Living in the country, away from city lights, encourages study of the night sky. The once in a lifetime opportunity to observe a passing comet, the massive meteor shower several years ago, a rare lunar eclipse are all easily available from a backyard or a beach.
Most special events are visible without benefit of a telescope. It's a matter of knowing when and where to look, and how to identify various constellations and planets. For instance, in the Summer of this year (2009), Mars will be closer to earth than it has in 5,000 years. In August, it will appear to be as large as our moon.
There are also computer-assisted telescopes
available that manipulate aiming to specific constellations, stars, and planets.
For a beginner, there's a planetarium in Calvert County. Shows are available free to the public.
Located on the grounds of Calvert High School and the site of the original Storer land, the planetarium offers educational programs about our night sky. These popular programs are free and are held throughout the school year on the first and third Friday evenings of the month. They are informative, entertaining, and the seats are very comfortable.
