National Space Day is coming up soon & there are cool, new apps for stargazing.
When you have kids, it’s easy to fall into a rut and do the same activities over and over again.
It’s important to keep things fresh and find new things to do.
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And if you can make them educational and fun, even better!
One fun activity that’s also educational is backyard stargazing, and there’s no better day to do it than National Space Day.
National Space Day
National Space Day started in 1997 and it takes place on the first Friday in May.
This year it falls on May 1, making it the perfect day to learn more about space exploration and the universe.
Looking for a fun way to celebrate National Space Day?
Don’t worry, you won’t need any expensive telescopes or other equipment except a comfortable blanket and your smartphone.
As soon as it starts to get dark and stars appear in the sky, lay down the blanket in your backyard and gather the family.
Hopefully you’ll have clear skies and good visibility by you, but don’t worry if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Apps For Stargazing 2020
Thanks to a free app called SkyView Lite you’ll be able to see more of the universe than you ever imagined.
- Just download the free app (they have a paid version too but the Lite one works just fine)
- Open the app
- Point your phone up to the sky
Point to each star you see in the sky and the app will tell you the name of the star and highlight its course across the sky.
If it’s part of a constellation it will also highlight the entire group of stars so you can see it as a whole.
Who knows, maybe it’s not a star at all!
It might actually be a planet, the International Space Station, or the Hubble Telescope!
This can lead to a whole discussion about space exploration, the different parts of our solar system, and our place in the universe.
What a great opportunity to introduce kids to the magic of space!
Want more kid-friendly activities?
Here are 100+ other reasons to celebrate in May.
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