the best you can do

Some days and nights, it’s just really hard.

Pain, fatigue, insomnia, and “gut stuff” have been worse than usual lately, so I’ve not been as active in my writing and posting. Similarly, this summer feels like it’s more overcast than usual — but this is becoming more common, if recent memory serves. The weather patterns are more turbulent and unpredictable with climate change, and wildfire smoke more common and more intense.

This makes for challenging if not prohibitive stargazing conditions. We have to wait to see what each night will bring. Our astronomy forecasting apps aren’t as accurate as they used to be, likely due to a combination of US federal funding cuts and summer wildfires.

Though summer is typically a time for star parties under dark skies in more remote locations, these haven’t been nights for making plans or for driving to hilltops with lower Bortle ratings. Instead, I’m taking the nights as they come.

Sometimes clear forecasts turn unexpectedly cloudy in reality — just like a good day can turn bad when a migraine ratchets up and/or vestibular issues arise out of nowhere. Other nights, it’s the exact opposite: The apps might have predicted terrible stargazing conditions, but the sky is clear and perfect when I step outside the door.

I make sure to have some gear that’s mostly ready to go, requiring not too much effort to carry outside to set up on the back patio or in the driveway. One of these nights, I might even make it down into the local park after dark. Grab-and-go stargazing gear can be as simple as an astronomy app on your phone plus a pair of low-power binoculars for a night of stress-free discovery and wonder. Small telescopes and smart scopes are also good choices for spontaneous observing. My 114mm tabletop Dobsonian telescope is easy to set up, and my Dwarf 3 telescope is a powerhouse that fits neatly inside a small camera bag.

My observation plans are similarly flexible. I’m not currently working from a list of “must see” deep-sky objects or following a particular program from the Astronomical League. I occasionally consult my Stellarium app for ideas of what’s overhead and in range, but usually I’m just gazing upward to see what I can see.

All this to say that sometimes the best you can do is the best you can do, especially under dynamic circumstances. And in writing this brief post, I am reminded that I have a new reclining camping chair that’s easy to transport and set up, and that a night under the stars with no agenda might be the best prescription for a little relief.

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1. Mauna Kea summit stargazing, by Matt Biddulph