astronomy trips uk

• Stargazing Experience Gift Boxes
• Astronomy Gift Boxes

Touch the Stars from the South Downs National Park

South downs national park stargazing experiences, stargazing experience gifts for individuals, couples and families.

Discover Exmoor's Starry Night Skies

Exmoor stargazing experiences, experience gifts for individuals, couples and families.

Experience starry night skies in Wales

Brecon beacons stargazing experience.

Stargazing Experiences in South East England

Chilterns aonb stargazing experiences, christmas & birthday gifts for all the family.

Explore a Universe of Starlight

Stargazing experiences from the peak district national park, private stargazing experience gifts for christmas and birthdays.

An Evening Underneath the Stars in the Clent Hills

Stargazing experiences in the west midlands, stargazing experience gifts.

Become a Time Traveller Across the Universe

Unique stargazing experiences from the new forest, stargazing experience gifts with an experienced astronomer as your guide.

DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF OUR UNIVERSE WITH AN EXPERIENCED ASTRONOMER AS YOUR GUIDE

Dark Sky Telescope Hire are proud to offer 1-hour and 2-hour private stargazing experience nights for individuals, couples, families and small groups at some of the best stargazing locations across the UK. Enjoy a journey out across the universe to visit star systems, star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies far beyond our own through one of our large telescopes. See ancient craters scattered across the moon in high definition, discover the magic of Saturn’s rings and watch Jupiter’s moons perform their merry dance around the biggest planet in our solar system.

Our stargazing experiences are run by an experienced astronomer offering professional and enthusiastic narration of the views you’ll see through the telescope. We package the stargazing experiences as a gift voucher inside a luxury gift box, making them ideal birthday gifts or Christmas presents for anyone with an interest in discovering the night sky.

To choose a stargazing experience gift box simply select the location and duration of stargazing experience from the grid below and add the experience to your shopping cart. Once payment is received we’ll dispatch your stargazing experience gift box first class by first class Royal Mail within 1 - 2 working days of order receipt. The gift voucher inside the gift box is valid for 2-years from month of purchase with possibility to extend for a further year free of charge. The recipient is welcome to have up to 15 family & friends share in the experience at no extra cost.   

£180.00

£225.00

£35.00

ABOUT DARK SKY TELESCOPE HIRE

Dark Sky Telescope Hire provide private stargazing experience nights for individuals, couples, families and small groups. We also hire out telescopes for self use. If you would like to find out more about telescope hire please visit our main site: darkskytelescopehire.co.uk

CONTACT INFORMATION

DSTH 41 High Street Toddington, Bedfordshire LU5 6BX

Email: [email protected] Phone: 07884 001815

GIFT BOX AND VOUCHER DETAILS

Stargazing Experience Gift Boxes Voucher Information Payment and Delivery How to use your Voucher What if it is Cloudy or Raining?

Contact Us for other services such as; Back Garden Stargazing Telescope Hire Events

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10 of the best places for stargazing in the UK

From Neolithic standing stone sites to remote mountains and castle-backed valleys, the UK’s dark sky reserves and discovery sites offer a rich tapestry of backdrops for superb stargazing on clear nights.

British skies dazzle when the sun sinks, and there are a handful of dark sky reserves and discovery sites where the lack of light pollution can help stargazing enthusiasts feel that bit closer to the universe. Take a winter stomp across freezing moors or a late-night summer drive up to a remote hilltop to find a sky full of stars with distant planets glittering overhead on clear nights. Often, there’s no need for a telescope either — star clusters such as Pleiades and Hyades, the Milky Way, nebulae and shooting stars can often be seen with the naked eye or with the help of a pair of cheap binoculars and stargazing apps such as Stellarium Mobile.

Keep your eyes peeled for annual meteor showers, too: the whizzy celestial fireworks of the Geminids show up in mid-December and the radiant Quadrantids appear in early January. There’s more action throughout the year as well, with the bright, fast Lyrids visible in late April, the prolific Perseids in mid-August and the wispy Orionids in late October. From the far north to the far south, there are plenty of reserves to choose from in the UK — here are 10 of the best.

1. Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)  

A short distance away from the Severn Bridge, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is also designated an International Dark Sky Reserve. Wrap up for the worst the Welsh weather can throw at you and head out into the dark, dark night. For fine glimpses of stars, constellations and meteor showers with inky skies and dramatic backdrops, head for the remote Usk Reservoir in the west of the national park, medieval Carreg Cennen Castle, the romantic ruins of Llanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewyas and the conical peak of Sugar Loaf in the Black Mountains. Maps and podcasts can be found online to help plan your stellar adventures.  

2.   OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory  

In Northern Ireland’s Sperrin Mountains, the Beaghmore Stone Circles of Davagh Forest harbour Neolithic mysteries. Were they positioned to chart the movements of the sun and moon 3,500 years ago? Maybe. One thing is for sure, the forest’s spread of heathery moors and wetlands provides crystal-clear views of night skies. Within Davagh Forest, the OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory makes the link between the stones and the stars with an interactive tour of its exhibition that hops around the universe. There’s also a cracking line-up of events, from Saturday stargazing sessions to astronomy clubs, telescope workshops and the ‘Stars and Stones Experience’, where you spend the night learning about the Beaghmore Stones and gazing at the galaxy through a state-of-the-art telescope.

3. Eryri National Park (Snowdonia)

With mountains punching high above frigid llyns (upland lakes) and dry stone-walled valleys, Eryri National Park is as wild as the UK gets. And on moonless nights, countless stars blink in its skies. The International Dark Sky Reserve delivers changing views of major constellations like Orion and the Plough throughout the year, under the constant presence of Polaris. For night skies reflected in still waters, try moody Llyn y Dywarchen, just east of Blaenau Ffestiniog, or Llyn Geirionydd on the northern cusp of the Gwydir Forest. To get that bit closer to the stars themselves, drive up to 545-metre-high Bwlch y Groes, one of Wales’s highest mountain passes.  

4.   Cairngorms Dark Sky Park  

Ripping across the Scottish Highlands, the Cairngorms are wild Britain turned up to the max, with glens, munros, pine forests, plenty of winter snow and free-ranging reindeer. In the north of the national park, the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area is the stargazing hub. Sites such as the Tomintoul Field of Hope car park, Blairfindy Moor and the high, remote Carrachs enthral with views of shooting stars, meteor showers, the Milky Way and — if you’re really lucky — the Northern Lights. The Cairngorms Astronomy Club hosts events from Geminid meteor shower viewings and new moon stargazing nights with their 10-inch Celestron telescope, to talks on the Celtic connection to night skies.

5.   Cambrian Mountains  

Nicknamed the ‘desert of Wales’, the remote, rugged Cambrian Mountains are loveliest when starlit. Locals call these skies ‘ bola buwch ’ (‘as dark as a cow’s belly’). The 50-mile, self-guided Cambrian Mountains Astro Trail knits together nine Dark Sky Discovery Sites. Whip the binoculars out at prime stargazing spots such as The Arch near Devil’s Bridge in Ceredigion; the fjord-like, forest-wrapped Llyn Brianne Reservoir and Dam in Carmarthenshire, and the car park of the aptly named Y Star Inn at Powys. The constellations of Taurus and Sirius, the brightest star of all, shine in winter.  

6. Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve  

Europe’s first Dark Sky Reserve, Exmoor ’s lonely moors and river-woven valleys peer up to vaulted night skies in southwest England. Hoof it past bog land and Bronze Age burial cairns as planets, constellations and meteor showers sparkle overhead. Telescopes are available for hire at the national park centres in Lynmouth, Dulverton and Dunster. You’ll find celestial activity at Dunkery, Porlock Common and Brendon Common, as well as on the two-mile Exmoor Dark Sky Discovery Trail , which involves an easy ramble across open moor from Larkbarrow. October’s Exmoor Dark Skies Festival includes astronomy talks and creative events such as space workshops and yoga under the stars.

