When most people think about the great outdoors, they envision plants and wildflowers, critters and creepy-crawlies. They think of blue skies, fresh air and wide vistas. So do I. Many also recognize that we humans have made an impact on everything we can see.
Rarely do we consider the one outdoor feature that remains practically unaltered since the beginning of time. Even more amazing is the fact that the scene changes every time you look at it as the earth’s orbit, rotation and tilt continuously adjust your perspective.
Throughout January and February, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, skywatchers venturing out in the early evening can see six planets in our solar system aligned in their orbits around the Earth. Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and Mars are easily visible with the naked eye, although Saturn gets close to the horizon by sunset.
Neptune and Uranus are also in the line, but are viewable only by telescope. Once Saturn moves closer to the sun and disappears from the night sky view, Mercury will replace it in the west and is much easier to find with magnification. Because it’s closest to the sun and has the shortest orbit, Mercury disappears again in March, sharing space with Venus before merging with the sunset.
Viewing the planets and stars is easiest when the moon is dark. But from its crescent stage to its full glory, because the orbit paths match, you can follow the moon as it passes each planet in the parade beginning in early March.
Even when the moon is not in the night sky, urban and suburban areas have so much artificial light it can make the planetary parade difficult to see. Out in the rural areas, the truly dark skies unveil an endless expanse of lights, including our solar system neighbors.
A program at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center Friday, Feb. 28, will explore the impact of increasing amounts of light pollution on the animals that have evolved to live and thrive in the darkness. While most humans sleep through the night, more than 30 percent of wild animals are active after the sun goes down, according to the state Department of Conservation.
Don Ficken, founder of DarkSky Missouri and Lights Out Heartland, will discuss nature at night and how adopting responsible lighting practices can safeguard Missouri’s plants and animals. The mission of DarkSky Missouri is to raise awareness of light pollution in the state and help protect our views of nature and the sky.
The free program, “Nature at Night: How Lights Affect Ecosystems,” includes a night hike before the presentation. The event is open to ages 9 or older, but participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the naturalist-led hike beginning at 6:30. Ficken’s one-hour seminar will begin at 7 p.m. Advanced online registration is required at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Vi.
Another local opportunity to enjoy the night sky is offered monthly at Jefferson College. The St. Louis Astronomical Society hosts the public beginning at sunset on the third Saturday of each month at the observatory on the Hillsboro campus.
The “Aim for the Stars” events provide an overview of the observatory and include training on how to read a star map, telescope and binocular use, constellation identification, and information about upcoming astronomy events.
The domed observatory houses a 16-inch telescope available for public stargazing, with the assistance of society members. The observatory, which shares a paved parking lot with the softball field, also includes an 1,800 square-foot patio for those who bring their own telescopes and binoculars. The free educational events are led by Jefferson College faculty and astronomical society members. The next Aim for the Stars event is scheduled for March 15.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.