by wildcherry on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 | Dating, Love, Relationship | 1 Comment

On dark, clear nights an amazing world awaits even the casual observer. Telescopes and binoculars are optional and the viewing is best on nights when the moon is not full. So here are five great ways to enjoy a clear night with the your love ones:

Look for satellites

Our skies are filled with all kinds of spacecraft from weather satellites to communications satellites to the space station. On clear nights, they are easy to spot. Just look for what appears to be a slow moving star. Unlike an airplane, these objects do not have blinking lights and are usually white in appearance as they reflect the Sun’s light.

Generally speaking, the slower the satellite appears to be moving across the sky, the higher its orbit. And satellites will tend to disappear, reappear, brighten and dim depending on the object’s rotation and how well sunlight is reflected.

Watch for shooting stars

Certain times of the year, the Earth enters into debris trails left behind by fleeing comets. One such period usually falls in mid-August and another occurs around the second week of November. These meteor showers are the best times to observe shooting stars, sometimes as many as 50 or 60 per hour.

Caused by dust and small particles burning up as they enter the Earth’s dense atmosphere, shooting stars can be seen any time of the year in less frequent patterns.

Since the middle of the night provides the best viewing opportunities during meteor showers, it can be a special treat to wake the kids up and go outside during what would normally be their bed time. Local weather stations and the Internet are the best sources of information for when meteor showers will occur in your area.

Find some constellations

Constellations are star groupings that the ancients thought looked like people, animals and creatures they were familiar with. Today, people still navigate by how the constellations appear to be aligned.

Armed with a book about the night stars or some information gleaned from the Internet, many of the constellations are easy to spot. Orion and the Big Dipper are just a couple of the easier to recognize systems.

Look for the Big Dipper

The Big Dipper, also called Ursa Major or “Big Bear,” is an important constellation for navigation purposes because connecting two of the stars in the system will always lead to Polaris, the North Star. Knowing that means one can always find north on a clear night.

The Big Dipper looks like a huge ladle with a curved handle and four stars that appear in a cup-like fashion. From our point of view on this planet, the constellation rotates around Polaris throughout the night.

To find Polaris, just connect the two stars furthest from the handle and draw an imaginary line from the bottom of the cup to the top. The next star you should see is Polaris, the North Star. Contrary to some perceptions, it does not shine brightly. But it is very consistent in its location.

Discover the Milky Way

Especially on summer nights, the Milky Way, our own galaxy, seems to stretch out across the night sky like a milky cloud. But this cloud is made up of millions of stars.

To view the Milky Way, it is almost better to look close to but not in the exact direction of the galaxy. Then, your eyes will be better able to pick up the contrast between the darkness of space and the soft glow of that sea of stars.

Tags: Activities, Astronomy, Bonding, Constellations, dating ideas, Midwest, Nature, Night Sky, Outdoor Recreation, Outdoors, Satellite, Shooting Star, Togetherness, watch meteor shower

by wildcherry on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 | Places to Visit, Travel | No Comments

With the holidays in full swing, many families find themselves with a little bit of extra vacation time during the winter. While some may spend that time planning large family gatherings or trying to relax after the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, a number of families use this time as a way to enjoy a vacation away from home before the kids have to be back in school and everyone has to go back to work. If you are thinking of a winter getaway, here are 10 of the most popular vacation destinations during the winter months.

Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Located in the Laurentian Mountains, Mont Tremblant is a popular venue for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. With over 600 acres of useable snow, Mont Tremblant is renowned as one of the best destinations for wintertime fun. Skiers from all over the world travel to Quebec in order to take advantage of Tremblant’s pristine slopes.

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Home to Hershey’s candy, this Pennsylvania town can be a wonderful place to visit if you are travelling just before Christmas. Each year, Hershey Park is completely transformed into a Christmas candy land that absolutely must be seen in order to be believed. This can be an especially rewarding trip if travelling with children, as it can give them amazing stories to tell when they get back to school.

Sundance Ski Resort

Sundance, Utah, is home not only to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival but also to a ski resort beyond compare. In addition to being able to enjoy well-manicured slopes for skiing and snowboarding, the resort is located within an hour of three major Utah cities so that you can enjoy some shopping and fine dining after a fun time in the snow.

Yellowstone National Park

Mostly known as a summertime destination, Yellowstone features a number of winter programs as well as those, which encourage visitors to learn more about the natural world around them. While not everyone thinks that a learning vacation sounds like fun, few sights can compare to being able to see and learn about Yellowstone in wintertime.

New England

A number of destinations in the New England area are transformed into a portrait of years gone by when winter comes. The New England that was captured in the beloved paintings of Norman Rockwell comes to life as the historical towns and cities put on their best winter decorations, while the Sugarloaf ski resort opens for business to accommodate those interested in winter sports.

Lake Tahoe

A popular winter destination for years, Lake Tahoe provides visitors with access to ski resorts as well as the nearby excitement of Carson City, Nevada. Those looking for a beautiful vacation destination should not be disappointed by the amazing view of the Rocky Mountains that can be seen from the slopes of Lake Tahoe.

Caribbean

For a completely different type of vacation, consider taking a cruise of the Caribbean. Not only can this help you to get away from the cold weather, but it can also give you a taste of what the holidays are like for those who do not live in an area that traditionally receives a lot of snow. Once you experience a Caribbean Christmas, you may never be able to look at a traditional Christmas the same way again.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is one of the most famous ski destinations in the world and a winter spent in Aspen is a winter that can always be remembered. In addition to having some of the most beautiful ski slopes that can be found anywhere, the town surrounding the ski areas has a rich culture and history that simply is not to be missed. From a day on the slopes to a night enjoying the amazing artistic community that exists in and around Aspen, you should never regret your choice to spend a vacation in Aspen.

Rockefeller Center, New York

Nothing says Christmas quite like the image of Rockefeller Center decked out in all of its holiday glory. Used as an icon of the holidays in films, stories, and photographs, a winter vacation to New York simply is not complete without taking the time to visit Rockefeller Center and see exactly how much effort is put in to transforming it into a symbol of peace and Christmas joy.

Orlando, Florida

If you just want to get away from the cold of the holidays but are not interested in travelling too far from home, Orlando can be the perfect winter destination. With a multitude of theme parks (and the holiday programs offered by each), there is plenty for the whole family to do. You can also set aside some time to simply enjoy the Florida weather, ignoring the fact that it is much colder at home.

Tags: Airports, Budget Vacation, cheap travel, Cruise, Cruises, Destinations, Holiday, leisure, most popular winter vacations destinations, Outdoors, Recreation, Travel, Travel Agency, Travel Agent, Travel Deals, travel tips, vacation, winter vacation, winter vacations destinations