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Star Walking:
WHERE TO GO IN MICHIGAN
ANational Geographic article in spring 2021, ‘“Why ‘star walking’ is the outdoor activity we need right now,” explains and explores the thrill and uniqueness of star walking. According to the article, this is more
than simply hiking at night and taking a gander at the night sky as you go along, “Star walking goes a step further by blending hiking with stargazing. Rather than heading to an observatory or setting up a telescope in your backyard, star walking takes you on a brief journey
to look at the stars from different viewpoints.”
You don’t need to be a photographer or a frequent hiker to go star walking, and there are benefits to going for a stroll at night. The trails are a lot less crowded, maybe even deserted, and you get all
the health perks of being outside, such
as decreasing blood pressure and stress
levels (who doesn’t need that?).
It became a therapeutic outdoor recreation choice for many people during the pandemic, according to the article.
WHEN SHOULD
YOU GO?
In the late winter and early spring, as we approach the spring equinox, there are equal lengths of day and night. So, you can go star walking fairly early in the evening, instead of waiting until 11 or later as you would in the summer months. Plus, in mid-April, the annual Lyrid meteor shower is expected, giving star walkers even more reason to hit rural trails.
That’s not to say summer is a bad
time to go on a star walk. You’ll just be embarking later in the evening. You can’t
beat a warm summer night that feels cool after a hot summer day, hearing the crickets and frogs, and getting lost in the expanse of the dark yet twinkling sky.
WHAT SHOULD
YOU BRING?
The National Geographic article cites Gary Lintern as recommending going naked-eye stargazing rather than bring- ing along binoculars or a telescope. Of course, you can if you want to, but Lint- ern wants people to appreciate watching the night sky without equipment because your mind it allowed to wander more freely and openly. We spend so much of
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