National Sky Awareness Week

Humans go through life each day looking at the buildings, cars, computer screens, and other people around them, but it seems like a rare event that they will spend time being aware of the sky.

National Sky Awareness Week seeks to remind people of all ages that there is something interesting to be seen, from cloud formations to stars and everything in between, when looking up at the sky!

History of National Sky Awareness Week

Although it might feel new to some people, Sky Awareness Week has actually been around for several decades. Back in the 1980s, H. Michael Mogil and his wife, educator Barbara Levine, came up with the idea for Sky Awareness Week.

As meteorologists, these two understood the importance of drawing people’s gaze up to the sky.

Mogil and Levine began advocating for the event throughout the nation, encouraging governors to make state proclamations—and 42 of them eventually did!

This hard-earned success was the foundation on which National Sky Awareness Week developed and it gained even more traction in the early 1990s.

How to Celebrate National Sky Awareness Week

Look Up at the Sky

Take some intentional time every day during National Sky Awareness Week to head outside and gaze.

Depending on the weather, there might be some opportunities to discover different formations of clouds, an interesting observation about the moon, sighting of a rainbow, or some other fascinating feature.

Check Out the Cloud Shapes in the Sky

Just for fun, grab a blanket, lie down and play a game with the kids to find creative and interesting shapes in the clouds.

Of course, kids are certainly not necessary and any adult is also welcome to spend time sky-gazing and enjoying the relaxation of following the clouds.

Go Star Gazing

One of the best ways to celebrate during National Sky Awareness Week would be to head on out of the city on a clear night and get to a place where the myriad of stars in the night sky can be gazed upon.

From a random country road to the vast expanses of Death Valley National Park, the nation’s wide open spaces offer a range of opportunities to sit under the stars and contemplate the meaning of life.

To make it even better, grab a telescope to get a more detailed view of what the stars look like. Diehard fans can even schedule a visit to an observatory or planetarium.

Make Science Lessons from Sky Awareness

Kids learn so much better when their lessons revolve around activities that happen in real life.

That’s why Sky Awareness Week provides a perfect opportunity for teachers, parents and other caregivers to create exciting, interactive lessons that help kids get involved with the science of the sky.

Whether it’s a classroom full of budding astronomists or meteorologists, or a group of kids who can benefit from learning about the way the planet is set in its surroundings, Sky Awareness Week promises to be filled with fun!