Under Northern Skies: Why I’m So Excited About Stargazing in North Austin

When I moved to North Austin, I was looking forward to the things I never really got living my whole life in NYC—more space, a quieter pace, a bit more room to breathe and concentrate. But what I didn’t expect was how enchanted I’d become by the night sky here!

There’s something truly magical about living in a place where the stars feel just a little closer when the sky is so clear.

✨ A Sky Full of Possibility

In the city, the sky always felt like it was hiding something from me (probably from all of that pollution in the air!). Too many streetlights, glowing buildings, traffic, and noise—like a fog that never lifted. But here in North Austin, the days and nights are quieter… and full of life. The first time I looked up and actually saw full constellations without the aid of a telescope and not completely straining my eyes, I felt like I was in the first step in the direction of what defines a home to me.

The light pollution is noticeably lower here compared to central Austin, and that means the stars—so many of them on a clear night!—actually show up. Even some of the fainter constellations, like Virgo or parts of Ursa Major, are easy to pick out with the naked eye.

🔭 What’s Coming Up in the Sky?

As someone who finds inspiration in nature and the cosmos (you’ve probably noticed from my shop, The Astra Botanica), it’s been so exciting to look ahead at the upcoming celestial events I’ll be able to enjoy right from my backyard—or even while sipping tea on the porch.

Here were and are a few I’ve marked on my calendar:

🌠 Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower – Peaks May 6th

These meteors come from the dust of Halley’s Comet, and under darker skies, you can spot up to 30 per hour. Even with a brighter moon this year, North Austin’s clearer views offer a better chance of catching those bright, fast streaks across the sky.

-> Unfortunately, it was supposed to peak between May 5 and May 6….between 4AM-7PM….sleeping hours for me before a long day at work.  Perhaps I have better luck next time! It would have looked something like this apparently:

🌕 Flower Moon – May 12th

This full moon is known as the “Flower Moon,” and honestly, could it get more perfect for someone who creates floral-inspired products?  

-> I was able to see it visibly right outside my balcony!  I took a picture with my phone…but of course the picture does not do the actual sight justice. It was a luminous moon!

✨ Venus at Greatest Elongation – May 31st

Venus will shine like a tiny beacon in the twilight.

-> It’s my favorite planet aside from Jupiter to spot—bright, bold, and unmissable. Depending how you see it, it can be quite luminous with a blueish tone with its brightness! 

🌌 Constellations Worth Looking Up For

One of the best things about living in North Austin is how many constellations you can actually spot without a telescope. You don’t have to be an expert—just step outside, let your eyes adjust, and the sky slowly reveals its stories.

Here are a few favorites that have been showing off lately:

✨ Virgo

Visibility: Very prominent in spring evenings—especially around midnight.

Fun Fact: Spica, Virgo’s brightest star, is actually a binary star system, even though it looks like a single sparkly dot! It’s said to bring balance and clarity.

✨ Leo

Visibility: Easy to spot in spring after sunset—look for the "sickle" shape (like a backward question mark).

Fun Fact: Leo has been recognized by nearly every ancient civilization. It’s associated with strength, the heart, and—of course—a little flair.

✨ Ursa Major (The Big Dipper)

Visibility: Visible year-round and super easy to find, especially in clear North Austin skies.

Fun Fact: The Big Dipper isn’t actually a constellation—it’s part of one! It belongs to Ursa Major, the Great Bear. You can use the two outer stars of the dipper’s "bowl" to point directly to Polaris, the North Star.

✨ Bootes

Visibility: Near Virgo—just follow the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle to find it ("Arc to Arcturus").

Fun Fact: Its name comes from the Greek word for “herdsman,” and it contains Arcturus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It’s a reddish-orange star that’s impossible to miss once you know where to look!

✨ Lyra

Visibility: Best seen in the late spring to summer, rising in the northeast sky after dark.

Fun Fact: Lyra is home to Vega—one of the brightest stars in the night sky and part of the famous Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb and Altair). In mythology, Lyra represents the lyre of Orpheus, said to charm animals, trees, and even stones.

🌿 Why This Matters (and Feeds My Creativity)

There’s something grounding and expansive about looking up and remembering you’re part of something so much bigger. Since moving here, I’ve felt more connected to the themes that inspire my products—zodiac energy, lunar cycles, the balance of earthly wisdom and cosmic mystery and the physical patterns that you see with them.

It’s no coincidence that my handmade creations and even the print-on-demand pieces I design for The Astra Botanica are all rooted in that dreamy space between nature and the stars. Now that I get to live in a place where I can see and feel that connection every night, I can’t help but pour that inspiration into something I create or design.

🌙 Come Stargaze With Me

Whether you’re nearby in Austin or following along from afar, I hope this inspires you to look up more often especially when the night is clear. The sky has a way of reminding us that beauty, change, and wonder are always in motion—and often just above our heads.

So here’s to darker and clear skies, possibly decent pictures of cosmic sightings and the thrill of catching a falling star!

From,

Jessie

The Astra Botanica