PSA: Showing street kids my star pics got them super interested

I've noticed way more people in my neighborhood looking up at the sky these past few months, which is pretty neat. Last night, I was out back trying to get a clear photo of the Big Dipper with my basic camera setup. A group of teens from the block saw my screen and came over to check it out. I scrolled through some old shots I had of the moon and planets on my phone, and they were honestly amazed, lmao. We ended up sitting on the curb while I pointed out constellations and how I frame the shots. One kid even said he wants to save up for a camera now, which made me feel awesome. It's just a tiny thing, but seeing that spark in them feels like a real win. Makes me think maybe stargazing is coming back in a small way around here.

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jaken288mo ago

Back in Phoenix, I let some neighborhood kids peek through my old binoculars. They had never seen the moon's craters up close before. Just letting them take turns looking got them asking all sorts of questions. I showed them a free star map app on my phone. Now they wave at me when they see me outside with my gear.

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josephmartin8mo ago

Read how binoculars often start kids' love for space.

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leochen8mo ago

My first real space moment was with a $30 telescope from a garage sale. The binocular thing never clicked for me until I saw Saturn's rings that one time. It just hits different when the view is steady and magnified a bit more.

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