Page 43 - BBC Sky at Night - September 2017 UK

WILD ASTRONOMY SEPTEMBER 43

you want to explore the sky a little deeper, As long as you observe the
take a pair of binoculars with you; they’ll be local rules when wild camping,
perfectly adequate for observing the larger and the sky is yours all night long
brighter star clusters and nebulae.
Wild camping (ie, camping outside an official
campsite) is allowed on certain parts of Dartmoor
and in some areas of Scotland, but be sure to
familiarise yourself with the by-laws and wild
camping guidelines (or restrictions) at these
locations before you set out. Certain parts of
Dartmoor, for example, are used as live-firing
ranges by the British Army. For anywhere else
in the UK you’ll need to follow the local rules
and by-laws regarding camping and if necessary
get permission from the landowner or relevant
authority before you embark on your trip .
Wild camping naturally requires more kit
than a quick evening trip, such as a tent, a decent
sleeping bag, cooking equipment and walking
boots, but just as with short excursions always
tell someone where you are going and take enough
water and food supplies with you. A properly-
stocked first aid kit is a must and insect repellent

“Wild camping is allowed in parts is advisable too in the summer months. All the
effort of hiking to an isolated observing spot
of Dartmoor and in some areas is worth it though. If you ask us, there are few
greater pleasures in life than lying back while
of Scotland, but familiarise on a wild camp and scanning the summer
Milky Way with binoculars. So, the only
yourself with relevant by-laws” question remaining is, where will your first
wild astronomy destination be? S

Wonders of wild astronomy

Why should you even consider leaving the comfort of your regular observing site at all?
Wild astronomy isn’t just about the thrill of an home. For events like major meteor showers such trips to push the boundaries of
adventure and the pleasure of stargazing or it’s great to get out to a dark-sky site, as the your observing experience. For example,
imaging in beautiful locations. It’s also about darker skies will allow you to see fainter we’ve enjoyed marvellous naked-eye
going in search of things that we can’t ordinarily meteors, really enhancing the excitement of views of the elliptical ‘smudge’ of light
be seen from a light-polluted home location. the ‘shower’ experience. Similarly, phenomena that is the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
Even just an evening’s drive from the skyglow such as the faint zodiacal light or the rich on wild camps on Dartmoor and even
of suburbia can reveal more stars and is likely star fields of the summer Milky Way make caught naked-eye glimpses of the
to give you better views of deep-sky objects wonderful celestial targets to build a night Triangulum Galaxy (M33) on nights
you may struggle to see with your scope at hike or wild camp around. You can even use with excellent sky conditions.

The zodiacal light is only visible
under the darkest skies

The faint smudge of M33 and
the constellation of Cepheus

skyatnightmagazine.com 2017