Nope, not under a skylight or in a planetarium — go for the real thing. Take your sleeping bag outside, get in and look up. Before you know it, the birds and sunshine will wake you at early o’clock.
Sure, you can do this most anywhere — you might want to stay out of the neighbor’s yard unless you get permission — but there are a few things to consider when planning your starry night escapade.
First, do it on a cloudless night. If there are clouds between you and the stars, you’re not going to see them well, not to mention the fact you might get wet. Second, find a place as far from artificial lights as possible. A place without cell service is a good bet, though there are plenty of spots in between where “light pollution” is at a minimum. Third, if you choose to stay in your backyard — hey, it’s convenient and most of us can see at least some stars from it — don’t forget to turn off the sprinkler system that is set to water in the middle of the night. Unless you’re hoping it counts as your morning shower, that is.
Double dare: Make it a multi-night affair around Aug. 11-13 when the Perseid meteor shower peaks. During these nights you might see 50 to 100 meteors an hour, especially this year, when there is minimal moonlight to compete with the show.
