Zero Genie

It doesn’t matter your total square footage: any living space starts to feel small and cramped, after a few weeks of social distancing and spending a lot of time at home. Whether you’re enjoying the solitude, craving social interaction, and/or trying to keep the entire family occupied – it’s going to take a steady stream of entertainment, activities, and creative solutions to keep us all from developing ‘cabin fever’ this spring.

To help you feel like you have a little more “space” in your space, check out these astronomy live streams. They’ll help you get a bigger perspective, educate everyone in the household, and show you the wonders of the universe.

International Space Station Livestream

As part of ongoing operations, NASA runs a constant livestream from the International Space Station (ISS). The view varies: sometimes it’s looking down on earth and others it’s gazing out into the deep black darkness of our solar system.

If you want to get a sense of the bigger picture and how we’re all in this together, this is a great livestream to put on the TV all day long. (Bonus: You’ll get to enjoy up to 16 sunsets and sunrises during a day of watching – just like the astronauts do!)

Polar Bears International Northern Lights Livestream

Is seeing the aurora on your bucket list? You’re not alone! That’s probably why the Northern Lights livestream has been drawing viewers from around the world over the past week. Oh, and we’re currently in the days that typically surround the peak of aurora activity each year!

The Northern Lights Live Cam is set up at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba, and is powered by Polar Bears International. It runs 24/7 – which means half the day it shows the daytime view from the center, including a chance to spot polar bears and other wildlife. Once the sun sets and the sky is clear, you can try to spot the aurora dancing in the sky above Canada. It’s not quite like seeing them in person, but for this year, it’s the best alternative.

The Night Sky over Chile at ESO’s Very Large Telescope

Seeing the southern night sky is another astronomy bucket list item – and one you can virtually ‘tick off your list’ with the help of the internet. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has a number of telescopes in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Together this facility is called the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the astronomers there conduct research at both the visual and infrared wavelengths and produces some truly awe-inspiring photos.

There’s also a webcam set up on the the VLT observing platform, which you can control to get a perspective similar to what you’d experience if you visited the observatory. The camera runs constantly, so check sunset times to watch the southern part of the Milky Way appear in the night sky along with other southern constellations you’ve probably never seen before.

Bryce Canyon Night Sky with Google Arts & Culture

This isn’t a live stream, but if you’re still looking to bring more astronomy into your life at home, Google Arts & Culture has you covered. As part of a project, “The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks,” which help people experience national parks even if they can’t travel, Google has an interactive 360-degree photo of the night sky above Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Canyon is certified as a dark sky park by the International Dark-Sky Association, so you know it’s an incredible spot for stargazing with dark skies. While it’s better to stay home, you’ll get a pristine view of the night sky, learn about some of the constellations above us, and be inspired to book a trip once travel is recommended.