7. Northumberland International Dark Sky Park  

Above the storied, ancient landscapes of Northumberland , low light pollution makes for pristine stargazing conditions in England’s first International Dark Sky Park. Look skywards from cosmic sites such as the former quarry of Cawfields, a steeply sloped section of Hadrian’s Wall built by the Second Legion, the rural forestry village of Stonehaugh and castle-topped Harbottle, a stone’s throw away from the Scottish border and home to 200-year-old The Star Inn — perfect for a pre-stargazing pint. The real jewel, however, is the park’s Kielder Observatory , with its observation deck and roster of year-round events, from observatory tours to talks and workshops offering deep dives into distant galaxies.

8. Ynys Enlli  

There’s a lot of space in Wales, but a relative newcomer on the stargazing map is off-grid Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) , which became Europe’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2023. On cloudless nights, this little speck of an island — just 1.5 miles long — dangling off the country’s northwestern tip and battered by the Irish Sea, looks up to pitch-black skies bejewelled with billions of stars. There’s no need for a telescope — you can see the big-hitter constellations and Milky Way with the naked eye, just as the Celtic saints and pilgrims who came long before would have done. Holiday lets including historic cottages and farmhouses can be rented from April to October.

9. North York Moors International Dark Sky Reserve

The heather-strewn, wind-beaten North York Moors is a bleak and beautiful northern landscape that’s inspired countless writers and artists over the generations. Since 2020, it’s also been designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in conjunction with the neighbouring Yorkshire Dales National Park. After cosying up in a stone-walled pub, pop on some sturdy hiking boots, wrap up warm and strike out to sites — on foot or by car — where stars, planets and the hazy spray of the Milky Way can be admired with the naked eye. Key areas include the Sutton Bank and Danby national park centres and Dalby Forest observatory. Time your visit to catch February’s Dark Skies Festival, or the October fringe festival, with after-dark adventures from stay-and-gaze packages to astrophotography and starry night art workshops.

10. South Downs International Dark Sky Reserve  

Rolling across Southeast England, the chalk hills and lowland heath of the South Downs offer phenomenal stargazing just 50 miles from London. Here, you’ll find a shimmering necklace of Dark Sky Discovery Sites, with uninterrupted views of the night sky, among them remote Bignor Hill between Arundel and Petworth for Milky Way gazing on moonless nights, the Devil's Dyke at Saddlescombe near Brighton, which landscape painter John Constable thought ‘the grandest view in the world’, and Iron Age hillfort Old Winchester Hill. The annual South Downs Dark Skies Festival every February includes events such as nocturnal wildlife walks and stargazing parties.

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We aim to provide a relaxing retreat from everyday pressures. There is a large paddock, with a swing set, for children to play in. There is plenty of room even for football and cricket! There is a large wild flower meadow which has a path mowed around its perimeter. More health concious guests have used this as a jogging track. We have barbecues that you can use. We have barbecues that you can use.

During the summer season enjoy the outdoor swimming pool for laid-back days on site. The swimming pool is open from June through to the 1st week in September. As of 2016 our pool is warmed by an air source heat pump during July and August. Please note - The pool is unsupervised.

Bookings run from 4pm Saturday to 10am the following Saturday. Prices shown are based on a double bed plus bunk beds in Jay and a double bed and 2 singles in Wren.

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The 13 best places to go stargazing in the UK

Time to get bright-eyed on a trip to one of the best stargazing spots in the UK

Whether you’re a Coldplay fan or not, you have to agree that they were onto something with ‘a sky full of stars’. Losing yourself in the chaos of the cosmos every once in a while can do wonders for your soul – it’s one of the most grounding things out there, after all.

And while it’s easy to forget just how spectacular the night sky can be if you live in a light-polluted city like London or Manchester , the UK actually has an abundance of top stargazing destinations – and many aren’t too far away from the metropolis.

From the rolling hills of  Kent  and the majestic  beaches of Cornwall , to the furthest stretches of Scotland, we’ve handpicked the absolute best places to go stargazing in the UK. Hey, if you’re lucky, you might even get a glimpse of the fabled Northern Lights.

RECOMMENDED:  🧙‍♂️ Magical and mystical places in the UK   🎨 The most colourful places in the UK and Ireland 🏰 The best castles in the UK 💜 The best lavender fields in the UK 🪦  The most beautiful graveyards in the UK

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Best places for stargazing in the UK

1.  South Downs National Park

Who would have thought that one of the world’s top stargazing spots would be but 90 minutes from London? The South Downs National Park was officially appointed a Dark Sky Reserve in 2016, and ever since would-be astronomers have come a-calling to gawk at those big skies. Plan your own trip before a full moon to ensure you get cosmic views.

Wake up here: Withywood Shepherd’s Hut Bordering the South Downs and occupying a scenic position on a working dairy farm, this isn’t your standard shepherd’s hut – it has been kitted out with a woodburning stove, double bed and (albeit miniature) kitchen. But it’s really just a place to sleep – outside is where you’ll want to be, mountain biking, hitting the beach or just sitting, slack-jawed, as you admire Mother Nature. Just outside the hut is a cute campfire area, so you can even rustle up some s’mores while constellation-spotting. Dreamy.

2.  Brecon Beacons

The first location in Wales to be declared an International Dark Sky Reserve, Brecon Beacons has gone to considerable lengths to minimise light pollution and conserve its starry views. As a result, stargazers can spot a huge variety of sights, including the Milky Way, major constellations, bright nebulas and meteor showers. Stunning landscapes are the icing on the cake, and make for some amazing astrophotography. 

Wake up:  Duck Cottage Perfectly suited to gazing up at the night sky, this cosy cottage even includes a telescope for keen star-spotters. Complete with an open fireplace and water from its own spring, the romantic one-bed retreat is set in a secluded smallholding with ponies, ducks and sheep to keep you company.

3.  Exmoor National Park

Straddling Somerset and North Devon, Exmoor boasts some of the darkest skies in England, making it a cracking spot to look up into the blue. Classed as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the landscape is made up of moorland with nature reserves, ancient burial grounds, wild valleys and rugged sea cliffs peppering its surface. It’s a lush place to explore by daylight, but at night head to Holdstone Hill, County Gate, Brendon Two Gates, Webbers Post, Anstey Gate, Haddon Hill or Wimbleball Lake for impressive astral views.

Wake up here: Longlands Lodges Tucked snuggly into a secret valley, the Longlands safari lodges offer a slice of rustic luxury. Each dwelling comes complete with a fully stocked trunk of board games if you need a night off from star-spotting, a wood-burning stove to keep you toasty and sleeps up to six people so you can bring the whole gang along. Did we mention there’s a hot tub and spa on site? Perfect for soothing your muscles after a long day strutting across the moors.

4.  Dartmoor National Park

Far from any big towns or cities, Dartmoor National Park in Devon is blessed with having very little light pollution, meaning you’ll have stellar views if you set up your telescope here. The 368 square mile stretch of natural beauty is packed with granite tors, heather-covered, misty moorland and hidden villages meaning you can head out on your own Sherlock Holmes-style adventure before night falls. Keep an eye out for terrifying hounds.

Wake up here: Stargazer Treehouse Wolf Wood’s Stargazer Treehouse is perfect for those who like the idea of camping, but don’t want to sacrifice the small luxuries and comfort-factor of a boutique hotel. With an open-air spa-bath to enjoy under twinkling skies, a well-equipped kitchen for knocking up a feast and a woodburner to keep you toasty, this is stargazing in style.

5.  Snowdonia

With wild landscapes and Wales' highest mountain, Snowdonia National Park is a popular destination for hiking, but it's starry skies are hard to beat too - hence why it was awarded the prestigious Dark Sky Reserve status. One of the best locations is Llyn y Dywarchen - a fishing lake by day and stargazing spot by night. The area is also surrounded by myths and local legends, adding a little more magic to your stargazing. 

