Guide to Stargazing
Where to Stargaze in the UK
An activity enjoyed by millions of people across the world, stargazing certainly isn’t a new concept. There is so much to see in the night sky, once you start you won't be able to stop. So, whether you’re far enough away from the street lights to spot the Milky Way from your garden or you have a brand-new telescope that you can’t wait to try out, there are many ways that you can explore the universe. Here at Castle Cameras, we have compiled an easy-to-follow beginners guide to get you started with stargazing.
Where’s the best place to stargaze?
There are a few things to consider when picking the perfect place to stargaze. It will depend on what you’re hoping to see, how far you’re happy to travel, and the time of year. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend looking out for the following when picking a location:
Light Polluted Areas - Unfortunately, if you live in an urban area or city, the majority of the night sky will be obscured by street lights reflecting back from the atmosphere. On the other hand, if you stargaze in a dark location, you could see as many as 3000 stars with the naked eye on a clear night (Go Stargazing Statistics). For the best stargazing experience, it is definitely worth travelling a few miles into the countryside to explore the night sky as much as possible.
Avoid Street Lights - If travelling to a different location simply isn’t an option for you, then try to steer clear from streetlights or artificial lighting. Not only will turning off all lights around you reduce the light pollution, but it will also allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness and make stargazing a little bit easier. Use the Bortle Scale A highly useful tool for astronomers across all levels, the Bortle scale is a nine-level numeric scale that measures the quality and level of brightness for the night sky. It uses astronomical observations to measure the amount of light pollution in a particular location – a helpful tool if you’re not sure whether your location is ideal for stargazing.
Pick the Right Time
Although you can stargaze at any time that there is a clear dark sky, the best time to go stargazing are the days before, during and after each new Moon. This is because the moon isn’t in view in the sky and, as a result, it won’t diminish the light of slightly fainter stars.
The Best Locations in the UK for Stargazing
Locations in Dorset and Wiltshire
If you live locally to us, Durlston Head near Swanage, Knowlton church off Cranborne Chase, not to mention Salisbury Plain and the New Forest provide excellent opportunities.
Northumberland National Park
The Northumberland National Park is ideal for stargazing. It has very low levels of light pollution and offers beautiful crystal-clear skies at night. From the Milky Way to the Andromeda 2.5 million light years away, there is always something to see at the Northumberland National Park when it comes to stargazing.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
A highly recognised destination for stargazers across the UK, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park offers a network of Dark Sky Discovery Sites to choose from. It is recognised as an excellent, accessible spot to enjoy stargazing.
Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Dales National Park offers large areas that are completely free from local light pollution. In fact, on a clear night, you might even be lucky enough to see as many as 2,000 stars and even the Northern lights when the conditions are just right.
Snowdonia National Park
If you haven’t visited Snowdonia National Park before, then we would definitely recommend adding it to your list of places to visit – especially when stargazing is on the agenda. It was awarded the Dark Sky Reserve status in December 2015, recognising that it is a highly protected environment; enhancing the biodiversity and the dark skies of Snowdonia.
Stargazing with the naked eye
Stargazing doesn’t have to be complicated – it can simply be a matter of looking up at the sky and noticing particular patterns of stars or planets moving. With the help of astronomy apps and star charts, there is still plenty to see without using a telescope or binoculars.
How do I see more?
We have a range of optical devices to help you see more. Binoculars are the most popular. They are generally used for nature observation, horse-racing or big-game spotting and are just as useful for magnifying the moon and stars by 8x, 10x or more. A monocular, one half of a pair of binoculars, is handy for occasional use with just one eye at a time. The stereo vision that comes from looking through both eyes does not give any advantage in stargazing so, for any price, a monocular will give more stars per pound than a pair of binoculars. An astronomical telescope takes this on a stage to larger, bespoke devices with higher, variable magnifications and extra features to make the stargazing experience more enjoyable
Can I use binoculars for stargazing?
Binoculars actually offer a variety of benefits. Not only are they more affordable, but they are also easy-to-use, highly practical and don’t need to be set up on a mount or tripod – ideal for beginners that are just getting to grips with astronomy. Celestron Trailseeker 8x42 ED Binoculars are perfect for stargazing as they feature fully multi-coatings and BaK-4 prisms for the brightest, most detailed images possible. They are packed with optical, mechanical, and ergonomic features that make them comparable to binoculars costing two to five times as much. Or, if you’re considering a pair of binoculars with a higher magnification specifically for stargazing, then the Celestron Skymaster Pro 20x80 Binoculars might be a better option for you. The 80mm objective lens and low dispersion glass offer maximum image clarity to help you to see the more distant stars and galaxies.
Which telescope should I use for stargazing?
