Welcome to The Physics Dimension! We’re glad you’re here.
If you are enjoying the August 2026 celestial viewing opportunities, including the Perseid Meteor Shower and the 96% lunar eclipse visible from Chicagoland, we direct you to the following resources to facilitate your viewing experience.
🔠Explore Tonight’s Sky
Stellarium Web
An interactive planetarium you can use right in your browser. Enter your location to see what stars, constellations, planets, and other objects are visible tonight.
Sky Map & Constellation Finder
Use an interactive sky map to identify stars and constellations and learn what you’re looking at.
🌌 Find a Darker Sky
Light Pollution Map
Wondering how much light pollution affects the stars where you live? Explore an interactive map of light pollution around the world and find darker locations nearby.
DarkSky International — Dark Sky Places
Find parks, communities, and other places recognized for protecting dark night skies.
🌠Keep Watching
NASA Skywatching Guide
NASA’s monthly skywatching guides highlight what’s worth looking for in the night sky, including planets, meteor showers, constellations, and other celestial events.
NASA’s What’s Up
A monthly guide to what’s happening in the night sky, with videos and observing tips.
Adler Planetarium
Your friendly neighborhood regional planetarium with varied programming.
✨ A Few Stargazing Tips
- Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
- Move away from bright lights when possible.
- Keep your phone screen dim—or better yet, use a red-light mode.
- You don’t need a telescope to enjoy the night sky!
- Find a comfortable spot, look up, and give yourself time to notice what you see.