https://astronomyfriends.com/ Your Community for the Night Sky en Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:19:11 GMT https://astronomyfriends.com/amateur-astronomers-citizen-science-how-to-join/ https://astronomyfriends.com/amateur-astronomers-citizen-science-how-to-join/ Backyard stargazers across the US are doing more than just enjoying the view — they're contributing real data to professional research programs that study everything from exoplanets to near-Earth asteroids. Here's how everyday observers became an indispensable part of modern astronomy, and how you can get involved starting tonight. Astronomy Friends Community & Science Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:15:38 GMT https://astronomyfriends.com/dark-sky-spots-near-major-us-cities/ https://astronomyfriends.com/dark-sky-spots-near-major-us-cities/ You don't have to drive half the night to find a genuinely dark sky. We've tracked down some of the best low-light escapes within 100 miles of America's biggest metro areas, so you can spend more time looking up and less time behind the wheel. Astronomy Friends Stargazing Guides Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:15:38 GMT