You don’t need a telescope to see the Milky Way. Summer is a great time to seek it out, mostly because it’s warm at night. Stargazing can also be very exciting when your kids get to stay up past bedtimes, and drive a bit to escape (510) light pollution.
![stargazing julia gidwani](https://d12xor56xjll8j.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/06142008/Star-gazing-Julia-Gidwani-2672.jpg)
Plan ahead(ish) for stargazing in the Bay Area
- My 4 year old was very excited to stay up past bedtime and see the stars. Milky Way or not, staying up late is always the funnest for little kids!
- Obviously stay safe when traveling at night to more remote areas with little kids 🙂
Go out in the right conditions to view the Milky Way
- Check the weather for a clear skies night. I just use the Weather Underground app and look a few days out to plan ahead.
- Check driving routes to places with the least amount of light pollution. Dark Sky Finder recommends “look for a place that is dark to the south with no major cities in that direction.” I’ve had great luck at the fairly-close Robert Ferguson Observatory, which is just over an hour away from East Bay. If your family has the tolerance to drive further, aim closer to the Sierra National Forest.
![light pollution](https://d12xor56xjll8j.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/06142005/Image-from-iOS-384x700.jpg)
Best times of year to see the Milky Way (according to the professionals):
- April and May the pre-dawn hours are best.
- June to early August the best time is near midnight, though the Milky Way will be visible almost all night.
- Mid-August through September the best time is soon after the sun has set and the sky has grown dark.
What to bring on your stargazing adventure
- Headlamp (Pro tip: If you don’t have a red headlamp, you can hack a red light so your eyes can fully acclimate to darkness)
- Chairs, we used our camp chairs
- Snacks
- Bug spray
- Hot chocolate (why does hot chocolate always taste soooo much better outdoors?)
- Optional: telescope, star charts, binoculars, night photography tools
- Highly encouraged: a sense of adventure, and flexibility as weather can be unpredictable
![stargazing | Photo: Julia Gidwani](https://d12xor56xjll8j.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/06142007/Star-gazing-Julia-Gidwani-2674.jpg)