Where to Begin
To make the most of your stargazing voyage, on clear nights it’s best to head to a spot that provides you with as much of an unobstructed view of the sky as possible. Ideally this should be a site with minimal light pollution, far away from tall buildings, trees and other objects that might punctuate the skyline. An excellent place to go for this is Bodmin Moor. In July 2017, Bodmin Moor was designated an International Dark Sky Landscape, confirming its long held reputation as one of Cornwall’s top attractions and simultaneously making it the first International Dark Sky location that sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These features make it an exceptional spot to bundle up the family and whisk them off to gaze up at the night sky, hot cocoa in a flask, of course! But, if you’d rather stay at home or have little ones that need to be in close proximity to their bed late at night, you would be surprised what you can spot from your bedroom window or sat on a blanket out in your garden. In its most simplest form, you don’t need any equipment to experience the awe of the night sky and by simply turning your back to streetlights and putting your phone away for just 15 minutes, your eyes will adjust to the darkness. Your eyes alone will pick out the moon, satellites, meteors, shooting stars and possibly even some UFO’s… However, if you’d like to up your game a little, you might be surprised at how much a simple pair of binoculars can enhance your experience. Children’s binoculars for smaller hands are easy to purchase, but they might find it easier without any depending on their age. For the more discerning individuals that are eager for further details, investing in an amateur telescope is highly recommended.
