Dark skies stargazing
An enormous night sky
On a clear night you may see the Milky Way, comet showers and shooting stars, even the Northern Lights.
The owner's notes
How to plan a stargazing night
An enormous night sky, on clear night you may see the Milky Way, comet showers or shooting stors, even the Northern Lights. Best dates for Northern Lights are Oct 22 and Nov 7.
A good aurora notification app such as Glendale will alert you when sightings are possible. To photograph the Northern Lights, use a long exposure of 3 to 4 seconds, this absorbs more night light and shows the colours of the aurora which, to the naked eye, may simply be grey and cloudy.
If using a smartphone, put in Night mode. Use tripod if available.
For all star gazing experiences, avoid a full moon, its light blots out the stars. You can check the Moon phases and rise and set times for your location on the Time and Date website or using a smartphone app such as Lunescope.
Plan your stargazing session for a time when the Moon is out of the way.
Some constellations are seasonal and are therefore only visible at certain times of the year so make sure you've done your research before heading out. You can use the free Stellarium app, star chart or planisphere.
The British Geological Survey (GBS) website gives information on forecast cosmic activity.
September & October
Float in the pool, watching the sky
Best time for star gazing at High Cloud is September to February. In September and October you can relax floating in the heated swimming pool, watching the sky.
The pool is open for bookings from May 1st to October 31st; in the early and later months its heat is governed to some extent by the weather.
Planning the night
Three notes before you head out
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Pick your season
Best time for stargazing at High Cloud is September to February, and always plan around the Moon: a full moon's light blots out the stars.
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Book an astronomer
Guided star-gazing sessions with an astronomical expert are offered, to help you explore the beauty and mystery of the night sky.
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The big telescope
For tailor-made star-gazing experiences, contact Allan Trow of Dark Sky Wales Training Services, and request that he brings his large telescope if wanted.
Sunset to starlight
The sun sets behind Sugarloaf
Watch it go down from the terrace, then stay out as the sky fills. Autumn weekends bring the best of both.