#Winter dusk sky full

“It’s really best to have some kind of a little chart that you can set for the date and the time. With so much to look at, Albright suggests taking along a planisphere, a small map of the sky. Orion is the brightest constellation and has the most stars, Albright said, and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is nearly in line with Orion’s belt. In addition to longer periods of darkness and more transparent skies, wintertime features some of the brightest and most recognizable constellations, such as Canis Major, Gemini, Orion and Taurus.

#Winter dusk sky full

Reddish Knob is one of the darkest places on the East Coast, Albright said, and “the Milky Way goes right overhead in the wintertime and it’s a great place to watch a rising full moon.' With High Knob and Reddish Knob a short drive away, Valley star enthusiasts have some optimal vantage points. You also want to find a spot that is as dark as possible. “If you get into an open area, your horizon is lower so you’re going to have less interference from trees and things like that,” he said. Wells Planetarium at James Madison University.įor the best viewing inside the city limits, Albright recommends finding an open space such as a school playground. Lacking the humidity of summertime, central Shenandoah Valley winters provide the clearest views of the stars, the moon and other celestial objects in the night sky, said Geary Albright, director of the John C. Harrisonburg, Virginia - With the winter solstice arriving Tuesday, it’s the perfect time to grab a pair of binoculars and check out the stars.