What is Skywatching?

The term skywatching refers to any act of observing or monitoring the sky. If you have ever looked up at clouds or looked across the Earth to see the sun rise or set, you have skywatched. Through the Eyes on the Skies class, students are taught to skywatch with more intent and more perception than the average skywatcher. A specific method is taught to aid them in this lifelong habit. The method includes recording information like the following:

• date and time

• location, including a general compass direction for orientation

• weather conditions, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and any active precipitation

• observations about cloud formations or atmospheric phenomena

• relations to overarching weather systems, such as high or low pressure systems and warm or cold fronts

• predictions about weather conditions to be observed in the near future

Students learn how these data relate to what is seen in the sky, and how to greatly enhance their skywatching by practicing consistent observations such as those above.

Tips for Skywatching

Students must also learn how to skywatch safely. Some important but general guidelines are as follows:

• Never look at the sun or the area right around it directly. Always find a way to block the sun, whether by holding a hand up, hiding it behind a tree or building, or even placing a friend's head in the way.

• Wear sunglasses, ideally polarized glasses, which protect your eyes from harmful radiation. Not only do these sunglasses protect precious eyesight, but they also help to distinguish between colors and shadows more easily. Even cloudy-day-skywatching can be benefitted by wearing polarized sunglasses.