Since the dawn of humans, observing the sky has guided early civilizations in interpreting the world around us. Studying these floating celestial beings has helped us practice agriculture, understand the changing seasons and tides, led us to navigate the globe, and entertained us with vivid stories of heroes, villains, and mythical creatures.
Learning the sky can be incredibly beneficial, even in the modern age where we still have so much to discover, and so much of the cosmos to study and appreciate.
Encourage curiosity
Have you ever looked up at the sky and witnessed something that caught your attention? A constellation? Any observation that you do not understand? When looking up, you can't help but wonder how the universe came into existence, how intelligent life evolved, and if it exists somewhere else.
The sky is an endless canvas that allows us to look thousands, tens of thousands, millions or billions of years into the past. It is a time portal, full of stars that may no longer even exist anymore. So much of this dark, empty space is filled with stars whose light we cannot even see yet. These thoughts can make you feel small and insignificant, but it can also make you feel big and powerful to be a part of something so ancient, complex, and mysterious.
If anything, it should make you ask questions.
A multi-disciplinary subject
The nature of Astronomy includes studies from every other scientific and mathematic discipline, even aspects of non-STEM fields. Biology, chemistry, geology, ecology, and so on, the physical sciences help us to explain the nature and composition of stars, planets, moons, galaxies, and intelligent life. Thanks to the Spirit Rover, we can see what the sunset on Mars looks like (pictured above) and learn why it's much different than ours.
Scientists use physics and spectroscopy to measure how far away an object is by measuring the light that hits Earth. We can tell if a star has a solar system by the light it emits, either being blocked by an object or the behavior of its movement through space. How big is the planet? Is it close or far enough from the star in order to support life? What kind of life? Physicists believe there are over a hundred billion galaxies filled with hundreds of billions of stars, each with their own solar systems and planetary worlds.
The combination of disciplines is what led us to know what we know about the universe. It's how we sent satellites, rockets, and eventually humans into space and on the moon. Even if you are more into literature, anthropology, or history, the sky is full of stories to tell and filled with a rich history relating to the rise of civilizations.
Discover the world around us
Much like our ancestors did thousands of years ago, we can learn from the sky in our own lives. Our very existence is linked to the behavior of the cosmos, the sun that warms us, the moon that keeps our orbit in check, how the planet Jupiter slightly protects us from meteor impacts. What about the dangers? Solar storms which threaten our electrical grid are a rare, yet alarming concern.
It seems like a useless skill these days, but what if you needed to navigate in an emergency situation using the sky and absolutely nothing else? There is a priceless value in relying on the signals of nature. How can you tell what time of year it is by looking at the moon, the planets, or constellations?
Overall, glancing at the night sky for seconds each day, or perhaps minutes or hours occasionally, can be a relaxing and exciting experience. You can read the sky like a seemingly vast and infinite open book, filled with mythological stories, billions of years of history, and endless scientific discoveries.
Helpful Resources
