FAQautism

Lie down on a blanket or on a reclining lawn chair after the sun goes down to enjoy watching all that moves across the night sky. Many of my friends with autism enjoy watching the sights and lights of the night sky. The subdued outdoor mood is a nice change from the nightly household hub-bub of television, activity, and chores.

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MOVING OBJECTS. In our little corner of the world, airplanes with blinking lights criss-cross the sky at all altitudes and in all directions. Communication satellites look like stars moving steadily across the sky. Some have solar panels on them, so, as they slowly turn, the satellite may catch a bright flash of the sun, even long after it has set over the horizon.

SHOOTING STARS. In mid-August, the earth crosses through a band of tiny bits of dust from the tail of the Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Because the comet dust streaks through the earth’s upper atmosphere at thousands of miles per hour, it flashes brightly in our night sky. The flashes look like shooting stars, but are actually meteors. This annual event, called the Perseid meteor shower, results in up to 30 meteors an hour. During this August shower, you will see most of the meteors near Casseopia, a constellation shaped like a “W.”

STARS AND PLANETS. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way, lots of constellations, bright planets, and, of course, the moon. You can see Jupiter’s moons at this time of year by looking through binoculars. Click on the McDonald’s Observatory website http://stardate.org for info about what to see and where to see it in the night sky.

TIP FOR THE DAY: My friends with autism who like maps and facts are particularly intrigued with locating constellations and memorizing facts about the vast night sky. But even folks who seem less observant or who do not typically focus on visual cues enjoy spending relaxing evenings under the stars.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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