Wake up:  Nant Peris Cottage It's hard not to fall in love with this picturesque cottage snuggled at the foot of a dramatic mountainous backdrop. From here it's just a three-hour trek to the summit of Snowdon, and there's a cute garden surrounded by woodlands to enjoy the nighttime views. Indoors there's a cosy log fireplace and three bedrooms that are surprisingly spacious. 

6.  Northumberland

Northumberland International Dark Sky Park is Europe’s largest area of protected night sky, being awarded gold tier designation by the International Dark Sky Association back in 2013. Gaze up to the heavens here and you’ll see up to 2,000 stars twinkling away at a time. Don’t forget your binoculars and blanket.

Wake up here:  Sky Den The handiwork of George ‘Amazing Spaces’ Clarke and William Hardie Designs, Sky Den is, well, pretty amazing. It has essentially been designed so that wherever you happen to be, there’s a downright gorgeous view to behold – including vistas of the starry heavens above. There’s a fully functioning kitchen, smart fold-away furniture, a wet room and deck, but the triangular loft is where to station yourself come nightfall. A roof that opens entirely allows guests to cop an unobstructed look at that gold-tier spectacular.

7.  Jersey

Venture to the north-west coast of Jersey to find truly unpolluted spots in which to tilt your head skywards. Grosnez Castle, a ruined fourteenth century castle in St Ouen is the perfect place to roll out your rug and stare out at panoramic views of the neighbouring islands. Try and catch one of the spectacular sunsets before you wait it out to see the pristine sky light up with jewels.

Wake up here: Barge Aground This quirky 1930s-built, barge-style folly was once a summer home before being requisitioned during the German occupation of the Channel Islands and used as a canteen. Consider all traces of wartime grub officially cleansed, as the building was renovated in 2005 and now operates as a classy self-catering bungal

8.  Kent Downs and Canterbury

Standing at 251 metres, Betsom’s Hill is the highest point in Kent meaning you’re already a few steps closer to reaching for the stars. Toy’s Hill in Sevenoaks isn’t far behind and also happens to be the place that inspired Octavia Hill to found the National Trust – so you’ll be surrounded by beauty. If you’re looking for a bright spark to guide you in your quest for constellations, the James Irwin Observatory in Canterbury hosts regular talks and open evenings where members of the public can peer into its huge half-metre aperture telescope.

Wake up here: Oast Farmhouse

This charasmatic mid-Victorian property is on a private Tudor Estate, perfectly positioned close to Toy’s Hill and the historic gardens of Hever Castle. It sleeps up to 11 people – ideal for a group star spotting sesh – and is less than an hour from central London. 

9.  Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps

What could beat a glorious day padding across a sunny beach, followed by a magical night gazing at the stars? Cornwall’s spectacular Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps ticks all the boxes, as it is officially credited with Dark Sky Discovery status. The area’s signature sea stacks are quite a sight when lit up beneath a sparkling blanket of stars.

Wake up here: Bedruthan Hotel and Spa   Rest that starry-eyed head at Scandinavian-inspired Bedruthan Hotel and Spa. Set just above the beach, the hotel offers more than just colourful rooms thanks to its theatre, art and design fairs, pottery studio and in-house gallery. If you’d rather not venture outside come nightfall, sneak into the cafe to enjoy those shimmering views through its floor-to-ceiling windows.

10.  Dumfries and Galloway

While much of Scotland offers ideal stargazing conditions, Galloway Forest Park has the accolade of being the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, as of 2009 – it’s almost a given that you will see the bright band of the Milky Way arching across the sky here. It is also the UK’s largest forest park, with more than 300 square miles of rugged scenery waiting to be explored.

Wake up here: Brockloch Treehouse Brockloch Treehouse benefits from a particularly pretty location in the middle of a bluebell wood on a working farm, and the owners have made sure that guests won’t leave without getting a good eyeful of those famed skies – both the sunken bath and the bed have been positioned beneath skylights. Numerous tiny windows ensure that it is gloriously light during the day, too. Magical.

11.  New Forest

While not an official ‘dark sky’ location, the New Forest offers up some pretty tasty nighttime views. The park authority’s mission is to conserve and enhance the area’s natural beauty, meaning light pollution is kept to a minimum and the stars shine brightly overhead. Make it your mission to discover the celestial sphere from here.

Wake up: Chewton Glen Treehouse Chewton Glen couldn’t be more different from the splintery treehouses of your youth – it is more like a hotel suite that has been suspended 35 feet above ground. Surrounded by forest, sleeping up to six people and perched in a tree canopy, Chewton Glen’s Treehouse Loft Suite features a large outside terrace, king-size bed, mini kitchenette (with a dishwasher!), woodburner, underfloor heating and luxurious marble bathroom. Heck, you can even order room service from this treehouse. The ultimate location to map of the heavens? The outdoor hot tub, of course.

12.  The Highlands

We’re back in Scotland again, where skies come as dark as they get and are thick with constellations. The northernmost coastline is rumoured to be the best place to spot the elusive Aurora Borealis (that’s the Northern Lights to you and me).

Wake up: Waterfell

This funky eco-friendly tree house is bang next to the stunning shores of Loch Broom. Sheep and lambs graze nearby and the house’s modern, cantilever design lurches over a stream, immersing you in the landscape. But that’s just the start. The house is unusually split over two levels, within the branches of a 150-year-old sycamore tree, and its elevated terrace is the ideal spot to gaze out into the stars. 

13.  Sark

If the Jersey night sky didn't put a trip to the Channel Islands on your bucket list, then Sark will. Just three miles long and one wide, Sark is one of the few remaining places in the world where cars are banned from roads, and only tractors and horse-drawn vehicles are allowed. There are no streetlights too, and as a result, this tiny island has perfectly preserved dark skies (not to mention gorgeous coastlines), and was the first Dark Sky Island in the world. 

Wake up: Pomme de Chien A cut above your average campsite, Pomme de Chien guests can just rock up with a sleeping bag and a toothbrush thanks to two-berth wooden camping pods, complete with solar-powered USB chargers. For bigger groups, the site also offers erected tents to hire, or - inkeeping with the trad vibes on Sark - just pitch up with your own tent the ol' fashioned way.

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Kielder Observatory

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A magical and unique visitor attraction...

...under the finest dark skies in england..

Kielder Observatory is one of the most remarkable places to visit in the whole of the UK. A public astronomical observatory which is second to none, under some of the darkest skies in the world where you'll find "infinite inspiration" and wonders you could never have imagined!

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PRIOR TO BOOKING PLEASE NOTE TEMPORARY CHANGES TO EVENTS

One of our observing turrets is currently closed for unforeseen essential maintenance. During clear nights our most powerful telescope will still be in use, and we are using additional telescopes in alternative observing rooms. The content of our events on nights where observing isn’t possible will remain unaffected, other than access to the closed observing turret. Guests unable to climb steps are advised not to make a booking during this time.

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Astrotourism in the UK

Various astronomy and space-related travel destinations. Includes top observatories, planetariums, museums, spaceports, research centers, and archeoastronomical sites that may be open to the public.

STARGAZING IN NORTHUMBERLAND DARK SKY PARK

Experience the incredible starry skies above Northumberland with astronomers from the Stargazing team at the Twice Brewed Inn. Located within the protected Dark Sky park, the venue benefits from minimal light pollution, meaning you’ll have a clear view of the Milky Way arching across the sky and see thousands more stars than can normally be spotted from our towns and cities.

Stargazing Calendar

What to Expect

You’ll enjoy an inspiring astronomical presentation, before heading outdoors for a laser guided tour of the constellations. Using large aperture telescopes, you'll be able to observe planets, galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. In poor weather, our team is ready with fun, interactive indoor activities, virtual planetarium experiences and of course, when there's a gap in the clouds, we'll get you outside straight away.

