There's a way to put stars in the eyes of the one you love, literally. Stargazing is one of the simplest and most romantic things to do with your special someone.

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Why wouldn't you want to spend time in the dark, in a secluded place, all cuddled up next to each other?

Plus the intimacy factor is high for this type of outing. Besides being physically close to each other, stargazing is a great opportunity to get to know each other's dreams and hopes. There's something magical about the wide open sky, and the thousands of stars looking down on you that create a mood of reflection and reverie.

It's romantic; it's fun and easy to do. So here's how to make the most of your next stargazing date.

Stargazing 101

It's as easy as driving out to a part of town away from the city lights, but there are a few secret tricks of the trade that can make or break your evening.

• Wait for a night that is clear and dark. Waiting for a moon that is not shining brightly will increase your chances of seeing more stars. New moons – where there is no moon – are the best times to go. Check your local newspaper for the current moon phase.
• Get up high and away from the lights. The higher you go in elevation, the better your view of the stars. And the farther away you drive from the city lights, the more stars you'll see.
• Bring a jacket. Or better yet, bring a blanket to cover both of you. Depending on where you go it could be a bit chilly, and this gives you an excuse to get close to each other.
• Binoculars. Although telescopes are the standard way of stargazing, binoculars work too. They're cheaper and more portable.
• Lay down. The one side effect of looking up at the stars is a crick in your neck. So if you have a pickup truck, throw a mattress in the back and bring blankets to save your neck.
• Bring something to drink. Hot chocolate and marshmallows are great if where you're going will be chilly. Ice tea, or your favorite wine, is perfect if the nights are still warm in your area.
• Star charts and a flashlight. A simple downloadable star chart from the Internet will help you find your favorite constellations and planets.

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Once you're out at your stargazing destination, cuddled up and looking at the night sky show off your knowledge of the heavens by explaining the difference between stars and planets.

It's simple: Stars twinkle because of Earth's atmospheric turbulence. It's like looking at a coin, or any object, at on the bottom of a swimming pool. It wobbles back and forth, right? That's because the water bends the light reflected off the coin.

In the same way, stars twinkle because they are so far away so they appear as points of light, and when their light travels through Earth's atmosphere, it wobbles. And the farther away the star is, the more the twinkling affect is noticeable.

Planets such as Mars, Venus and Jupiter, don't sparkle, they shine steadily instead. Their reflected light is more evenly spread out because they are closer to the Earth and bigger in the sky, so they tend to not twinkle.

Starry night

Finding constellations can sometimes be difficult. So start with something you are familiar with, such as the Big Dipper or Orion's belt, then work your way to other ones such as the Summer Triangle or Sagittarius the Archer.

If you're new to stargazing here two great resources to help you find your way around the night sky:

• Sky at a Glance: From Sky and Telescope magazine will show you what stars and planets will be making an appearance this month. You'll also find a link to a nifty interactive sky chart mapping the night sky for you.
• Space Watch : Here you'll find listings of stargazing parties and planetariums state by state. See if your city has an upcoming gathering and join them one evening for a guided tour of the night sky.

In the end, enjoy the moment under the stars. Slow down and take in the expanse of the sky. Let your imagination go, make you own constellations, name your own stars and dream of the future.

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