According to space.com, tonight and tomorrow are the perfect nights for star gazing! Lucky us! Join us for this Star-Gazing Family Night!
Head out of the city to an old dirt road- the kind they sing about in country songs- because tonight (or tomorrow morning rather) you can see some pretty cool stuff!
Tonight, look for the Crescent Moon near Uranus right before dawn (set your phone alarms, folks). "In the eastern sky before dawn on Wednesday, June 17, the slender crescent of the old moon will pass less than a palm's width below (or 5 degrees to the celestial southeast of) Uranus. The blue-green, magnitude 5.8 ice giant planet will be visible in telescopes and binoculars (red circle), especially for observers where the surrounding sky will be darker.”
Did you just roll your eyes at the thought of setting your alarm for the 4 O'clock hour? Okay, yeah- me too... If that isn't for you, grab some binoculars and check out THIS WEBSITE that will list each planet you can see from Kansas City and how long it will be visible.
Here are some things it'll tell you about your location:
List of planets visible
Times each planet will be available
Visible Plants live stream
Interactive Sky Map
Planet and Star information
In the picture above you can see that the you can zoom in or out, you can change directions and not only do you just click and drag to the side you want but you can also see the actual direction on the bottom so you can be sure you're looking at the actual night sky in exactly the same spot!
By the way (disclaimer) the website I linked does not play. ;) IT LIVE STREAMS planets not only based on what's visible to you but also based on WHERE IT IS because it simulates the night sky above you!! It can seriously help you identify constellations for the first time! So, really... check it out!
And now... A few tips to make your star-gazing a success!
First, grab binoculars. The fact that you need a telescope to see anything good is a total myth. Grab a pair of binoculars instead- they're easier to come by. Many families have a pair or can borrow some. With some binoculars you can see the surface of the moon or see the rings around Saturn.
Next, get up high and out of the light. Street and city lights ruin your eyes for stargazing. Often, tops of taller hills or driving to a higher spot, will help take away some of that light from below and you'll be able to spot more stars than you would further down.
But really- stay dark, y'all! It's not JUST about getting to a place where the city lights are low, it's also about getting your eyes accustomed to seeing in the dark. Most star-gazing sight recommend staying away from indoor lighting, street lights, and even headlights, for about an hour before you really try to find something in the sky. If you think you really need a light, consider covering your phone or flashlight with a red cellophane paper. Red light does not affect the eyes in the same way as typical light does.
Good luck, star-gazers!