Under the Spell of Stars
The stars have fascinated us from time immemorial, with those illuminations in the sky inspiring countless works of art, literature and music over many generations. But it’s the dark sky surrounding them which brings their grandeur into focus.
In 2015 Eryri was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve, the tenth region in the world to be awarded this status making it one of the places with the least light pollution in the whole world. Ynys Enlli (Bardsey), on the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula has also been awarded protected dark sky status by the International Dark Sky Association.
Wales is the country with the highest percentage of protected dark skies in the whole world, including Eryri and Enlli, and the dark skies status areas of the Pembrokeshire Coast and the Brecon Beacons National Park. So what exactly do we see when we gaze up at the sky? It’s quite mind-boggling but a galaxy two and a half million light years away is visible with the naked eye alone; a telescope enables us to see craters on the moon! With time and lots of patience you can spot magical shooting stars, as dust particles falling through the atmosphere appear as streak of light across the sky. The best months to see these in Wales are the months of August, October and December.
Did you know that as many as five planets can be seen with the naked eye? Keep an eye out for Venus and Mars; Venus with its bright light after sunset and before sunrise, and Mars with its red tint. Comets can occasionally be seen shooting through space, and the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis) have drawn thousands of us out of doors this year to see the night skies painted in the most wondrous colours.
Man has always looked skywards throughout the ages as he is drawn to the constellations. In times past the constellations kept the people of Wales company as they cultivated the land or travelled at night and this led to their being given several ancient names. Bootes is known in Welsh as ‘Hu Gadarn’; he was the first person to start working the land here according to legend. Here in Wales the Plough (or The Big Dipper) is also called Sêr y Llong (The Ship’s Stars), as this constellation’s constant location helped sailors traverse the seas in the days before technological developments. You can learn much more about dark skies by visiting the Discovery in the Dark Wales website, and in the unique volume All Through The Night, by local Dark Sky Officer, Dani Robertson.
It’s now acknowledged that stargazing is good for us. Spending time under a dark sky improves our health and wellbeing, as well as giving us perspective of our size on the planet. Darkness is also beneficial to others. Did you know that 60% of plants and wildlife require darkness in order to stay alive? Bats, owls and a number of other birds are dependent on the day-night pattern for their survival. Bats hunt and feed at night, and owls’ eyes enable them to spot and hunt their prey in almost total darkness. Many birds also use the sun, moon and stars to navigate in flight.
If you’ve been inspired to learn more and to experience the dark sky for yourself, there are many activities you can try under a night sky. From camping under the stars, watching the sunrise and sunset, badger watching and late evening walks; you’d be surprised by the number of activities on offer! It’s well worth following Prosiect Nos (Night Project) on social media, to see which activities are available, many of them led by experienced staff. Dark Skies Wales Week held in February every year provides a good opportunity to take the first step, with a number of events throughout Wales taking groups out to have a great time at night.
Joining an event is a good way to start out initially, as there are a few things to keep in mind before setting out to survey the stars. You will need to plan your route beforehand, dress suitably and take a map and compass with you for starters. Take a look at Discovery in the Dark Wales’ comprehensive advice when planning your outing. There are plenty of places for stargazing here in Eryri. Llyn y Dywarchen above Drws y Coed in Dyffryn Nantlle, with an adjacent car park, is a popular spot. There’s also Llyn Geirionnydd in Gwydir Forest above Betws y Coed, with public parking, toilets and picnic benches. Follow this link for more ideas on safe and suitable locations for stargazing in Eryri.
If you’re interested in taking photographs of the night sky, it’s never been easier to do so either with your mobile phone or a digital camera, using an app to help you. Set aside some time to read the specialist astrophotography support available before you set out, so that you can capture the marvels of the night sky and share them with others.
We all have a role to play in protecting the dark sky in order to continue enjoying the splendour of the stars. There are a couple of small things we can all do such as only using lights when necessary and making an effort to point lights downwards when we’re outside in order to reduce their effect on local wildlife.
So prepare with care, pack your bag, wrap up warm, and venture out to discover the beauty and wonder of Eryri under a blanket of stars whilst everyone else is asleep.
