Where to go
Dark sky parks and reserves have protected, low-light skies. In the UK, places such as Galloway Forest Park, Northumberland and Exmoor are known for their dark skies. The US has many dark sky parks, including several national parks. Even a country park away from streetlights beats a town garden.
What you can see
- Constellations like the Plough and Orion.
- Bright planets, which don’t twinkle like stars.
- The Milky Way on very dark nights.
- Meteor showers at certain times of year.
Go further
Visit a planetarium or space centre: see space days out and museums and science.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