Expert Guides

The Stargazing team share a common enthusiasm for astronomy and an eagerness to excite and inspire. The team comprises enthusiastic astronomers, as well as several academic experts and instrument scientists. We communicate our passion and knowledge in a way that is accessible to all, regardless of age or experience, and always prioritise the practical side of astronomy.

Planetarium

The purpose built 360 degree immersive dome brings to life the universe.  Our indoor multimedia planetarium experience has 4 main feature shows. Little Star - aimed at younger children from 4-10, We Are Aliens - for families and children up to 14, Forward! to the moon aimed at 7 years+ and From Earth to the Universe - focused at 14 years + 

Winter dates available & school holiday meal deals. Find out more.

The Space...

NEW FOR 2024!

Our brand new lecture theatre room is almost complete, with space for up to 55 people. Stargazers will begin their journey here, with introductions from our expert astronomers. There's lots more excitement to come in here & screens to be installed, allowing us to create an interactive education space for every age, interest and ability! 

Which Stargazing Event Should I Choose?

Many of our regular evening events suit a range of abilities and ages, so we  recommended  you choose your event by selecting a date, start time or  topic  which suits you. Our guides are hugely passionate  and experienced at  tailoring  information to each individual. We have over 25 telescopes, ensuring every guest has plenty of opportunity to view the night sky and ask questions to  their ability & interest. 

We cover events for all ages, including children and families and for all experience levels. We also host guided events for astrophotography, with our resident photographer and Stargazing guide Wil Photography, who is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. It's possible to book Stargazing & Planetarium events for private groups or for special occasions, please just get in touch.

Use of "The Space..." and a planetarium show is included in every event. 

We hope you have a fantastic time! 

Have a query? Contact us at [email protected]

Our FAQ section below may also  help  answer your query!

Click the link below, heading to our main booking page. Here, you will find a wide selection of our events, with descriptions on what to expect. You can read more information  by clicking the event  title.  Alternatively, you can scroll to our stargazing calendar and click the individual events for descriptions .

Our Recommendations

SPRING & SUMMER

Spring skies

Summer skies

The Perseids Shooting Stars Experience

Stargazing for beginners

Virtual night sky at Planetarium

AUTUMN & WINTER ​

The Geminids - Shooting Stars

Dark Winter Skies

Late Night Aurora Night

Experienced

Spring skies & Planetarium experience

Dark Autumn Nights

Stargazing & Planetarium events for families 

The Geminids - Shooting Stars ​

The above events often have earlier start times so are suitable for children

Searching by type of event: 

We offer a selection of Stargazing packages, tailored to a variety of guests.  By clicking the book stargazing link below, you will see a  range of package options, information on what to expect and dates available . Once you select the package to suit you, you can see available dates in the calendar on the right hand side of the page.  

Searching by date:

The stargazing calendar below shows all our upcoming events. By clicking each individual event, you will be taken through to our booking pages which show more information on the type of event, ticket types and timings for that particular day. You can also use the book stargazing lin k below then select 'search by date'. 

Dates and events are added often, so if you can't see what you are looking for, drop us an email or try searching again. 

How To Book Stargazing

Planetarium shows.

Shows are held regularly on weekdays and weekends  throughout Autumn/Winter & extra shows are put on during School Holidays. Please click the book tickets button below to see upcoming shows.

If you are interested  in a  particular day or organising a private group event for schools, organisation, childrens parties or with family and friends, pleas e get in touch and we will  try  to arrange this for you.  

We have capacity for up to 24 people, you can make yourselves comfortable in our reclined chairs, which enjoys the warmth of underfloor heating on cooler days.

All four  shows are suitable for children and adults, each telling a unique story. Planetarium tickets & meal deals are available throughout School Holidays - see below for more information. 

Stargaze, Supper & Slumber

We offer discount packages for Stargazing & Supper, or Stargazing , Supper & Slumber.

Enjoy a two course meal in our restaurant before heading out to experience the incredible dark skies above Northumberland. Top it all off by rolling into bed in one of our cosy rooms with stars in your eyes. Our range of ensuite double, twin and family rooms all look out across stunning Northumberland countryside and include a delicious complimentary breakfast.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 1𝘴𝘵 𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 31𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩.

Search for the event which suits your dates and requirements and when you click book now, you will be presented with the option of Stargazing and Supper or Stargazing, Supper  and Slumber. If the slumber option is not present, it's likely we are fully booked in our bedrooms.  Please get in touch with our reception staff if you have any questions - [email protected]

Claire Dopson | 09 November 2019

The best uk observatories and planetariums for stargazing.

Make the most of a dark, clear sky by positioning your telescope at one of Britain's finest stargazing spots. Embrace cosmology talks, photography courses, and even a cosmos-themed curry evening, too...

The best time for stargazing begins in the autumn, when the dark nights close in. Yes, the nights may be colder, and there's no guarantee of a clear sky... but that's astronomy for you!

Located in remote areas with some of the darkest skies in the UK, these five observatories offer stargazing evenings, astronomy talks, night sky photography lessons – and even a curry night in one case - giving amateur astronomers the chance to learn about the cosmos and get their hands on some heavy-duty telescopes. 

Here are the 5 best UK observatories for stargazing...

1. scottish dark sky observatory, ayrshire.

Stars above the SDSO (Steven Tsang)

Situated in one of the UK’s two International Dark Sky parks – areas with the highest level of protection from light pollution - this remote observatory is accessed down a rugged track in a UNESCO biosphere.

Essential information: The observatory runs evening experiences for small groups from Wednesday to Saturday. The 1.5 hour sessions start between 8pm and 9pm and include a presentation, a telescope tour and stargazing if skies are clear. Prices are £16 per adult, £10 per child.

Visit the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory's website

2. Kielder Observatory, Northumberland

Night sky under Kielder Observatory, Northumberland (Shutterstock)

Kielder Observatory is located in the UK’s largest International Dark Sky Park, in the depths of Kielder Forest near the Scottish border.

The observatory offers guided stargazing, photography lessons, educational talks on topics such as cosmology and gravity, and themed sessions such as “Aurora Night”, where – if you’re lucky – you may see the Northern Lights.

Essential information: Sessions run nightly, starting at various times between 5.30pm and 11.45pm. Prices range from £15 to £44 for adults, £8 to £40 for children. 

Visit Kielder Observatory's official website

3. The Spaceguard Centre, Powys

A dark sky photograph taken in Wales (Shutterstock)

Located near the Welsh Marches, the Spaceguard Centre specialises in researching Near Earth Objects, such as asteroids and comets, and assessing the risk of a collision with Earth.

Essential information: The centre holds private evening tours from Wednesday to Sunday in the winter months. Starting around 7pm to 7.30 pm, sessions include a 1.5 hour tour of the centre followed by stargazing with a telescope for as long as you can withstand the cold! There’s a minimum group charge of £48.

Visit the Spaceguard Centre's official website

4. Island Planetarium, Isle of Wight

The Island Planetarium at night (Ainsley Bennett Photography)

The Island Planetarium near Yarmouth offers entire stargazing weekends. Dates are planned around the new moon when the sky is darkest.

Essential information: Tours run from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime,  for groups of six to 15 people,  and include two nights of stargazing, talks on stars and the sun, and observing the sun through a solar telescope. Weekend tours cost £75 per person.

Visit the Island Astronomy's official website

5. The Observatory Science Centre, East Sussex

Sussex's Observatory Science Centre during the day (Observatory Science Centre)

Located a half-hour drive from Hastings, the Observatory Science Centre used to be the home of the Royal Observatory. Now, it's known for  night sky photography courses and themed evenings, such as 'Comets and Curry' night and 'Christmas Songs by Starlight'.

Essential information: The centre hosts bi-monthly open evenings (no booking required) from 6.30pm to 11.30pm, where you can observe the stars and - if skies aren’t clear - listen to a talk.  Open evenings cost £9.65 per adult, £7.45 per child. Themed nights are priced around £35

Visit The Observatory's official website

Where else can you stargaze?

