Try stargazing. It's a way of being part of nature on the grandest scale. Nothing can stretch the mind like studying the night sky. Just think — the light reaching our eyes tonight has been traveling through space since the pilgrims landed in what is now Massachusetts, or even since the Ice Age and before.

Stargazing is the art and science of observing objects and events in the nighttime sky. It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. All you need is an inquiring mind and discerning eye. Get started by familiarizing yourself with the sky. Follow the moon's phases, note the positions of planets, look for the northern lights and locate constellations such as Orion and Cygnus. Bookstores and museums sell books for beginners. The Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendar features star maps and information on planet locations as well as times for the moonrise and moonset. Visit a nearby nature center or planetarium to connect with other astronomy enthusiasts in your area.

You probably don't even need a telescope, at least not for your first year of stargazing. Try a pair of binoculars or a small spotting scope, the tools used by bird-watchers. They offer wide fields of view (which makes things easier to find), require little maintenance, and are portable to rural areas where the nights are filled with starlight rather than light pollution. Many books are available to help with locating deep-sky objects with binoculars, a spotting scope or the naked eye.

Jim Gilbert's Nature Notes are heard on WCCO Radio at 7:15 a.m. Sundays. His observations have been part of the Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendars since 1977, and he is the author of five books on nature in Minnesota. He taught and worked as a naturalist for 50 years.