Looking at the Stars (in the sky)

One unfortunate thing about living in Houston is that we can only see a couple of stars at night.  That's called "light pollution."  

When my kids were little we used to go camping often.  They came to know many of the constellations in the night sky.  Its kind of sad to have to drive 200 miles away from the city to be able to see the stars

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A Mysterious Light on the Darkest Night

Category: Astronomy • Solar System
Posted on: May 5, 2010 2:59 PM, by Ethan Siegel

New York Times

It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out. -J.R.R. Tolkien

The night sky is no stranger to most of you. Once the Sun goes down in the west, the sky darkens, turning ever-deeper shades of blue until it approaches blackness, and stars and planets begin to come out against the fading backdrop.

Many things pollute the darkening sky, and can obscure your vision of the dimmest objects in the sky. Getting away from the city and light pollution is important, as is having clear skies without too many clouds in them.  But even with those conditions -- an isolated location and a cloudless night -- you need a little more for some really great astronomical viewing....link