Why Winter Is The Best Time For Stargazing

Why Winter Is The Best Time For Stargazing

For some, winter is synonymous with staying inside, nice and cozy and warm. For stargazers, on the other hand, winter is prime time for getting bundled up and going out to take in some (literally) otherworldly sights. And it’s not just the lack of pesky bugs that makes this time of year great for taking in the celestial show: there are actually a number of reasons why winter is so great for stargazing. Here are four to start with.

Clearer Skies

Since we're The Weather Channel, let's begin with the weather. Winter’s colder night skies hold less hazy moisture than warm summer skies. This means that there are generally fewer night clouds in winter, leaving the skies crisp and clear.

Decreased Turbulence

Summer’s high humidity levels can cause atmospheric turbulence, causing stars to move or twinkle in the sky. This can produce frustrations for astronomers attempting to see fine details through telescopes or binoculars. Since winter nights are typically less humid, this results in fewer astronomers yelling things like “stop twinkling, little star” up toward the heavens.

A Different View

From December through February, our night sky shows a dramatically different view of space than we see in the summer. That’s because our night sky this time of year is facing away from the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Instead, we are seeing is our galaxy’s edge, a view dominated by some very bright stars. Winter’s night sky features some of our most iconic constellations, such as Orion, Gemini, Taurus and Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (the Great Bear and Little Bear).

A Few Tips

Being outside in the cold at night takes preparation, so you’ll want to bundle with jackets and other warm weather gear. A good thermos full of hot tea or cocoa will go a long way. Remember, if it’s really cold, you’ll want to avoid putting your eyes against metal eye pieces if you’re using a telescope.

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