Learn the night sky without an app: May's easiest star-hops for beginners

"Look, there's the Southern Cross !" I turned, expecting an outstretched arm and a finger pointing low to the horizon. Instead, she was pointing at her phone. Her friend hurried over, not to look up, but to look down — both of them staring at a glowing screen while, just beyond them, Crux was visible in the night sky. I wanted to interrupt them, to redirect their attention by a few degrees. Just lift your eyes! It's right there! I didn't say anything, but that sad sight stuck with me. Smartphones are addictive. Yes, they're useful, but defaulting to an app after it's done its job gets in the way of the one skill that actually makes the sky make sense: naked eye star-hopping. You don't need to try to recognize everything in the night sky at once. Beginners often miss this and try to match the entire sky to a chart on a phone. It doesn't work because the sky is too big. To know it, you have to navigate it, starting with something obvious and moving to something less so, building a chain and, in time, a mental map. The night sky will reveal itself to you slowly if you let it, and it will be with you the rest of your life. Sure, if you get stuck when stargazing, use an app. The point isn't to avoid technology entirely, but to avoid becoming dependent on it. Why May is perfect for star-hopping Early May is ideal for going app-free. This weekend, the moon fades toward last quarter, opening up darker skies with each passing night. …