Nebulas and Galaxies in Laramie’s Dark Skies
As the winter season begins, many struggle to find activities as the weather cools down. If you’re prepared to bundle up and brave the cold, astronomy is a fantastic activity to take up during the wintertime for a variety of reasons, especially in Laramie. All you need to be able to see many of these astronomical objects are your naked eyes, although even basic hunting binoculars increase the enjoyment of the experience exponentially.
To start; what do you need to go out into the field at night in Wyoming? While a jacket and good warm pants are a start, handwarmers can also be a huge help during frigid Wyoming nights, as well as the ability to keep your car warm with the lights off. For light out in the field, try picking up something that can emit red light, which will allow you to see what you’re doing, but doesn’t kill your night-vision. Other than this, when I’m going out for binocular astronomy, I like to bring a thermal mat and a sleeping bag that I can cozy up in while I lay on my back and look up at the stars. I of course always also tell someone where I’m going, and I take first aid just in case anything happens out there.
But what can you actually see? Well, for those without binoculars or a telescope, the Orion Nebula is going to be the most fantastic sight of the winter sky. The nebula, which is the closest star-forming region to Earth, is a brightly illuminated cloud of gas visible in the constellation of Orion, located just below his belt where his sword would be. While you can see the Orion Nebula with your naked eye easily in dark skies, the experience becomes that much better with a small pair of binoculars or a telescope, where you can start to pick out the blue and purple hues of the Nebula, making for a truly beautiful sight.
Around Jan. 10, you may notice a particularly bright star in the sky; that’s Jupiter! The planet will be at “opposition” in January, meaning that Earth will be between the sun and Jupiter. This means that Jupiter will be particularly visible and close to the Earth, making it a great time for observation. With a small telescope or binoculars, you can see the Galilean Moons of Jupiter (the ones seen by Galileo), the Great Red Spot, and the banding of clouds in Jupiter’s atmosphere, a worthwhile sight for all.
If galaxies are what you’re looking for, with a small pair of binoculars you can see two quite easily in Ursa Major; M81 and M82, Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy. While these galaxies, part of the Big Dipper, are technically viewable year-round, winter is probably the best time to view them as Ursa Major is highest in the sky, allowing for unobstructed views. M81 and M82 are gravitationally interacting with each other, and the Cigar Galaxy is particularly bright (5x more luminous than the Milky Way!) because of its status as a “Starburst Galaxy,” or a galaxy with particularly active star creation.
Whether you’re a true amateur stargazer or a veteran from the astronomy department at The University, the dark night skies of Laramie have something for everyone. So go out there and take advantage of one of Laramie’s lesser-known features, and stay warm, pokes!
