe. The good news is that telescopes for kids are quite affordable and easy to use. The best telescopes for beginners are made by a number of different optic brands in all shapes, sizes and cost. The Meade etx 80at or etx 105 are both very affordable and setup for novices, but also have specific features that are often only available on the more pricey models.
Also, depending on the time of the year when one watches the night sky, different constellations are visible as the Earth orbits around the sun. The map of the night sky as we see it today was first envisaged by the Greek who actually gave the name to many of the constellations.
A Clearer View Of The Stars And Planets
A major factor that prevents the proper observation of the night sky is pollution. You’d be disappointed about how little of the night sky you can see in a crowded city with all the smog blocking the view. Many people claim to have seen the most beautiful of night sky panoramas in the mountains, where the altitude increases panorama viewing because of the rarer atmosphere. The purer the air, the higher the visibility of the night sky. For people who have astronomy as a hobby, the study of the constellations by means of various softwares and private telescopes is definitely rewarding.
Signs Of The Zodiac
One other dimension of the sky night study is the creation of the personal horoscope and the study of the zodiac signs. Every sign of the zodiac corresponds to a constellation, and the study of the sun and earth moves as well as the position of the planets and the stars in the night sky influence the zodiac. This is actually the astrological explanation for the resemblances that exist between people belonging to the same zodiac signs. All in all, the fascination the night sky has on mankind transgresses curiosity, scientific interest and mythological explanations, there is simply something more than that.