The best stargazing spots in europe, usa & canada, 5 stunning stargazing festivals, why utah is one of the usa's best stargazing sites, related articles, looking for inspiration.

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Astronomy Holidays

There are a number of travel agents who specialise in astronomical holidays and tours, ranging from Northern Lights Tours, Meteor watches, Cruises and Total Solar Eclipses.

For those who do not want full tours and would like somewhere to visit while on holiday, or take a holiday where they can do astronomy but remain self-sufficient, there are quite a number of options available.

These are the ones I know about. If I have missed any off this list, let me know and I will add them. If there are any mistakes, or details have changed, also let me know so I can amend the entry.

These are listed alphabetically by country. They are not in any way a personal recommendation either as I have not visited most of them.

United Kingdom.

Go Stargazing also have a list of stargazing-friendly accommodation across the UK. This should also help you find your perfect dark sky location for your next stargazing break, including dark sky sites, observatories and public stargazing events. https://gostargazing.co.uk/stay-gaze

Astro Adventures. Located in North Devon, this resort is run on a bed & breakfast basis. Observatories and telescopes that are available free of charge if you are staying. www.astroadventures.co.uk

AstroVentures . Based at the Dark Sky Discovery Observatory at the Battlesteads Hotel in Wark and at various other hotel, camping and glamping sites around Northumberland, AstroVentures deliver stargazing sessions, astrophotography workshops, and astronomy activities to suit anyone from the absolute beginner to the professional. Bespoke individual stargazing sessions are also available and AstroVentures regularly delivers workshops to schools, girl guides, scouts, cubs and beavers in the region. http://www.astro.ventures

Eddington Lodge. Located in North Cornwall, offer self-catering holidays and short breaks. Have observation pods as well as a fully equipped observatory. www.eddington-lodge.co.uk

Galloway Astronomy Centre. Bed & Breakfast accommodation located in The Dark Sky Park area in the Galloway Forest National Park, Dumfries, Scotland. A range of astronomical equipment is available. www.gallowayastro.com/index.htm

Northumberland International Dark Sky Park / Kielder Observatory. Various accommodation types available around the park. www.visitnorthumberland.com/darkskies/experiences The Kielder Observatory holds a series of events throughout the year. Kielder Observatory.org

Europe. Astrofarm. Located in the Southwest of France alongside a national park with dark skies. http://astrofarmfrance.com/

Centro de Observação Astronómica no Algarve (COAA). Located in The Algarve in Portugal, views and tours through observatories and telescopes can be organised for a fee, but are unfortunately no longer taking staying guests. www.coaa.co.uk

Dark Skies Tenerife. Organises stargazing tours in Tenerife up the mountain to observe and image in very dark skies of Parque nacional del Teide . www.darkskiestenerife.co.uk

Les Granges, France. Traditional Provence-style farmhouse for rent with all astronomical telescopes and imaging equipment available to use. www.sunstarfrance.com

United States. Arizona Sky Village. A holiday resort set up by the renowned astrophotographer Jack Newton, actively maintaining their nice dark skies in Arizona. Both accommodation and telescopes are available for rent. www.arizonaskyvillage.co.uk

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Brian Cox’s top 10 science day trips

When it comes to inspiring young scientists, nothing compares to visiting the sites of great discoveries, says Professor Brian Cox. Here are his favourite places

B rian Cox cheerfully admits that his TV documentaries are part-scientific exposition, part eye-boggling travelogue. “The original, very good idea,” he says, “was that we should use places on Earth as analogues for the solar system.”

Wonders of the Solar System , Wonders of the Universe and other shows have inspired countless young and not so young minds. But Cox still thinks the screen is “no substitute” for actually visiting great sites of scientific discovery: “TV can light the flame. But to go further you need to go to the places where cutting-edge science was done.”

For this list we gave him a strict brief: no Namibian deserts or Chilean glaciers. So here are Cox’s top 10 places in Britain and Ireland that changed the world.

Jodrell Bank, Cheshire

My mum and dad would take me there when I was growing up in Manchester. You feel that this large thing pointing into the sky is capable of discovering places you can only dream of: it’s a symbol of everything that’s magical about astronomy. It is still one of the world’s largest radio telescopes and the headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array , which is building the world’s largest telescope, in Western Australia. Daily 10am-4pm, adult £8, child £5.95, family £26.50-£31, jodrellbank.net

Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London

This place shows the close connection between astronomy and seafaring. To navigate, you need to know what the time is. So telling the time is ultimately linked to astronomy, and to the great challenge of defining longitude. Greenwich has a tremendous visitor centre: you can stand on the zero longitude line. The telescope dome is quite small but very evocative. Daily 10am-5pm, adult from £9, child from £5.85, rmg.co.uk

Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire

Isaac Newton was the first modern scientist, and his Principia Mathematica of 1687 is the first modern scientific document. The key idea that the laws of nature that you encounter here on Earth are the same that govern the universe is made real. It was a big leap. Did the idea come to him when he saw an apple fall from a tree? Well, you can visit his house – and there is an apple tree there, as well as a Science Centre where kids can play with light and find out how gravity works. Opens at 11am, closing time varies but is 5pm from April, adult £8.50, child £4.25, free to NT members, nationaltrust.org.uk

Trinity College School of Physics, Dublin

Erwin Schrödinger was one of the founders of quantum mechanics but he also inspired Crick and Watson, who often cite his book, What Is Life?, as the inspiration for their quest. The book was based on a series of lectures Schrödinger gave at Trinity College in 1943. It was also the inspiration for my series Wonders of Life. On 5 and 6 September, the 75th anniversary of Schrödinger’s lectures, Trinity will host a conference called The Future of Biology in Dublin’s National Concert Hall. General admission free, conference €100, tcd.ie . The College’s Science Gallery is open Tues-Fri noon-8pm, Sat-Sun noon-6pm

Saddleworth, Greater Manchester

Saddleworth was the centre first of wool production, and then cotton. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal goes straight through the town and over the Pennines – straight through where I was born, basically. I am quite geographically focused in my knowledge of early industrial Britain! The canal has been restored: you can get boats and float along and see the way the industrial revolution unfolded. canalrivertrust.org.uk

The Royal Institution, London

In this genuinely powerful place, you can see the lab where Michael Faraday laid the foundations of modern civilisation with his discovery of electromagnetism in 1831. Even more important for me is the lecture theatre. Faraday, and Joseph Banks before him, really understood that science was not something to keep to yourself. Faraday – an apprentice bookbinder – was inspired by Humphrey Davy, whose public lectures he went to in 1812. I, too have given a lecture there: mine was The Science of Dr Who , with Matt Smith. Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, free, rigb.org

Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

I love the aerospace gallery, and especially the English Electric Lightning, which has always been my favourite aircraft. I used to go to Manchester airport with my dad and write down plane numbers in the 1970s. The first passenger railway station is also in the museum, which was built on the Manchester-Liverpool line. You can see why a friend of mine, Peter Saville [the Factory Record graphic designer] calls Manchester the first modern city. You see the industrial revolution beginning. Daily 10am-5pm, free, msimanchester.org.uk

University of Manchester

This is where I studied, and now teach. In the Rutherford building, you can visit the lab (little room, big plaque) where Ernest Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus – nuclear and particle physics was invented on that spot. There is also quite a nice museum. I like the Egyptology bit: we’re famous for our mummy collection. The National Graphene Institute is also here, in a spectacular building. When they were digging its foundations, they found the club which Friedrich Engels belonged to when he was working with Karl Marx, and a sink from the club is on display in the lobby. Konstantin Novoselov, one of the two Nobel prizewinners who discovered graphene, insisted it was installed in the lobby. Daily 10am-5pm, free, manchester.ac.uk

The Eagle, Cambridge

Scientists are excitable people. What do you do when you’ve had some amazing revelation, such as discovering the secret of life itself? You go down the pub and tell people. That’s what Francis Crick did one lunchtime in February 1953 after he and James Watson had discovered the structure of DNA. You can see the path he ran down from the old Cavendish lab. [Crick and Watson were regulars at the pub, and there’s a plaque above their favourite table.] 8 Benet Street, greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Cromford Mills, Matlock, Derbyshire

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The best space-themed days out in the UK

From science museums and planetariums to the best places for stargazing, we round up the best UK days out for space explorers

The UK offers a range of fun ways to explore the universe for space fans, budding astronauts or astronomers. From 360º domes, where you feel like you’re flying through the stars, to hands-on exhibits and real-life moon rocks there’s something for all the family on these space-themed days out.

1. Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium 

Featuring fantastic presenter-led shows like Secrets of the Stars (a guided tour of the solar system aimed at inspiring children about space) Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium is a must-visit for those looking to explore the secrets of outer space. Fly around the universe and visit all the planets in an exciting planetarium show. Autism-friendly and quiet showings are also available. You can also explore 20 modular exhibits in the centre’s immersive zone, Explorer:Space, including everything from space discoveries to the first mission to land on the moon.

2. National Space Centre, Leicester

Boasting the UK’s largest planetarium, a 3D space-flight simulator, six hands-on galleries, and a 42m high rocket tower, the award-winning National Space Centre is a space fan’s dream. Wannabe space pilots can try out being trainee astronauts, hop into the Space-flight Induction Module and see a real chunk of moon rock. When you need a rest, kids and grown-ups will all like the appropriately space-themed café, where you can learn more about man’s journeys into outer space while you enjoy your lunch.

3. We The Curious, Bristol

We The Curious boasts a shiny silver orb of a planetarium, in central Bristol’s Millennium Square, which offers a host of ways to explore space. The over-6s can step inside the UK’s only 3D planetarium for the immersive Solar System Odyssey, an interactive voyage led by a presenter, with 28 epic missions to choose from. The under-6s can become space explorers and enjoy the Rocketship Adventure – a 2D voyage into space led by Stella the bear, who is on a mission to find Ursa, the bear who was too big to live in the forest and found a home in the stars and appears as a constellation. Throughout the year, Planetarium Nights offer weekly guided tours of the night sky for grown-ups (16+). 

Please note, We The Curious is currently undergoing refurbishment but is expected to reopen in 2024.

4. Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfield

Jodrell Bank is a working science centre that features the Lovell Telescope, the third-largest steerable telescope in the world. You can see it move as the scientists use it to observe different parts of the universe. There’s also an ‘orrery’, a clockwork replica of the universe that allows you to manually turn the planets and see how they move at their relative speeds and positions. For inquisitive young minds, there are scientists on hand to explain how the universe works, and there are special events for children, but there’s also lots to attract grown-up space fans too, such as the research into quasars and radio astronomy. On nice days, you can stroll through the ‘galaxy garden’, which uses the power of plants to show how the universe is formed.

Looking for free entry to top UK attractions? Boundless is a membership club for working and retired public-sector and civil-service employees, delivering amazing experiences and unforgettable days out for all the family. Membership offers great value for money, including free entry to some of the UK’s best attractions, discounts on restaurants and savings on high-street brands. Find out more about Boundless membership. 

5. The Science Museum, London

Documenting human development with a world-class collection of scientific, technological and medical advancements from across the globe, the Science Museum is a great day out, offering some out-of-this-world experiences for lovers of all things space. Entry to the museum is free but there are charges for some exhibitions.

Hubble 3D – Every day – The Science Museum, London

Walk with astronauts in IMAX 3D as they embark on a spacewalk to perform one of the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990 and is still travelling through space, sending back incredible images of its surroundings that are helping to shape scientist’s views of our universe. Narrated by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Hubble 3D explores Hubble’s mysterious and celestial surroundings.

Astronights – Various dates – The Science Museum, London

Every science fan’s dream: to spend a night in a museum after hours. This sleepover for children includes workshops, science shows and inspiring activities, followed by breakfast and a memorable IMAX 3D film. See the website for dates and themes.

6. Thinktank Planetarium, Birmingham Science Museum 

The Planetarium at Birmingham Science Museum offers a range of shows perfect for big and little people interested in astronomy and space. Tour around the night sky, go on an adventure around the solar system, and journey to the edge of the universe. Check out the website for forthcoming events.

7. Explore the universe from Dark Sky Discovery Sites

Whether there’s a meteor shower coming up, a lunar eclipse happening, or you just want to look for constellations and see what you can see, the UK’s Dark Sky Discovery Sites are always there. On a clear night, find your nearest site – there are some in town and city parks, so you don’t necessarily have to venture out into the wilderness. Take some hot chocolate, pack some blankets and download a free app such as Night Sky , to help you navigate the stars if you’re not sure what you’re looking at. Some sites even organise special events when there’s a big date in the celestial calendar.

8. Glasgow Science Centre

The planetarium and Space Zone at Glasgow Science Centre is a must for lovers of all things space. The state-of-the-art dome projects live shows, led by astronomers and other experts, where you can voyage far into the Milky Way and beyond, as well as films including one about the moon narrated by Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story). As you approach the planetarium, the Space Zone creates an immersive journey through the solar system so you can find out about the planets in our cosmos. Find out what it’s like to work in space and get a picture of the family in outer space.

9. Techniquest, Cardiff

Techniquest is the UK’s longest-established science centre, inspiring young minds to take an interest in all things scientific. From its planetarium in Cardiff Bay you can venture out into space to see if there is life on other planets, learn about the Greek mythologies behind the stories of our constellations, and more.

10. The Observatory Science Centre, Hailsham

For budding young astronomers who want to fully immerse themselves in the science of space, The Observatory Science Centre runs half or full-day workshops during school holidays. With activities that cater for different age groups, parents can leave the kids to search for answers to questions like: what’s in space, can we see it, and how big is it? Other workshops have included studying the full moon and making your own moon model to take home, as well as other science-y subjects. Check the website for upcoming workshops.

Older children, or parents who have dropped the kids off at a workshop, can also explore the observatory’s Domes of Discovery exhibition, which tells the story of Britain's Royal Observatory, one of the world’s most famous scientific institutions for 300 years. It is also home to the impressive 38-inch Congo Schmidt telescope, six other interactive exhibits about astronomy, a giant model of the solar system, and more.

11. Southend Planetarium, Southend on Sea

Explore the universe and ask questions along the way on these live guided tours of our solar system at Southend Planetarium . Led by knowledgeable experts, the talks change throughout the year as different parts of the night sky become visible, covering things like in-depth explorations of the moon and the stories behind the constellations.

12. Life Science Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Drift away from Earth and up into the stars for a magical experience in the biggest planetarium in the North at the Life Science Centre. See eye-popping space films and visuals in high definition detail, and real-time live views of the universe; whizz through the universe and touch down on planets to investigate their surfaces.

During the centre’s Live Skies planetarium shows (which take place on weekends, Bank Holidays and during school holidays) presenters take you on a guided tour of the universe and tell rapt audiences about current space missions to collect asteroid samples, which can tell us a lot about the history of the universe and how the solar system was formed.

13. The Spaceguard Centre, Knighton, Powys

The Spaceguard Centre – or to give it its full title, The National Near Earth Objects Information Centre – has an important job. As the name suggests, it looks for objects that might come close to our home planet, like meteors and comets, which it calls “the most significant natural danger to life on Earth”. From its remote location surrounded by the hills of mid-Wales, a perfect place for studying the great unknown, the working observatory is the main source of this kind of information in the UK.

Unaccompanied visits are not allowed but you can take an informative guided tour of the centre (ages 9+) to see the work that’s done there. Given the scientific nature of the tours, it’s best for older children with good attention spans.

