Night sky

The Moon is the most common object viewed in the night sky.

Night sky is a commonly used term most often employed to refer to the sky as it is seen at night. The term is usually associated with astronomy, with reference to views of heavenly bodies such as stars, the Moon and planets that become visible on a clear night after the Sun has set.

The night sky and studies of it have a historical place in both ancient and modern cultures. In the past, for instance, farmers have used the state of the night sky as a calendar to determine when to plant crops. Many cultures have drawn constellations between stars in the sky, using them in association with legends and mythology about their deities.

The anciently developed belief of astrology is generally based on the belief that relationships between heavenly bodies influence or convey information about events on Earth. The scientific study of the night sky and bodies observed within it, meanwhile, takes place in the science of astronomy.

The visibility of celestial objects in the night sky is affected by light pollution. The presence of the Moon in the night sky has historically hindered astronomical observation by increasing the amount of ambient lighting. With the advent of artificial light sources, however, light pollution has been a growing problem for viewing the night sky. Special filters and modifications to light fixtures can help to alleviate this problem, but for the best seeing both professional and amateur optical astronomers seeks viewing sites located far from major urban areas.

The Milky Way can be seen as a very large streak or arc across the night sky if the visibility conditions are good enough. This panoramic photo was taken at Death Valley.

See also

Universum – C. Flammarion, Woodcut, Paris 1888, Colour: Heikenwaelder Hugo, Vienna 1998

• Amateur astronomy
• Asterism (astronomy)
• Astrology
• Astronomical object
• Constellation
• Planetarium

This astronomy related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.