Observing Tip for September 2026 — Observing at Night with Eyes
People have always asked me…how can you see the night sky so well?
My vision is not that good, but I know how to observe the best I can. Here are a three suggestions:
- Give your eyes 15 full minutes of dark conditions. That much time is necessary for the majority of dark adaptation. A half hour is much better. Believe me, it makes a big difference. We do an exercise among students that is part of AOBV so everyone is convinced of the value of dark adaptation.
- The way your eyes are designed means you have a dead spot right in the center. So, if a star or group of stars is really, really faint, then AVERT your vision slightly away from the object. The object will brighten!
- Always, always, always look at an objective area several times. Trained observation is a discipline. The more times you look, the more things you will see. In our exhibitions, we prove this point for new observers by asking them to see something, go back and see it again, then go back a third time. It makes a difference.
Need more? Download AOBV from this site and take the course. It’s free.