A powerful telescope is the go-to piece of equipment for stargazing, A telescope will provide exceptional quality, stability and detail when viewing the moon, stars, planets and more. If you’re a beginner that’s looking for an affordable telescope to start out with, then we would highly recommend the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ. Whether you are camping in the outdoors or relaxing in your garden, this LightBridge Mini Dobsonian is the ideal “grab-and-go” telescope, offering easy and portable observation. If you have a bigger budget to work with, then the Celestron Nexstar 130SLT telescope is a great option for stargazing. Its five inch mirror and up to 72x magnification are ideal for viewing star clusters and nebulae. Its motorised mount with computerised hand control automatically take your to your selected celestial object and, even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes.
Are monoculars good for stargazing?
Despite binoculars often being the preferred choice of equipment for stargazing, you can actually achieve the same magnification and field of view as binoculars with a monocular. Due to their lightweight and compact design, monoculars are becoming the preferred option for casual stargazing. We highly recommend the Vortex Solo 10x36 Monocular. It features a 10x magnification, a generous objective lens, and a housing designed to withstand the elements.
What's the best stargazing app?
Whether you’re looking for a location that has low levels of light pollution or you need help spotting a particular constellation, there are a variety of stargazing and astronomy apps to choose from that will help. Here are just a few stargazing apps that we would recommend using to get you started:
SkyView®
Available on both Android and iOS, SkyView® Lite is an intuitive stargazing app that uses your camera to precisely spot and identify celestial objects in sky, day or night. Not only will it help you discover your favourite constellations, it will also provide a description of where it has come from.
Star Walk 2 Ads+: Night Sky Map
This useful app enables you to explore the sky through the screen of your device and the ability to find out what sky objects are visible from your location and when it's best to see them.
Celestron SkyPortal
While other astronomy apps may claim that they can help you find objects, they rely exclusively on the phone’s gyros and accelerometers, which aren’t as accurate as LISA technology. No other app can accurately tell you when your target is visible in the eyepiece.
ISS Detector
Available free on iOS and Android, the International Space Station (ISS) app allows you to track the exact location of the ISS and even discover particular planets. Not only does the app check if the weather conditions are right for stargazing, but it will also provide an alarm a few minutes before it passes to give you time in advance.
What should I look for when stargazing?
The Milky Way
Best seen in Autumn, The Milky Way is probably one of the most beautiful sights that you can see with the naked eye. The best time to see it will be in the summer months, from June to August, when it will be located just above horizon.
Meteor Showers
A meteor shower or a ‘shooting star’ is caused by streams of cosmic debris entering the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed. There are plenty of spectacular meteor showers to see throughout the year and if you find the right spot, at the right time, there’s no reason not to see one yourself. Take a look at this Meteor Shower Calendar to find out when the next opportunity might be.
Star Clusters
A beautiful view to look at in the dark sky, star clusters certainly shouldn’t be overlooked by either beginner or experienced stargazers. Although you can see these scattered throughout the sky with an unaided eye. We recommend using a pair of binoculars for the best experience.
Aurora
Without a doubt, the display of the Northern Lights is a spectacular phenomenon to experience for anyone. Your best chance to see the Aurora is to travel as far north as possible in Scotland, or take a trip to Scandinavia, during the winter.
Is stargazing better in the winter?
If you think you can brave the cold weather, then we definitely recommend stargazing on a clear winter’s night. Due to the longer nights and lower humidity, there are often clear skies which are perfect for stargazing.
Can you stargaze during the day?
Although stargazing in the daytime does have its limitations, it is still possible. In fact, you might actually be surprised by what you will be able to see. For example, aside from the moon and the sun, under the right conditions, you might be lucky enough to even catch a glimpse of Jupiter. However, never look directly at the Sun, especially if you are using any sort of optical device, without a black Sun filter.
Our Tips
- Use a star chart.
- Although there are many useful apps that have been designed to help out amateur stargazers, sometimes keeping it simple is best. If you’re really hoping to get to grips with stargazing, a star chart will teach you what to look out for in the night sky and give you a better overview of the entire night sky.
- Look for the International Space Station.
- NASA has made it possible to track the International Space Station with their app and website. As we mentioned above, their ISS Detector app will notify you when the ISS is nearby and where to look. Invest in a red flashlight – Unlike a white torch light, a red torch will maintain your vision in the dark and allow you to navigate your equipment easily. The Celestron PowerTank 7 is fully equipped with a powerful spotlight to see you safely to your location, a red light to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness, two 12v sockets, two 5v USB charge points and can be quickly re-charged from your car or campervan while on location.
Contact Castle Cameras, we can offer our knowledge and experience to help you find the best stargazing equipment possible for you. If you would like our help and advice, you can use our Live Chat on any product page during working hours or get in touch at any time.
