Dark Sky Park: a window to the stars

Come and marvel at the stars and planets revealed by a truly dark night sky

Northumberland International Dark Sky Park is officially the best place in England to gaze in marvel at the stars. The International Dark Sky Association has awarded the park its top “gold tier” designation. The park is Europe’s largest area of protected night sky, some 572 square miles, and the third largest Gold Tier Dark Sky Park in the world.

 

nlandstars - the land thats just as good with the lights off - banner

 

Darkest skies in England

Northumberland National Park’s status as the darkest in England was confirmed in recent work by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The CPRE analysed satellite imagery from September 2015 to produce a map of England’s light pollution and dark skies. The map was produced from data gathered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration via satellite visible and infrared imagery to determine the levels of light spilling up into British skies. This revealed 96% of the Northumberland National Park to have pristine night skies and very little light pollution elsewhere.

Stay and Gaze

Dark Sky Stay and Gaze logo

Homildon is a “Dark Sky Stay and Gaze” cottage

Homildon Cottage holds “Stay and Gaze” status, in recognition of our facilities for enjoying the night skies. It is lucky enough to sit on the edge of the dark sky park, allowing the spectacle to be enjoyed from the comfort of our back garden. The cottage is fully equipped for the budding stargazer from guides to our very own telescope!

Alternatively the cottage makes a great starting point to hike up a hill for wilderness stargazing – Humbleton Hill just next door to the house makes for a phenomenal view of the skies. For those who prefer to be guided, you can join a Northumberland Stargazing Event or extend a NEWT wildlife safari into the hours of darkness.

What can you see in the dark sky?

Perhaps four fifths of the UK population has never experienced a truly dark sky or the sense of wonder that it inspires. The glory of the Milky Way is revealed along with hundreds of stars visible to the naked eye. Shooting stars are another highlight especially during peaks of activity such as the Perseids.

The autumn and winter months, when the nights draw in, are an excellent time for stargazing. It also helps if the moon is not too full. These factors combine to allow for a properly dark night sky. However the wonder of the brightest stars and our fellow planets in the solar system can be experienced on a clear night throughout the year.

See the Northern Lights?

If you are very lucky, you may see the aurora borealis (or Northern Lights), a spectacular natural phenomenon rarely seen in the night sky over Britain. These light up the night sky with a green glow as solar wind hits the upper atmosphere. For the latest scientific data and alerts on possible northern lights events, see AuroraWatch UK.

Stargazing equipment

Stargazing equipment at Homildon Cottage
Some of the best stargazing is simply wondering at the majesty of a truly dark sky with the naked eye. However as a designated Stay & Gaze holiday cottage, we provide some equipment to ensure you can enjoy our dark skies to the utmost. We supply:

  • Red torches (to preserve your night vision)
  • Binoculars
  • Small, basic telescope (a Visionary FirstView)
  • Planisphere
  • Beginners’ astronomy guidebook
  • Outdoor blankets
  • Our outdoor decking provides a viewing area on-site away from outside lighting while being accessible from the house. There is seating and a table.
  • Picnic rug (for lying on the grass)
  • Large thermos for soup or hot drinks

What to bring to enjoy the night skies
We provide the stargazing essentials but some nights it’s worth wrapping up warm!

  • Warm clothes
  • Hat, gloves
  • iPad or smart phone if you want to use a stargazing app

 

Which stargazing app?

There are now lots of great stargazing apps to instal on your smart phone or iPad. Most of these work by allowing you to point your device at the sky and get information on exactly what you are looking at. This is our pick of some of the best:

Star Chart
£0
A free app, point your phone at the sky and it will tell you what you are looking at. It has a night mode as well as “Time Shift” to travel back or forward 10,000 years.

iOS | Android

Star Walk 2
£1.98-2.29
Top notch app. Lots of information accessible by tapping objects on screen. It shows the orbital path of a planet or moon so you’ll know when it will be visible.

iOS | Android

Sky Guide
£0.99
Our personal favourite: lots of information with a clean interface. This 2014 Apple design award winner allows you to search for a star, and the app will guide you to it by following a pop up arrow.

iOS only

 

dark sky light map
Fascinating Google Map mashup of light pollution across Europe – the Northumberland Dark Sky Park can be seen as the patch of black!

Pic: andy [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Find out more about the cottage and why our location makes a perfect base for some stargazing.