The Double-Daring Book for Girls
Chapter One
On any given night, close to five thousand stars are visible. Of that number, perhaps half of them may be seen by the naked eye. If you live in a city or an area with lots of light at night, you may be able to see only two hundred or so at the most. Still, it is possible to observe the stars the way people have since the dawn of time.
All you really need to go stargazing is a pair of eyes, a curious mind, and a dark night. Beyond that, there are just a few other things that you can bring if you have them handy: a pair of binoculars; a star chart, which is a basic map of the stars; and a flashlight, to help you read a star chart in the dark. Covering the light with red plastic is a good way to minimize light-interference while still allowing you to read the chart.
The best place to look for stars is one that is high and far from city lights. A hill, a mountaintop, or even (with your parents' permission) your roof: the higher and closer to the wide-open dark sky, the better. To best see the stars, you will need to let your eyes get used to the dark. Spend about ten minu ... read full excerpt from: The Double-Daring Book for Girls ebook
