It’s established fact that winter is the best time for hot chocolate, afternoon naps and film marathons – but did you also know that it’s a great time of year for stargazing?
If you’ve never given much thoughts to looking at the stars, now is the perfect time to get acquainted with our dazzling night sky. Not only is stargazing educational – it has benefits for our health and wellbeing, too.
How to stargaze…
For the best pay-off, choose a clear night. The skies will be at their darkest when there’s a new moon, but it is possible to stargaze when there’s a full moon, too – this can sometimes make the stars less visible.
And you don’t need any fancy equipment – the naked eye is perfectly capable. But you will need to give yourself 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. If you did want to invest, a decent pair of binoculars will help you see even more detail on the moon and stars.
What to look for…
Thanks to the UK’s high northern latitude and long winter nights, there’s much to be seen in our night sky.
A good place to start is with the Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, which is always visible in the northern hemisphere. From there, there are hundreds of stars to be seen, as well as the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.
Identifying different constellations and planets needs a little practice, but best to brush up one some of the most commonly seen stars and constellations beforehand, or take paper references, so you’re not looking at your bright phone screen while you’re stargazing. There are many astronomy books and websites to help you learn the basics.
Some of the main constellations to look out for are Orion, Leo, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Hydra, and Cassiopeia – a W-shaped circumpolar constellation.
“…And you don’t need any fancy equipment – the naked eye is perfectly capable… but a pair of binoculars will help you see even more detail…”
Where can I stargaze?
Stargazing is one of the most accessible hobbies – it’s free, and it can be done anywhere. But there are also some particularly good spots across the country, if you’re local to them.
“A good place to start is with the Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, which is always visible in the northern hemisphere. “
Six of the UK’s national parks – Brecon Beacons, Exmoor, Snowdonia, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, and Moore’s Reserve in the South Downs – have been awarded International Dark Sky Reserve status. This means they have minimal artificial light pollution, and good access for visitors.
Northumberland National Park is an International Dark Sky Park with Gold Tier status. This award recognises its exceptionally low levels of light pollution and exceptional stargazing conditions. It’s also the largest area of protected night sky in Europe.
Once you’ve decided on your spot, there are endless opportunities to learn about astrology? and spot more than just stars. You could write a stargazing bucket list: why not aim for a shooting star, then a planet, then a meteor shower?
“Remember to wrap up warm and take a hot drink”
The health benefits of stargazing
Being present in a mindful activity, free from screens and the everyday business of life, is hugely beneficial for our health, and many stargazers will agree that gazing at the night sky helps them gain perspective over their lives and slow down their thoughts.
Research has found that people who have a deeper connection to the night sky have better mental health, and generally feel happier. And feelings of awe – which comes in spades when you’re looking at the night sky – have been shown to reduce inflammation in our bodies, lower our heart rate and increase the happy hormone oxytocin.
So if you’ve been looking for a new hobby this winter, perhaps the answer was right above your head all this time. Remember to wrap up warm and take a hot drink – and, if you’re planning to lie down, a thick picnic blanket won’t go amiss. It’s also a great activity to involve family and friends with, too – brush up on your stargazing books and impress them with your knowledge.
