skywatching
Gazing at stars
Skywatching is the practice of observing the sky, whether for astronomical events like meteor showers and eclipses, for bird migration, or simply for pleasure: We spent the evening skywatching from the cabin porch.
The term often implies casual observation rather than serious scientific study, though amateur astronomers may use it too.
Onset of darkness
- darknessTotal absence of light
- twilightLight after sunset
- duskDimming after sundown
- gloamingPoetic term for dusk
starlight · moonlight · aurora · meteor · comet · eclipse · lunar · crescent
Recognized celestial groupings
- meteor showerBurst of falling stars
- PerseidsAugust meteor shower
- GeminidsDecember meteor display
- dark skiesSky without brightness
new moon · shooting stars · night sky · planisphere · star chart · Milky Way · light pollution · zenith
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
- tripodStabilizing support structure
- eyepieceLens you look through
- apertureAdjustable optical inlet
mount · finder · refractor · reflector · monocular · astrophotography · lens · optics
Study of universal structure
- astrophysicsPhysics of celestial bodies
- nebulaeInterstellar gas clouds
- quasarsExtremely luminous galactic centers
- redshiftWavelength stretch from recession
cosmic · spectroscopy · light-year · parsec · exoplanets · big bang · dark matter · supernova
Observing atmospheric formations
- birdwatchingObserving wild avians recreationally
- photographyCreating images from light
- natureInherent quality or disposition
- outdoorsIn open air
observation · wildlife · meteorology · camping · hiking · picnicking · patience · solitude
nightfall
Onset of darkness
gloaming · starlight · moonlight · aurora · meteor · comet · eclipse · lunar · crescent · gibbous
constellations
Recognized celestial groupings
- meteor showerBurst of falling stars
- PerseidsAugust meteor shower
- GeminidsDecember meteor display
dark skies · new moon · shooting stars · night sky · planisphere · star chart · Milky Way · light pollution · zenith · ecliptic
telescope
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
- tripodStabilizing support structure
- eyepieceLens you look through
aperture · mount · finder · refractor · reflector · monocular · astrophotography · lens · optics · focus
cosmology
Study of universal structure
- astrophysicsPhysics of celestial bodies
- nebulaeInterstellar gas clouds
- quasarsExtremely luminous galactic centers
redshift · cosmic · spectroscopy · light-year · parsec · exoplanets · big bang · dark matter · supernova · black hole
cloudspotting
Observing atmospheric formations
- birdwatchingObserving wild avians recreationally
- photographyCreating images from light
- natureInherent quality or disposition
outdoors · observation · wildlife · meteorology · camping · hiking · picnicking · patience · solitude
- stargazingtelescope, night sky, stars, constellation, telescopes
- astronomy topicsplanetary science, planetary orbits, solar eclipses, lunar phases, Mars exploration
- meteor showersPerseids, Geminids
skywatchingspelunking
Exploring caves recreationally
looking down · cave exploration · navel-gazing · mining · beachcombing
watch, watching, watcher, stargazing, skywatch, skywatcher, skywatchers