First Stars

I remember my first time seeing a star - the little white light winking to me from afar. In the heavily light-polluted city that I live in, such a sight is often a rarity, nature's nightlight shrouded by a veil of fluorescent light. Although back then I was utterly starstruck (no pun intended), nowadays, I've been able to isolate several photos of stars, allowing me to get closer to these objects than ever before.

Naturally, the main problem any urban astronomy-astrophysics enthusiast will have will be light pollution, as the bustle of city life chokes out nature. Even then, nature is not easily suppressed. Sometimes, planets or stars shine through the artificial veil we have created, allowing for urban stargazing. Some people may find it better to stargaze when surrounded by all sorts of noises compared to the still silence that the wild offers. Even a simple stroll can be enough to jog dreams of what lies past our horizon.

However, there are also others, myself included, who require the tranquility being in the wilderness brings to enjoy our surroundings. Besides, the effects of light pollution are diluted the further you stray from the city, meaning that more stars and even whole constellations may be visible at certain times of the year. A tripod to complement a camera would be sufficient when starting out, but a telescope or a powerful lens should definitely be used moving forward.

In fact, for some, a quiet time under the winking lights with a spot where the light breeze can reach is enough - the silver stream of the milky way drifting downstream, carried by the soothing breeze. It is quite a sight to behold, seeing everything burst into a fit of colors all at once.

I sincerely hope you give stargazing a try! It shouldn't take up much of your free time, yet it rewards you with beauty that cannot be expressed with images alone. Below is a picture of Betelgeuse - and the one I'm most proud of!