Lorain County has stargazing opportunities
For those in search of opportunities to stargaze the night sky, Lorain County has a few chances for them to explore.
Whether it's a local observatory, planetarium or park, Oberlin College's Observatory and Planetarium coordinator Dave Lengyel said there are available and free-viewing opportunities throughout the county.
First, Oberlin College, atop of Peters Hall, 50 N. Professor St., holds viewing opportunities at heights of six stories high.
The rotating dome-roofed observatory, which was built in the late 1800s, isn't as suitable for night-sky observing today, so, most viewing happens right outside of the dome on its deck built in the 1990s, Lengyel said.
The deck holds removable telescopes of different sizes that can peer into the night sky, he said.
Oberlin College also offers binoculars.
"You'd be amazed with what you can do with binoculars with astronomy," Lengyel said. "I consider binoculars to be the best instrument for most people to use in astronomy because they're inexpensive and just open up a whole new world of observing, and you see so much more with them."
Location is good
Oberlin College and southwest communities in Lorain County have some of the best opportunities to star gaze and look at the night sky, Lengyel said.
Due to the area's distance from more populated cities up north, Oberlin has darker and more wide skies, he said.
"You have to get away from the city lights as best as you can, but you do what you can with what you have," Lengyel said.
When the college's astronomy students aren't observing the night sky outdoors, the deck is available to the public for free, once a month.
Everyone is welcome to the observatory on the first and third Friday of the month, for two hours, Lengyel said.
Nights of observing on the deck vary at times if the sky is clear or cloudy.
The Planetarium
On cloudy nights, guests have the option to go down to the Planetarium below the dome.
The Planetarium normally is used for students at Oberlin College in lab courses such as Astronomy 100 or in more advanced classes that Lengyel teaches.
The room holds many purposes for his lab class or for guests who can view almost anything like lunar eclipses, constellations, galaxies and planets.
Features can be shared on the dome-shaped screen at any time of the day in the world, from the past into the future, Lengyel said.
Visitors may enjoy features of a night or morning sky created by a live computer projection, he said.
Planetariums can show just as much or more than what the eye sees through a telescope, Lengyel said.
For example, it's easier to see in a planetarium traveling south of the equator because more stars can be seen in the open skies, he said.
County viewing opportunities
More free public viewing possibilities can be found through the county's only astronomy club: The Black River Astronomical Society.
Lengyel said he is a long-time member of the club.
The group meets once a month at Lorain County Metro Parks' Carlisle Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road in Lagrange.
The public can attend twice for viewings at the Metro Park's Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Road, to enjoy the night sky with provided telescopes alongside Lengyel and experienced astronomy-seekers.
"It's really a nice experience," he said.
Vanessa Klesta, public information officer for the Metro Parks, said the Black River Astronomical Society has been in collaboration with the Metro Parks for several years.
Klesta said the Metro Parks partnership with the Black River Astronomical Society has led to more opportunities for residents.
"I know they have some good telescopes for planet watching and a great experience for stargazing," she said.
Additional stargazing opportunities are available at Findley State Park, 25381 State Route 58 in Wellington, and Charlemont Reservation on New London Eastern Road.
"You always want to get in a dark sky," Lengyel said. "But then again, it can be convenient in your own backyard.
"You don't always need a dark sky to observe astronomy, like a lunar eclipse, for example."
An easy way to find out where the most light pollution is or where the brightest areas are, are through light pollution maps that can be found online, he said.
Other areas
Outside of Lorain County, other dark-skied areas great for viewing include Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio; Observatory Park in Montville, Ohio; and Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport, Pa.
In Ohio, the best times to stargaze are from May to August when there are more clear skies and warmer weather, Lengyel said.
The winter season, especially from November to January, has the most cloudy weather, is the most difficult.
Lengyel said December is the cloudiest month.
The effects of daylight saving time makes it tough on viewers when the sun comes and goes at different times, which causes early or late viewing, he said.
There always is an opportunity to catch the beauty of the night sky, Lengyel said.
"There are many many things that people can do with astronomy that they don't need to be out in the middle in the desert for," he said. "Now the, darker the sky, the more things you can do. But there's still a lot to do or see."
