Field notes

Notes from under the sky.

Learning to read the night sky is a quiet skill — part patience, part knowing what to look for. These are the things we wish someone had told us when we started looking up.

Dark skies

The Bortle scale, explained without the jargon

Nine numbers stand between a city glow and a sky so dark you can see your own shadow by starlight. Here's what each one actually looks like.

Read the noteJune 28, 2026 · 6 min

Planning

Why a clear forecast isn't enough

Clear skies, a dark spot, and a new moon rarely line up on the same night. The trick isn't any single one — it's the overlap.

June 14, 2026 · 5 min

Beginners

How to see the Milky Way for the first time

You don't need a telescope or a five-hour drive. You need a moonless night, a dark-enough horizon, and twenty minutes for your eyes to adjust.

May 30, 2026 · 7 min