This article was written by Elizabeth Poulson, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board Naturalist at North Mississippi Regional Park
If you’ve ever stargazed before, you’ve probably felt the thrill of seeing a shooting star or spotting the patterns of constellations across the sky. Perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to have seen the Northern Lights. As the winter solstice draws nearer and the days become shorter, opportunities for stargazing begin to reach their peak.
In what may seem like a cruel twist of fate as the nights turn their coldest and winds bite more sharply, the winter night sky is often at its brightest, clearest, and arguably its most beautiful. If you enjoy stargazing or are looking for a new and different way to enjoy winter, the cold months ahead will be some of the best times to view the sky.
What is it that makes cold winter nights ideal for turning our attention toward the sky? To start, cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Warm, moisture-rich air is often thicker and creates a less transparent sky that usually appears hazy whereas cold air is crisp and usually clearer. Additionally, nights are longer than in the warmer months, which provides a longer window of opportunity for viewing the night sky.
Another reason stars appear brighter in winter is because nights themselves are darker. During the winter months, the Earth’s northern hemisphere is facing out toward the spiral arm, the outer edge, of our galaxy. We actually see less stars in the winter, but they appear brighter and larger due to the tilt of Earth in winter and because there is less combined light from the hundreds of millions of stars in the Milky Way.
During summer in Minnesota, we face towards the center of the Milky Way and end up seeing a larger proportion of stars during the warmer months of the year — however that contributes to the hazy quality of the summer night sky. Just as light pollution can make it harder to see stars in the city, the brightness of the inner galaxy can also make it more difficult to make out individual stars and constellations in the summer sky. For info about light pollution visit darkskys.org.
Winter is also a special time for viewing the night sky because some of the most dramatic constellations, such as Gemini and Orion the Hunter, and other breathtaking formations like the Pleiades or Seven Sisters are visible. Unlike many other constellations, which are often dim and difficult to identify, many winter constellations are bright enough and clearly defined for even the greenest stargazers to pick out.
Whether you are a novice or seasoned stargazer, it’s important to remember that enjoying the outdoors in winter requires extra protection against the cold temperatures. If you plan to stay for two minutes or two hours, dressing adequately for the weather can sometimes make or break an experience. When dressing for winter, wear multiple layers; beginning with long underwear, a warm middle layer, and then wind shielding outerwear will provide excellent insulation. Don’t forget about your feet, as they are one of the first parts of our bodies to lose circulation when it’s cold. Double up with two pairs of warm socks in loose-fitting shoes or boots for shorter amounts of time outside and invest in insulated boots for longer periods of observing on bitter-cold nights.
Other than dressing warm, no supplies are absolutely necessary to look up at the night sky. However, for those interested in upping their game, a simple pair of binoculars can provide a closer view of some of the constellations visible in the winter night sky. Additionally, looking at the forecast for the day can also give useful insight about viewing conditions. All that’s left then is to head outside!
Rejoice the coming of longer days with an evening of celestial fun during our Winter Solstice Celebration event. On Saturday, December 21 take a nature walk along a glowing luminary trail, and then make your own luminary to bring home! Play winter themed games, get your face painted and enjoy the warmth of a bonfire while sipping hot spiced cider with campfire treats from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Kroening Interpretive Center.
Public programs in December – Free for all ages unless noted otherwise
Sunday Dec. 1 – Family Funday: Turkey Time, 1-3pm
Sunday Dec. 1 – Nature Tots: Oh Deer! 3-4 pm $5 Ages 2-6
Sunday Dec. 1 and 15 – Nature Book Club, 4:30-6pm $2 Ages 18+
Tuesday Dec. 3 and 17 – Phenology Hike Club, 4-5pm Ages 16+
Wednesday Dec. 4 and 18 – Watchful Wednesdays Birding, 8:30-10am $5 Ages 18+
Saturday Dec. 7 – Bird Watching: Winter Birds, 8:30-10am
Thursday Dec. 12 – Homeschool Day: Animal Neighbors, 1-3pm $5 Ages 5-13
Thursday Dec. 12 – Nature Date Night, 6-8pm $5 Ages 18+
Saturday Dec. 14 – Nature Art: Ginger-bird Houses, 1-2:30pm $5
Sunday Dec. 15 – Nature Tots: Ready for Winter, 3-4pm $5 Ages 2-6
Friday Dec. 20 – Hike: Senses in the Season, 5:30-6:30pm Ages 8+
Saturday Dec. 21 – Open Snowshoeing, 11am-3pm Ages 5+
Saturday Dec. 21 – Special Event: Winter Solstice Celebration, 5-7:30pm $5 kids under 13 FREE
Thursday Dec. 26 and Friday the 27 – Winter Break: Winter Whimsy 8am-4pm $60 Ages 6-12
Saturday Dec. 28 – Open Snowshoeing, 11am-3pm Ages 5+
Sunday Dec. 29 – Family Funday: Sleep, Flee, Freeze, 1-3pm
Sunday Dec. 29 – Nature Tots: Snowflakes, 3-4pm $5 Ages 2-6
Find registration for these programs and more at minneapolisparks.org or call 612-370-4844 for details. Do you have a question about nature in your own backyard? Then send it our way by emailing northmississippi@minneapolisparks.org and it could appear in a future article. Like us on Facebook to stay in the loop about what is happening at your park.