Explore wonders of night skies with stargazing sessions

TNN / Updated: Mar 28, 2025, 13:39 IST

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Stargazing between March and May offers breathtaking views of celestial objects like galaxies, planets, and constellations. Beginners and experts alike can enjoy guided sessions in areas with minimal light pollution near Pune, such as Panshet and Mulshi. DIY enthusiasts can use star maps, beginner telescopes, and apps to explore the skies independently.

Explore wonders of night skies with stargazing sessions

If you are looking for an off-beat weekend plan this summer, stargazing should be on top of your bucket list. The month of March till May offers one of the best periods to watch deep sky objects such as galaxies, stars, planets or even comets. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned astronomer, this period of the year assures the breathtaking experience of watching night skies. Here’s how you can plan your next stargazing session.
Who can go stargazing? Anyone can.
The beauty of stargazing is anyone with or without prior knowledge can easily do it. Attending a guided stargazing session is the easiest way to experience the wonders of the night sky. These sessions are conducted by the experts along with professional equipment. “Apart from just informative stargazing sessions, we introduce attendees to constellations and planets which is followed by an interactive Q&A session,” informed Hemant Valve of Nisargashala. Started as an amateur observer, he has been conducting sessions for over two decades now.

Photo of a galaxy clicked using telescope imagery

Where to go?
If you want to experience a truly mesmerising stargazing session, head to the areas with minimal light pollution, especially away from cities. Find a guided stargazing session hosts at one of these spots near Pune

Panshet
Mulshi
Tamhini
Velhe
Bhor

What to watch for in the skies
The period of March to May brings an incredible opportunity to watch a lot of distant celestial objects, which otherwise are not visible through the year. Here is the list of some highlights of summer sky

Milky Way Galaxy (most important during this period and clearly visible)
Saturn (with its rings using telescope)
Jupiter and its moons
Venus (brightly visible with naked eyes at dusk and dawn)
Mars
Ursa Major or Saptarshi (Great Bear Constellation)
Cancer Constellation
The Beehive Cluster (star cluster within Cancer)
A bonus of Meteor showers (Lyrids in April, Eta Aquarids in early May)

Inputs by Aniruddha Deshpande, Vice President of Jyotirvidya Parisanstha
DIY Stargazing: Can You Do It on Your Own?
“Absolutely! With the right equipment and a good guide, stargazing can be a thrilling solo activity,” says Hemant Valve of Nisargshala. Apart from guided stargazing sessions one can buy DIY astronomy kits, star maps and even beginner telescopes through popular e-commerce websites like Amazon or Flipkart.
In addition to that, apps like - Sky View, Starwalk and Stellarium - help users identify celestial objects and navigate the deep skies with precision and provide authentic information on each of these objects.

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