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Eclipse and Astronomy

We have launched a programme of astronomically themed holidays that will open up the universe to you. By day we will admire the wildlife and landscapes of the natural world, but by night our attention will be drawn to the celestial realms. Whilst some tours are arranged around a particular event such an eclipse, others will take you to regions of the world where the truly dark skies can be enjoyed. A lot of careful planning and experience goes into operating these tours: to optimise the viewing we draw upon historical weather data and consider factors such as altitude and the phase of the moon.

Over the past two years our Namibian Night and Day tour has provided a wonderful blend of stargazing, tremendous scenery, and wildlife. This tour will run again in 2024 and 2025. 

We have teamed up with the DarkSky Alqueva and SPEA, Portugal’s society for the study of birds, to bring you a tour of  Portugal’s Alentejo region focusing on nature, culture and astronomy at the dark sky reserve.    

After wonderfully successful tour to Chile in 2019 for the total solar eclipse, we have arranged a tour to Mexico’s Pacific coast to witness a total eclipse in April 2024. This will include amazing opportunities to see enjoy the history, culture and wildlife of this vibrant country.  

On each of our ‘Eclipse and Astronomy Holidays’ we will aim to offer the following:

• Private vehicles
• Comfortable hotels
• Accompanying astronomy expert for all or part of the tour
• Live Planetarium demonstrations

Speak to Our Eclipse and Astronomy Specialist

Featured Eclipse and Stargazing Tours

Namibia Night and Day

Mexico's Total Solar Eclipse

Portugal - Birding & Stargazing in Rural Alentejo

Our Eclipse and Astronomy Specialist Recommends

"Looking to the skies can reward us with some of the most captivating views in nature. The richness of the Milky Way set against a jet-black sky, the rippling curtains of the Northern Lights over the Arctic or the astonishing spectacle of a total solar eclipse are sights that live long in the memory." George Nicholson  - Operations Manager

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Best travel telescopes

For astronomy travel you'll need a compact, portable telescope that delivers results. We've picked some of the best budget and high-end travel telescopes.

Astronomy travel can be a wonderful thing, offering practical astronomers the chance to leave light pollution behind and journey to distant, dark-sky locations.

For a successful astronomy holiday you'll need a compact, lightweight and portable telescope that you can unpack and set up in minutes. It's no good lugging around heavy pieces of equipment that require intense sessions just to set up and get going.

Not only will your astronomy trip require a suitable 'grab and go' telescope, but if you're planning on travelling far you'll also need a telescope that you can take on a flight either in the baggage hold or as hand luggage.

While current travel restrictions may have put astronomy holidays on hold, you can still get planning for a future stargazing break and decide what telescope you're going to take with you.

As well as a lightweight and compact telescope you'll want an instrument that can provide exquisite views of the night sky. You don't want to go through the effort of transporting your compact refractor across an entire continent, only to find it offers mediocre views.

We've put together a list of some of the best portable, quality telescopes that would make good astronomy travelling companions. See the link below each selection for a full review of that telescope.

You may also require a good, portable mount that slips in your luggage easily. You'll find quite a few models like this in our guide to the best telescope mounts available.

And, if astronomy holidaying is really your thing, read our recommendations for what to bring on an astronomy camping trip or our simple guide to astronomy travel .

Remember to keep an eye on travel restrictions in your own country, and also those of your planned destination.

If you're looking for a different kind of telescope, read our guide to the best telescopes for viewing the planets or the best telescopes for beginners .

If imaging the night sky is your thing, discover our pick of the best telescopes for astrophotography .

21 best travel telescopes

Sky-watcher heritage 100p tabletop dobsonian.

As the name suggests, a tabletop telescope is a telescope that’s been designed to sit on top of a sturdy platform such as a garden table or any other flat, medium-height surface. The Heritage 100P Tabletop comes packaged with two 1.25-inch eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a 2x Barlow lens and a red-dot finder.

Installation is easy: attach the finderscope , pop in an eyepiece and you can be viewing the heavens in moments. Despite its small size it still gave decent views of a range of celestial wonders. We found it was easy to store and bring out quickly whenever the clouds cleared.

Read our full Heritage 100P Tabletop Dobsonian review .

Acuter Voyager MAK80 telescope

• Buy now from eBay

The MAK80 is a compact lightweight system measuring only 270mm long (including the eyepiece holder) and a diameter of only 100mm. It weighs 1.8kg and can easily sit in the palm of most hands.

This makes for a portable system that only needs the addition of a tripod, for which there's a ¼-inch tripod thread included. It's ideal for taking to dark-sky sites or as a spotting scope for daytime or night-time use.

What's more, it comes with a light carry case that will help when transporting on a train or plane.

Read our full Acuter Voyager MAK80 review .

Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED DS-Pro refractor telescope

The Evostar 72ED DS-Pro is a satisfying, lightweight scope to use. The optical tube weighs just 1,955g and at 42cm long it’s a short tube system. The the dew shield is also removable, all of which adds up to a great get-up-and-go-anywhere telescope, perfect for viewing and imaging under far-flung dark skies. The 72ED DS-Pro is also an ideal companion to Sky-Watcher’s Star Adventurer travel mount. Indeed, we used it to take images with our Star Adventurer, and found the whole system quick and easy to set up, a great incentive to invest in the telescope.

Thanks to reader Robert Miller for recommending this telescope. Robert said: "It is light, easy to pack and has a very nice coarse/fine focusser. It performs superbly on a Vixen VersaGo mount and its resolution seems limited only by aperture and weather. Great views of star fields and globulars. And the price was easy on my budget."

Read our full Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED review .

William Optics Zenithstar 61 apo refractor

In terms of portability it’s difficult to imagine how you could improve on this 61mm aperture refractor’s design. In its most compact form it measures 23cm long by 14cm wide. It’s also light at 1.7kg but retains a solid, well-built feel. The front has a retractable dew shield that extends the overall length by a further 7cm.

Realistically, the ZS61 produces lovely views of larger deep-sky objects and the Moon but if you’re after detailed views of the planets, or splitting tight double stars, this isn’t the scope for you. If you want an ultra-portable instrument that can provide good contrast, colour-corrected views of extended objects, it’s perfect.

Read our full ZenithStar 61 ED review .

Altair 60 EDF Doublet Refractor Telescope

The Altair 60 EDF doublet refractor is a lightweight tube assembly that weighs 1.5kg and almost fits in the palm of your hand. It’s ideal for a multitude of purposes, including as a travel scope and for wide-field imaging.

It's suppled as an optical tube only, giving you the flexibility to use your own star diagonal and eyepieces for visual observations, as we did for the review. Also in the box is an extendable dew shield. The view was pin sharp across 85% of the view, with only slight distortion at the edges and little sign of colour fringing, showing that the lens design was doing its job.

Read our full Altair 60 EDF Doublet review .

Vixen A62SS Refractor Telescope

This scope is supplied in a soft, protective carrying case that is small enough to comply with aircraft carry-on luggage regulations, yet leaves plenty of room for a star diagonal and a set of eyepieces. An eyepiece extension tube is included and this holds a secret for casual photographers in the form of a male T-thread.

The inside of the optical tube is fully baffled and painted in a matt black coating. Its robust, single-speed Crayford focuser can be rotated through 360° to help with framing and there is a lock to secure the focus tube once it is in the desired position. The Vixen A62SS refractor is an excellent travelling companion and we would recommend it to any astronomer looking for a portable telescope for observing rather than astrophotography.

Read our full Vixen A62SS refractor review .

Orion Starblast 62 Compact Telescope

• Buy now from Walmart (US)

The Orion StarBlast compact travel refractor is marketed as a great scope to take on trips away, but should also appeal as a very suitable beginners’ instrument. It possesses a 2.5-inch, four-element crown and flint glass objective, a focal length of 520mm, along with an extendable dew shield.

Also included are a Crayford focuser, 20mm and 4mm eyepieces, a 45° erect-view diagonal, a Vixen-style dovetail mounting block and a hard carry case. In keeping with its likely use, we tested the StarBlast on both a small equatorial mount and a sturdy photographic tripod.In the latter configuration we really did appreciate the joys of a truly lightweight and simple setup.

