No. 27 Go stargazing

Visitors enjoying stargazing evenings at Tyntesfield, North Somerset | © National Trust Images/Steve Sayers

Stargazing is a magical way to bring science to life and experience the beauty of the natural world. Looking up at space's great canopy is a powerful experience. Discover our tips on the constellations to look out for.

Let’s go stargazing

Grab your coats, find a cosy spot to lie down outside or look out of your window. The longer you look up, the more stars you’ll discover. As you gaze, try and enjoy the moment – how does it make you feel? What words can you use to describe your special view? Connect the dots of different stars and see which shapes you can make. You could draw them in a star diary.

Groups of stars make shapes called constellations. Different constellations can be seen in the night sky at different times of year and in different parts of the world. Some are easier to spot than others – see our guide to common constellations below. If you’re lucky, you may even get to see a shooting star whizz across the sky. What will you wish for?

Common constellations to spot

These constellations are easy to recognise in the sky and have been admired for many hundreds of years.

Orion

Named after a hunter who appears in Greek mythology, Orion contains many bright stars and is easy to spot during winter in the UK. It's his belt that's usually noticed first, made up of three stars that lie in a line. These stars may look close together to us but actually they're light years apart.

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Stargazing tips

Stargazing is best done before the moon is full, so check which phase the moon is in by making a note of its shape each night. You could also check the Royal Museums Greenwich's full moon calendar.
Turn off all the lights in your home to reduce light pollution.
Try stargazing at different times of year to spot seasonal constellations.
Download an app like Star Walk (iPhone) or Sky Map (android) to a mobile device, and they will tell you what stars you can see from your current location.

What you'll need

Something to lie on. A blanket or camping mat will do.
Food, drink and warm clothes to keep everyone happy as you wait for the stars to come out.
How about uploading a playlist of space-themed songs to a phone? Or as the sun sets, you could read ancient myths about the stars and tales of space exploration.
A star spotter guide (on a phone or in a book) and a compass to find a particular constellation or star.