As Educational Hobbies Go, Astronomy Is One Of The Least Expensive To Start.

All it takes to learn a little stargazing is a country road and a few minutes on your hands. O.K., that’s not always very easy, but the stars are definitely easier to see the farther out of town you get. Why not take the family for a little ride one night, find a place to park, and take a look?

You can climb up on the roof of your van or house, or throw a blanket in the backyard, too. It only takes a little know-how to figure out your constellations. You can print off some diagrams or find them in your encyclopedias. Getting the kids involved in the resource digging is good experience for them.

Some pretty good conversations come out of watching a satellite enter and exit your viewing area. It takes concentration to see them at all, let alone follow their path. One of our fondest memories visiting my husband’s parent’s house in the country is looking up in amazement at the vivid night sky.

It’s fun to watch the kids draw what they’ve seen, too; a good practice for retention skills.

Ask Questions

The education for your kids doesn’t stop there. Most astronomers are asking questions, like “What are the stars made up of?”, or  “How do they create light?” These are excellent questions to pose to your kids.

Some things to look for up there might be:

• Planets

• Galaxies

• Eclipses

• Moons

• Novas

Discuss what this study originated for, and what astronomy has been used for in years past. The cycles of the universe have kept the seas navigated, the time marked, and the seasons predicted. Now you can even name your own stars!

Don’t miss out on astronomy, its an educational hobby that lasts a lifetime!