Throughout the skies, there is much to see when the sun goes down. While sometimes it can look like an inky black canvas, there is still much to see. From distant stars to entire galaxies, the night sky is chock full of different sights to see.

Where to go
For the darkest of skies, you should visit the more rural places. State parks, conservation areas and national parks all offer large open areas for stargazing. Areas that have lodging around these viewing spots are what you want. So you do not have to worry about the drive home or setting a tent up. Accommodations could include a bed, running water and a roofed building. Some places that offer a place to stay are Echo Bluff State Park Ozark near National Scenic Riverways in South Central Missouri and Roaring River State Park in Southwest Missouri; both offer lodging and campgrounds, according to visitmo.com.

Apps to use
For the novice stargazer or for those who wish to not spend money, mobile apps offer many different tools. With a stargazing app, you can find where certain constellations, planets and galaxies are. They also help to view the stars that are in the present sky, and some of them even provide in-depth descriptions of constellations, stars and nearby planets. Apps like “SkySafari 7 Pro,” “PhotoPills” and “Night Sky 11,” according to space.com.

Planets
The five planets one can see with the naked eye are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Planets sometimes appear to move by their starry backgrounds and some brighter than their star brethren. They also have a steady flow of light while stars glimmer or flicker, according to science.nasa.gov

Constellations
To know your constellations, you should know the stars that make up said constellation. For example, Ursa Minor, which is the constellation of a bear but better known as the “Little Dipper,” has Polaris or the North Star as the last star on its tail so if you can find Polaris you can find Ursa Minor. Then when you find Ursa Minor, just below it is Ursa Major, also known as the “Big Dipper.” It is easier to identify the individual stars, and, when you do, it makes it easy to spot the constellations that they are a part of, according to thenightsky.com.

Seasonal Stars: Winter
A good time to view stars is winter. Known for its clear and dry skies, the following constellations are in view this time of year: Orion the Hunter, Taurus the Bull, Auriga the Charioteer, Gemini the Twins and Canis Minor the Little Dog. The most prominent of these constellations is Orion the Hunter for his iconic constellation that makes up his belt. In his belt, the middle “star” is not actually a star- it is the Orion Nebula. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see a fuzzy patch of light where stars are made, according to astronomy.com
Referred to as a stellar nursery, a nebula is a region of space with a lot of gas and over millions of years, that gas begins to condense and form stars, according to astronomy.com.

Seasonal Stars: Spring
When the days get longer and the weather warmer, Orion and the rest of the constellations take their leave to the western sky. The following stars take their places: Leo the Lion, Boötes the Herdsman, Virgo the Maiden and Corvus the Crow. Leo takes center stage with his most noticeable feature being an asterism-a grouping of stars- that arranges in a sickle or a backward question mark shape. The sickle outlines his head and to the left are three stars that form his hindquarters, according to astronomy.com.

Seasonal Stars: Summer
While summer may not be the best season for viewing stars due to the muggy summer heat and swarms of mosquitoes, it gives way to an eventful night sky. With the Milky Way arching high into the night, you can gaze into the heart of the galaxy. The summer season also showcases the following constellations: Lyra the Lyre, Cygnus the Swan, Aquila the Eagle, Sagittarius the Archer and Scorpius the Scorpion. The sky is dominated by the Summer Triangle, which are three of the brightest stars in the night sky this season, each has its corresponding constellations. Vega, the brightest of the stars, has the constellation Lyra the Lyre. This lyre is said to be the very same lyre Orpheus played in the Greek myth. The second summer star is Deneb on the tail of Cygnus the Swan, Deneb and four other stars make up Cygnus. The last star in the Summer Triangle is Altair. Altair is part of the constellation Aquila the Eagle and is in the south end of the Milky Way, according to astronomy.com.

Seasonal Stars: Autumn
The nights begin to get longer and a chill dances across the sky and with the Summer Triangle sinking into the west. Autumn is upon us and the following constellations are dotting our skies: Delphinus the Dolphin, Pegasus the Winged Horse and Andromeda the Princess, one noticeable aspect of the following constellations is Andromeda the Princess. Which, yes, it is a part of the Andromeda galaxy. Upon viewing with binoculars or a telescope, you can see the glow of the Galaxies nucleus, according to astronomy.com.

What to bring

Binoculars
You do not need a specialized pair of binoculars to view the stars; you can just use one that you use to watch birds and that would be perfect. However, if you want to get more into star watching, there are specialized binoculars that aid with spotting celestial objects, according to rei.com.

As stated earlier, if you are interested in stargazing with binoculars,you can get a basic pair at Dick’s Sporting Goods or on Amazon. But if you want this to become a hobby and want an actual pair of stargazing binoculars, it is better to buy them straight from the company, but do your research beforehand. One brand that sells a myriad of binoculars for stargazing is B&H Photo. They have many binoculars along with other tech related stuff like cameras, tripods and lenses for aforementioned binoculars.

Telescope
Being a complex viewing instrument, the telescope is a tool that one should properly study and learn about before purchasing one, as most are quite expensive, according to ucobservatories.org.

It is best going directly to the company that manufactures the telescope you are interested in rather than buying them from a third party company. There is a risk of product damage, or not getting a good enough description over what your telescope can do when buying from a third party. One good website is High Point Scientific, where they have a wide variety of telescopes; however, it is encouraged that you do your own research. As to not make an expensive mistake.

Camping Items
Things like tents, lawn chairs, bug spray, blankets and sleeping bags are all good accessories to bring when you go stargazing. Common camping items can be found at Bass Pro Shops or Academy Sports + Outdoors. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather for clear skies or sudden temperature drops and dress for the weather, according to cntraveler.com.