You can look up the phases of the moon online on various astronomical websites. Some weather forecasts will also include information about the moon.

If you can’t make it out of a city, though, you can try stargazing from the top of a building. You can research state and national parks to find public spaces with high elevations. If you’re interested, you can often camp at the park you stargaze from. [4] X Research source

If you stargaze in the winter, though, you will want to make sure to bring heavy clothing and any other equipment you might need to keep yourself warm and safe.

A good place to start looking for this information is the NASA website, which has a useful Sky Events Calendar. You can find that calendar here: https://eclipse. gsfc. nasa. gov/SKYCAL/SKYCAL. html

If a website says nothing about stargazing, however, you can always call and ask to speak with a park ranger, who should be able to answer your questions. . [6] X Research source

There are many different brands and types of binoculars that you can research to choose the best ones for your needs. [8] X Research source

If you are looking to buy a telescope, keep in mind that some of the most important factors are magnification power, portability, type, and price. [10] X Research source

If you are bringing a lot of high-tech gear, you may want to bring a portable power source. [11] X Research source

If you’re going with several people, you can also spread a blanket on the ground so multiple people can sit at once.

If you’re going in the winter, you will especially want to make sure you have a proper coat, warm socks, and other warm layers, like sweaters, sweatshirts, and scarves. [14] X Research source

If you’re going in the winter, you may also want to bring a thermos so you can have warm liquids, like hot tea or soup, on hand.

This process of using one star to identify the others around it is sometimes called star-hopping and is often practiced by even veteran astronomers.

You can help yourself find constellations by consulting star charts and star atlases, or by using a stargazing app.

Many local astronomy clubs are affiliated with NASA’s Night Sky Network. You can find a listing of these clubs on NASA’s website. [21] X Research source

Some popular stargazing apps include SkySafari and Starmap.