Have you ever looked toward the night sky and wondered what exists beyond our pale blue dot?
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with one of South Florida’s own local astronomers, Kyle Jeter. A teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School since 1994, he started teaching the very first astronomy course in Broward County in 1997, originally just titled “Research.”
Recognized as the 2017 Broward County “Teacher of the Year,” Jeter certainly has had some out-of-this-world experiences. In 2018, he was selected for the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program, in which he had the rare opportunity of visiting the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, one of the premier research and observation telescopes in the world, at 16,000 feet with an oxygen tank. Jeter also had the unique experience of being invited on the inaugural zero-gravity flight for teachers in the United States in 2005, and he flew once again in 2007.
There are so many wonderful reasons to look toward the sky with wonder at this time in history, as we embark on space exploration as we never have before.
For the astronomy novice, Jeter has many suggestions to get started. First, he recommends two apps you can download on your phone to aid in your stargazing and cosmic knowledge. They are “Stellarium,” a free app to learn about the constellations in the sky, as well as “Starwalk,” an app that allows you to point your phone in real-time toward the firmament to learn more about what you are viewing at that very moment.
As for places to view the night sky in South Florida, Jeter says to begin, you can just step out into your own backyard. However, with the abundance of light pollution, he encourages taking a drive to some local dark-sky areas. He suggests the west end of Loxahatchee Road, the Arthur R. Marshall Reserve, or for the more adventurous, just 30 minutes from Parkland to the Glades, the Harold Campbell Public Use Area. Jeter recommends facing west in the night sky to avoid the city lights. He also says that a simple pair of binoculars is a perfect way for any beginner to get started.
Here are some night-sky highlights this month:
- 2 — Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its brightest. It rises at 8:11 p.m.; best viewed after 10.
- 8 — New Moon. It’s the best time of the month to search for fainter objects in the night sky.
- 12 — Perseids Meteor Shower. It’s one of the most reliable meteor showers; best seen in dark skies after midnight.
- 18 — Falcon 9 Rocket Launch. SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Dragon 2 craft on a supply mission to the International Space Station.
- 19 — Jupiter at Opposition. The largest planet shines at its brightest. It rises at 8:01 p.m.; best viewed after 10. Note: Look for its four large moons — seen as a row of “stars,” even with binoculars!
- 22 — Full Moon. This is a rare “blue moon,” though not because of its color.
And looking ahead:
- 15 — Inspiration 4 Mission. Four civilians will be launched into orbit — the first all-civilian mission in history!
If you’d like to become more involved in astronomy in South Florida and meet like-minded star nerds, Jeter says, the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association at Markham Park is fantastic, equipped with a state-of-the-art telescope, and the perfect way to take the next step in discovering our celestial sky.
Happy exploring!