Last night, I saw the Big Dipper. First time in decades. Couldn't miss it.

[3Hotdogs]

That was in west N.J. I live in east N.J. I usually see no more than 6 or 7 stars and planets in the sky/

[Intractable]

1. Kids today will grow up never knowing a sky full of stars.

The closest thing to a religious experience I've ever had is contemplating existence while staring into the infinities of a star-lit sky.

It's been years since I've seen one.

[Woodwizard]

2. I live in the Catskills.

Away from light pollution. The sky especially in clear winter nights is stunning.

Some clear nights in summer you get the haze of the Milky Way.

[electric_blue68]

4. Visited The Catskilks several times 5 1/2 decades ago!

Thrn I saw The Milky Way while I and a friend slept out in our sleeping bags overnight in Monument Valley in 1979!

The full moon was up at 9PM when we turned in. When we woke up at 3AM - there it was, arcing 2/3rds in the sky over us. The amazing splendor!

Then in the mid- '80s up in the NYS countryside; somwwhat north of Goshen on 3 vacations I saw the sky full of stars. Ahhhhhh.

[Woodwizard]

5. I live about an hour northwest of Goshen.

I lived in HI for 5 years I like the Catskills better. Though with climate change we do not get as much snow for activities as we did.

[electric_blue68]

6. Lovely countryside! ....

Went to a wellness retreat/organic farm on occasion more or less N, NW if Gosgen.
Person also had a gigantic vegetable & fruit farm in Goshen 1980s

[electric_blue68]

3. Nice! Bc ?"Black moon". When I went across the US by bus I'd see...

The Big Dipper in the north at night. So pretty!

In our last family apt in the Winter I could see Orion out my window! So wonderful!
Been about 10 yrs since I've seen a sky full of stars. I was in a small village on Swirzerland.

[Talitha]

7. SO happy for you! My username 'Talitha' is a star in that constellation.

So glad you were able to see the Big Dipper! It's in the (huge!) constellation Ursa Majoris (the big bear). Talitha is way down at the southeastern part of the constellation, in the toe of the Bear's front paw.

I know what you mean about being happy to see it, though. I grew up in Chicago and just about the only thing we could see was the Moon. Now I'm in northcentral Wisconsin and live where fellow astronomers vacation to in order to get to dark skies.