Requirement
8. One observing project of six: approved AND guided by your counselor
Required Often forgotten
The badge says "with your counselor's approval and guidance", so this is agreed rather than simply chosen. One route makes requirement 4 a prerequisite, two need an audience, and two work under a cloudy sky.
Notes and warnings
Warning. THIS CHOICE IS AGREED, NOT MADE. The requirement opens "With your counselor's APPROVAL AND GUIDANCE", both words. It is also the only decision on the badge that changes the order of the rest: 8(b) turns requirement 4 into a prerequisite, 8(c) and 8(d) put you on somebody else's calendar, and 8(a) and 8(f) barely depend on your own sky at all. Settle it at your first meeting.
What this is made of
- 8(a). Visit a planetarium or observatory, and report on it
- 8(b). Plan and run an observation session: ten objects beyond requirement 4
- 8(c). Plan and host a star party for your troop or class
- 8(d). Help an astronomy club run a public star party
- 8(e). Photograph something moving, and show the display
- 8(f). Observe online, through something like SkyNet
Where this step comes from
- Astronomy Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-09-19), Requirement 8 · Says "With your counselor's approval and guidance, do ONE of the following".