University of Mississippi students use a telescope to observe celestial objects at a site in rural Lafayette County. Mississippi's landscape and dark skies offer plenty of good viewing spots to see stars, planets and other winders of the night sky, advises Ole Miss astronomer Nicholas MacDonald. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
Ole Miss astronomer shares tips for stargazing, celestial sights and resources for exploring the night sky
By Jordan Karnbach
Mother Nature has been putting on a celestial light show lately, including a lunar eclipse, meteor showers, and a rare multi-planet alignment. Stargazers in Mississippi are in a good spot to enjoy the show, a University of Mississippi astronomer advises.
Much of the state is rural, meaning less light pollution and lots of open spaces to get a good view of the sky, said Nicholas MacDonald, assistant professor of physics and astronomy.
“I have two daughters, and we love looking up at the night sky and hosting star parties in our backyard,” MacDonald said. “If you’re in the heart of Oxford, there’s only so much you can do, but just 10 to 15 minutes outside the city, you’ll find breathtakingly dark skies perfect for stargazing.
MacDonald has been an astronomer for eight years, but he’s been “looking up” at the sky for nearly 20, studying outflows from supermassive black holes and other galaxies – specifically, objects known as blazars. Before joining the Ole Miss faculty, he was as a postdoctoral researcher and staff scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany, in 2017–21.
If you’ve missed the celestial events of the past few months, don’t worry, MacDonald said. The night sky is constantly changing, making stargazing a continuous adventure.
The coming weeks bring several celestial sights worth seeking out the next time you step outside to gaze at the stars, he said.
“Jupiter is truly a sight to behold,” MacDonald said. “With a small telescope, you can see its cloud bands and even the Galilean moons – those moons were first observed by Galileo, making it a great way to connect with the history of astronomy.
University of Mississippi students use a telescope to observe celestial objects at a site in rural Lafayette County. Mississippi’s landscape and dark skies offer plenty of good viewing spots to see stars, planets and other winders of the night sky, advises Ole Miss astronomer Nicholas MacDonald. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services 
Nicholas MacDonald, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Mississippi, speaks to one of his astronomy classes in Lewis Hall. The Ole Miss astronomer advises that Mississippi offers many good spots to see the wonders of the night sky, even without telescopes or other fancy equipment. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services 
The University of Mississippi’s Department of Physics and Astronomy hosts regular open houses where anyone can come see stars, planets and other objects through the telescopes at Kennon Observatory, weather permitting. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services
Even a small telescope or a good pair of binoculars can help bring many new celestial sights into focus.
“Saturn’s rings are visible from any backyard under a dark sky,” he said. “Seeing them through a telescope is an unforgettable experience.”
Venus is very bright right now and can be seen with the naked eye just after sunset. Using a telescope, backyard astronomers can see its crescent phase, which was one of the key observations that helped prove Earth and the planets orbit the Sun, not the other way around, he said.
For those without a telescope, MacDonald recommends the Stellarium app as a great tool to explore the night sky.
“You can simply hold up your phone, and it will tell you what’s in the sky,” he said. “I think that’s incredibly useful. Even as a professional astronomer, I still rely on it to identify constellations.”
Events such as the Rainwater Observatory programs and “Moonlight, Music & Meteors 2025“ at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science offer great opportunities for astronomy enthusiasts to learn more about Mississippi’s night sky.
Kennon Observatory, part of the university’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, hosts monthly open-house events where visitors can observe the moon, planets, and double stars through telescopes. What is visible changes each month, depending on the night sky at the time of each scheduled open house.
Whether you’re using an app, visiting an observatory or simply stepping outside on a clear night, endless opportunities await to explore the wonders of the universe right here in Mississippi.
“I’ve been an astronomer for nearly 20 years, but it wasn’t until I moved to Mississippi and started backyard stargazing that I truly reconnected with the night sky,” MacDonald said. “Anyone can do it – just turn off your floodlights and look up.
“You don’t need fancy equipment. The sky is full of wonders, and they’re right there, waiting to be seen.”
