WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 13
OBSERVING BASICS
This month, we’re going to step away from our
usual observing content and instead take a
look at the psycholog y of skygazing. In short,
we’ l l r u m i nate on what ma ke s u s back y a rd a st ronomers
tick. Why do we prefer reading Astronomy to, say, Field
& Stream, Better Homes and Gardens, or Popular
Mechanics? What compels us go outside on a clear starlit
evening and gaze heavenward while our neighbors are
indoors watching TV or playing games?
I used to think a proclivity for backyard
astronomy had to do with a love of the out-
doors. That might be because my three
favorite activities are stargazing, fishing,
and recreational running. All involve being
out in open air, away from the confines of
home or workplace. But nowadays, there’s a
growing cadre of indoor astronomers who
explore the night sky via a computer linked
to a remotely placed telescope. To me, that proves that
a passion for amateur astronomy has to do with more
than just satiating an urge to be outdoors.
Perhaps personality type plays a role? Years ago, I took
a Myers-Briggs personality test at the middle school
where I taught. I won’t get into a discussion of the verac-
ity of Myers-Briggs (it’s discredited by a majority of
clinical psychologists), and I don’t recall my ultimate
four-letter personality type, but I do remember that I
was categorized as an introvert. At the time, I imagined
an introvert to be a stereotypical wallf lower — quiet,shy, and withdrawn. Yet I was that 7th-grade science
teacher who once did an Elvis Presley impersonation at
the middle school talent show. Still, I have to admit that
when I wasn’t singing “All Shook Up” in front of 500
preteens, running a marathon with hundreds of others,
or competing in a bass-fishing tournament, I really
preferred my alone time. An evening under the stars
with just my telescope was a soul-refreshing occasion
— although the same could be said for reading a good
book or binging the latest Netf lix show.
Curiosity! That has to be a personality trait that all
amateur astronomers share. I’ve always maintained that
the best scientists are 4-year-olds who wonder why the
sky is blue, what clouds are made of, and what causes the
wind. Amateur astronomers (dare I say all astronomers,
professionals included) never lost that childhood curios-
ity. As adults, we now ask more advanced questions:
What c au se s t he r uddy appe a r a nc e of Jupiter’s Red Spot?
What is the composition of a typical emission nebula?
What is the driving force behind the solar wind? But
even these questions stem from the same curiosity that
kids have to understand the world around them.
Patience is also a virtue, especially for the backyard
astronomer. It took plenty of patience for humanity to
become familiar with the basic stars and constellations,
and we’re still learning how to best build and utilize
telescopes to explore the wonders the night sky has to
offer. The inspiring images that appear at the back of
this magazine were taken by amateur astronomers who
dedicated many hours to learning and perfecting their
craft. And an impatient person would never be able to
handle a telescope-making project.
Let’s get back now to the psychology of skygazing.
Perhaps backyard astronomers are largely outdoor-
loving, introverted, curiosity-driven, and patient. But
why are some of us primarily visual observers, while
others engage in astroimaging? Why do some feel the
urge to devote an entire evening to a Messier or Double
Star Marathon while others are content spending a
relaxed hour or two hopping between a
handful of celestial targets? Why do some
focus on deep-sky objects while others prefer
to observe the Moon and planets? I could go
on and on, but this is Astronomy and not
Psychology Today.
Perhaps we should just leave the psycho-
analysis to the psychologists. Whether we
use a laptop to remotely image a distant
galaxy, go to a workshop to grind a mirror
for a telescope, venture outside to target double stars, or
simply lie back in a hammock and contemplate the
enormity of the universe, we’re all the same. We share a
common passion for one of the oldest and noblest of
human activities — astronomy!
Questions, comments, or suggestions? Email me at
[email protected]. Next month: I’ll take a quick
break before kicking off my farewell tour. Clear skies!What motivates backyard astronomers?
Psychology of
stargazing
Star trails circle Polaris
above the Liberty
Schoolhouse, an old,
single-room building
on the Alberta prairie.
It’s illuminated by an
eight-day-old waxing
Moon in this long
exposure, and aurorae
are also visible
dancing above the
northern horizon.
ALAN DYERPatience is
also a virtue,
especially for
the backyard
astronomer.
BY GLENN CHAPLE
Glenn has been an
avid observer since
a friend showed
him Saturn through
a small backyard
scope in 1963.BROWSE THE “OBSERVING BASICS” ARCHIVE
AT http://www.Astronomy.com/Chaple