Milky Way will be visible with the naked eye this month with a chance of shooting stars too – 9 spots for the best view
THE UK might not be graced with Northern Lights as frequently as countries further north, but that doesn’t mean stargazers can’t witness epic displays.
There are tons of spots across the UK where you can see the Milky Way, and shooting stars from a double meteor shower, this month.
But The Sun has narrowed these down to just 10 locations.
They’re not all rural scenes, either.
There are even some areas in and around London where amateur astronomers are able to catch the Milky Way, also known as the ‘Great Rift’, and meteor showers.
Yorkshire Dales National Park – North East England
Beyond being a beautiful part of the country, the Yorkshire Dales National Park is part of the dark skies friendly scheme, which encourages local accommodation providers to host stargazers.
Lake District National Park – North West England
The Lake District, a popular holiday destination, flaunts mountain terrain and lakeside views.
However, it also benefits from low levels of light pollution and therefore makes an great destination to see the Milky Way and shooting stars – as long as the night is clear.
Exmoor National Park – South West England
Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve, the first Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, is mostly free from light pollution.
Some say it has the darkest skies in the country, which is perfect for catching the cosmic swirl of the Milky Way.
Although it’s important to remember how the Moon influences the brightness of the sky – it’s best to go stargazing when the Moon is in crescent.
The Park also has a number of campsites and accommodations that are Dark Sky Friendly, so you can witness shoot stars from the comfort of your camp.
Snowdonia National Park – Wales
The Snowdonia National Park, home to the highest peak in Wales, covers roughly 18 per cent of the country’s land area.
So it’s safe to say there is minimal light pollution, and as a result, has some of the best stargazing spots in the UK.
There are also plenty of stargazer-friendly places to stay.
Cairngorms National Park – Scotland
The Cairngorms National Park in Scotland was awarded “Gold Tier” status by the International Dark Sky Association in 2018.
This was given in recognition of the Park’s efforts to reduce light pollution and maintain dark skies for astronomers.
Crayford Manor Astronomical Society – Dartford
The Crayford Manor Astronomical Society, in Dartford, just outside of London, is a great place to catch some of Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers that are passing Earth this month.
The society meets every Thursday at the Dick Chambers Sutton-at-Hone Observatory from 7.45pm to 9.30pm.
It’s important to note that you must email the society first to confirm your attendance.
Hampstead Heath and Observatory
Hampstead Heath, one of the highest points in London, is also home to one of the biggest parks in the capital.
This means the area can be a good one to escape some of the city’s light pollution.
It’s also home to Hampstead Observatory, which is open to the public every Friday and Saturday night from mid-September to mid-April – depending on the weather.
Primrose Hill
Another popular viewing point is Primrose Hill which, due to its large size, can also protect stargazers from light pollution.
Londoners may be able to catch up to 25 shooting stars per hour this month as the Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornids flyby in August.
Blythe Hill Fields
Blythe Hill Fields is another top spot for stargazing, according to GoStargazing and DarkSkyLondon.
Avid stargazers reckon the viewpoint is high enough to avoid the worst of London’s light pollution.
What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?
Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa...
- Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
- Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
- Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it’ll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn’t vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth’s atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
- Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vaporizing)