How to start stargazing, according to an astronomer
It’s official: gazing at the heavens is becoming mainstream. Celestial events and ‘supermoons’ are all over the news. Astrophotography has skyrocketed in popularity. The recent aurora storms, too, have inspired even the biggest duvet-lovers to jump up and stare at the sky at unearthly hours. In a nutshell, people are getting excited about the dazzling sights the night sky brings - and there's never been a better time to get to grips with stargazing for beginners.
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We all need a little more magic in our lives, and stargazing can certainly deliver that. Thankfully, you don’t need to be an astrophysicist to enjoy the splendour of the sky after dark. Highly accessible and immensely rewarding, a little know-how is all it takes to get the most from stargazing sessions.
Yorkshire-based Richard Darn is a dark sky extraordinaire, with numerous TV and radio appearances to his name. He was one of the key figures in establishing Northumberland International Dark Sky Park and is hosting Country Living’s stargazing trip to Northumberland, in March. So who better to ask for advice on getting started?
We spoke to Richard to give you a taster of what you could learn when you join his three-day spring trip and to inspire you to start a new hobby of stargazing. Here are some of the most frequently-asked questions about stargazing for beginners, answered by astronomer Richard...
How do you choose a good stargazing site?
No matter where you live, you will be able to see something. I live in a light-polluted part of South Yorkshire, so at home I stick with very bright objects like the moon and planets. People bring light, so when you want to see deeper into space, head into the countryside.
Most people in the UK live in a relatively urban environment but within easy reach of a rural landscape. You only have to travel a few miles to see a massive improvement: a hill or a quiet stretch of coastline will do.
What is ‘dark adaptation’ and why is it necessary?
Dark adaptation means letting the eyes attune to darkness. Our pupils expand in the dark - a natural evolutionary reaction for species survival. So, work with nature by leaving bright electronics to one side and immerse yourself in the dark atmosphere.
Technically this takes 20 minutes, but even after a few minutes, you’ll notice a distinct improvement. Colour will become more vivid, too. If you’re looking for faint sights such as the Milky Way or the aurora, dark adaptation is even more necessary.
How should we choose when to go stargazing?
It depends what you want to see. At the UK’s latitude, you can’t see much in the summer: in late May, June and July, most of us never get a truly dark sky. It can look beautiful and it’s got its own charms - but you’ll see fewer stars.
We get stars back in August. In autumn and early winter, the Milky Way comes into view. If you want to see lots of galaxies, the prime time is spring – at that point, it’s possible to see deeper into the universe. In March, when I’m hosting my dark skies tour in Northumberland, we get the most distant view possible.
Another tip is to choose a night with little moonlight, as the moon reflects sunlight and washes out other objects in the sky. A new moon period is the darkest time.
What can you see with the naked eye?
Some things are best seen by the naked eye. The Milky Way is one. Plus, from darker spots you can glimpse the Andromeda Galaxy – the most distant object you can see in any sky without optical aid. It’s like a glowing disc, two-and-a-half-million light years away!
Another is meteor showers. Our eyes are highly sensitive to movement – again, an evolutionary skill – and quickly recognise a moving object. The Northern Lights can also sometimes be seen just with your eyes, you can see the scale of it just by looking up.
However, if you are looking to invest in some equipment, a red torch is useful for preserving dark adaptation. A 10x50mm pair of binoculars will allow you to see objects in more detail; budget for £70 to £90 for a robust pair.
Do you have any tips for locating objects in the night sky?
In the old days, people used paper star maps. Now, a range of free apps makes it much easier. Download a planetarium app, move your phone from left to right and the app will tell you which sights are captured in the image. I recommend Star Walk or Google SkyMap.
Which famous constellations and asterisms can we see from the UK? And does this change throughout the year?
As Earth is a moving object, you can imagine we’re a spaceship with a window view: the night sky is constantly and subtly changing. Start by identifying sights that are distinctive or brightest and using those as a signpost.
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If you look due south at Christmas, you’ll see the iconic hourglass-shaped Orion over the horizon like a winter sentinel. In April or March, in its place is another beautiful constellation, Leo. Come August, the Milky Way appears and the sky is encrusted with late-summer constellations, such as Cygnus, the Swan.
Do you have tips for seeing shooting stars?
A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through debris, a kind of ‘space litter’ left by comets or asteroids. Every year the Earth intercepts that debris and dust particles burn up, as regular as clockwork.
Summer brings the first big shower of the year. The Perseids on August 12th gets us back into the observing season, then the Orionids appear around October 21st. King of them all is the Geminids, on December 13th or 14th.
During those major events, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see them – around 15 per hour simply by staring at the sky. These dates are just the peak, so don’t lose heart if it’s cloudy that night, as you can also see shooting starts on the days around the main event.
Are there any special celestial events in 2025 we could watch out for?
There are several key dark sky-gazing moments for your calendar in 2025. February 28th sees a planetary alignment – that’s all seven planets in the sky at the same time. This is a special event.
A partial solar eclipse will occur at 11am on March 29th, where a third of the sun will be blocked out by the moon. Then, at the end of the year, Jupiter will be the highest in the sky for 11 years. Higher means brighter and sharper, so it’s a fabulous time to view it. You will even be able to see Jupiter’s weather systems. Stargazing has got to be the ultimate ‘wow’ feeling, and this will certainly give you that.
Join Richard Darn on Country Living’s dark sky adventure in Northumberland this spring.
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