We see starry skies ahead! Athens Conservancy is raising funds to establish a stargazing park within the Deep Hollow-Dark Skies Preserve near Athens. The project is featured through April 8 on the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s Cause Connector giving 
site. For some insight, we turned to an astronomy expert about the joys of stargazing … and why this ridge-top will make a perfect place to enjoy the night sky. Here’s what George Eberts, Ohio University astronomy professor, has to say:
Why is stargazing special to you?
I started stargazing when I was about 10 years old, after getting a little telescope for Christmas, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I don’t know how to put my finger on the satisfaction you get from stargazing. But being outside at night and being in touch with the stars is amazing. It’s fun with even a small telescope to look at Jupiter and Saturn and Mars and the moon. With a little bigger telescope, you can go out hunting for what we call “deep sky objects” like Nebula Galaxies and star clusters. Even with no telescope at all, it’s satisfying to just look up and ponder the big night sky. There’s probably a psychological benefit too, but that’s not my bag so I won’t address it.
Why will the Deep Hollow-Dark Skies Preserve make a good spot to stargaze?
The site at the preserve seems to be good for stargazing with minimal light pollution, and it’s not far from Athens and Parkersburg and Coolville. It will be a nice place for people to go, maybe take your kids out there. Park your car and set up some lawn chairs and wait for it to get dark and then enjoy some amazing constellations in the sky.
I often get asked where is a good place to stargaze near town, and I think this spot will be a good deal.
Note: Athens Conservancy’s Starry Skies stargazing park will include a parking area and viewing sites high on a rural ridge-top with very little light pollution. It will be created within the Deep Hollow-Dark Skies Preserve, which is comprised of 110.6 acres in Athens County’s Carthage Township, about 13 miles east-southeast of Athens.
To make a donation, visit: https://causeconnector.org/project/starry-skies-a-stargazing-park/