Read our full Orion Starblast 62 review .

Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 Virtuoso GTi

The Skymax-127 is a compact telescope that boasts a Wi-Fi-controllable Go-To mount, promising to make the night sky navigable with the touch of a button.

The Skymax-127’s long focal length (with a focal ratio of f/11.8) makes it great for observing the Moon, planets and double stars, but you can also observe bright deep-sky targets too.

The Wi-Fi control works via the Virtuoso GTi single-arm tabletop mount, which has a wireless network adaptor that enables you to connect and control with a smartphone or tablet.

We got great views of Saturn and its rings, Jupiter's northern belt and Galilean moons, our own Moon's southern hemisphere, Bode's Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy and the Pleiades.

The Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 Virtuoso GTi is a delight to use on a wide range of targets, and can be highly recommended.

Read our full Skymax-127 Virtuoso GTi tabletop telescope review .

StellaMira 90mm

Even the packaging for the StellaMira 90mm ED is compact, the telescope coming in a lockable black carry case.

Another must for travel telescopes is sturdy construction, given that they may be hauled on and off aeroplanes and rattled around in car boots.

The StellaMira, you'll be pleased to hear, fits the bill, and although the carbon-fibre tube keeps the weight down to a 3.3kg, the telescope doesn't at all feel flimsy.

Instead, this is a competitively priced, compact instrument that we found offers excellent views and high-quality astro imaging results in a convenient, well thought out package.

Read our full StellaMira 90mm ED triplet apo refractor review .

Altair Astro Starwave ASCENT 70 ED refractor

The ASCENT 70 ED refractor is a cost-effective travel option for amateur astronomers. We were interested to see what it could do both as a visual system and as an imaging scope. It's a 2.75-inch, 420mm focal length telescope just 300mm long; 380mm with the dew shield extended.

The back of the focuser unscrews to reveal a M54x0.75 female thread – with the right adaptor, you could attach a camera and use this scope as a telephoto lens for astrophotography. What impressed us most about the Starwave 70 ED was how light it is – just 2kg. The scope is supplied in a soft, well-padded case with several compartments for accessories.

Read our full ASCENT 70 ED review .

Altair 72mm EDF Deluxe refractor

The Altair 72mm EDF is marketed as a telescope for astronomers who need a small, lightweight instrument for packing up and taking on their travels. Weighing just 2.5kg and at a length of 32.5cm, the telescope is clearly portable and suitable for astronomy travel. It is also short enough to mount on a star tracker mount.

We attached a DSLR and found the focuser extended smoothly and felt very secure. A dual-speed dial made precision focus easy, while focus wheels offer a good level of resistance.

Read our full Altair 72mm EDF review .

William Optics Zenithstar 61 II APO with UniGuide guidescope

The Zenithstar 61 II APO is a fantastic instrument for those interested in wide-field, low power viewing, and the great thing about it is it's very portable.

The telescope is just 25cm in length with focuser and dew shield retracted, and its 14cm from the bottom of the mounting plate to top of the saddle handle bar.

The Zenithstar 61 II comes with a padded carry-case too, making the whole package suitable for those who want to take their telescope to far-flung dark-sky corners of the world.

Plus, at 2.15kg the main telescope with mounting ring, ‘Cat Series’ saddle handle bar and mounting plate is easy to carry. All you need is a camera and you've got yourself a quality astrophotography setup.

The UniGuide guidescope is 25cm long, 7cm high and 5.5cm wide, and can be integrated into your setup for long-exposure imaging.

Read our full Zenithstar 61 II apo review

RVO Horizon 72ED refractor

The lightweight and compact design of the RVO Horizon 72ED makes for a great travel scope. Stowed and collapsed with dew shield and focuser retracted, it is only 34cm long. The optical tube weighs 2.68kg, making it light enough to hold in your hand and easy to remove from the tube rings to adjust position.

The 72ED is also sold in a £947 imaging package aimed at deep-sky astrophotographers, which includes a 1.0x rotatable field flattener and a finder/guidescope.

The 72ED's colour correction is spot on and, even when we pushed the magnification, we found views of deep-sky objects were superb. This is a cracking instrument for both wide-field observing and imaging, delivering both on the lightweight necessities and the powerful performance of a quality travel telescope.

Read our full RVO Horizon 72ED review .

Starwave Travel 70 EDT-R apo

Weighing just under 1.8kg and being only 33cm in length with the dew shield retracted, this scope is great for astronomy trips and is supplied with a soft travel case. Easy and quick to set up, it’s ideal for astronomy on the go. As an imaging instrument, the scope plus reducer proved very capable and the wide field of view offered makes it ideal for photographing extended deep-sky objects, such as the Pleiades cluster in Taurus or Rosette Nebula in Monoceros.

Sheer ease of use made this scope a pleasure to observe and image with. It’s easy to see how it could become a must-have companion for holidays and star parties, or just to observe or photograph special events without the hassle of transporting and setting up heavier equipment.

Read our full Starwave Travel 70 EDT-R review .

RVO Horizon 60ED Doublet refractor

The Horizon 60ED is lightweight and portable: perfect for 'grab-and-go' astrophotography and also for bringing with you on a trip to a far-flung dark-sky site. The complete setup, including a DSLR camera, weighs less than 3kg, and setting up for an astrophotography session is quick and easy. We found we didn't need to fiddle about with the setup, making it a good option for dark-sky sites away from home.

It comes in an aluminium carry case that houses the telescope, guidescope, dovetail bars and field flattener with room for more. The case also protects the scope during storage and travelling, and is lightweight and lockable. Measuring 41 x 23.5 x 18cm, it's within the limits for airline cabin baggage.

Read our full RVO Horizon 60ED Doublet refractor review .

Vixen FL55SS fluorite apo refractor

• Buy now from B&H Photo

The Vixen FL55SS's tube measures just 282mm and weighs 1.5kg It's a compact, lightweight refractor that offers premium features in a portable package. The FL55SS is a dual-purpose telescope suitable for visual astronomy, or with the addition of a dedicated lens kit, for fast, wide-field astrophotography.

It uses fluorite, which has optical properties that make it very desirable as light can pass through it with minimal dispersion, unlike glass. In practice this means that the overall view is sharper, as all the colours of light entering the telescope are focused to a single point, rather than being dispersed into a fuzzier appearance.

Read our full Vixen FL55SS review .

Altair Starwave 110ED-R refractor

The solid look and feel of the Starwave 110ED-R is a result of a serious reduction in the weight of the scope. We were really very pleased about just how easy the telescope was to lift from its padded case, and we reckon the 6.8kg Starwave 110Ed-R is a brilliant compromise between both aperture and portability. It's an instrument that will please those who like to travel to far-flung, dark corners of the world to no end.

It boasts a 110mm doublet lens for viewing at an enjoyable resolution, and what's more, it's easy to take with you and transport around in its padded case.

The length and the balance of the 110ED-R made it a simple fit for our EQ mount and sat neatly in a satisfying, central position, because the lens cell and focuser are only 60cm apart.

This model offers supreme comfort while observing objects at a range of altitudes.

Read our full Altair Starwave 110ED-R review .

Tecnosky AG70 Astrographic Refractor

With an optical system designed to eliminate two of the major issues that can spoil a photograph – colour problems and star shape issues – the AG70 removes the need for the likes of coma correctors and relieves the associated headache of achieving optimal spacing that tends to come with them. Setting up the telescope for use involved little more than removing it from the box and putting it on a mount.

The supplied tube rings and dovetail offer a little movement to help with balancing, and the scope is light and compact. It should sit comfortably on portable travel mounts. Sheer simplicity of use made the little astrograph a pleasure to operate, as once the camera was focused we were able to just get on with the job of taking photographs.

Read our full Tecnosky AG70 review .

Altair Starwave 70 EDQ-R quad apo imaging refractor

Once we’d unpacked the 70 EDQ-R, the first thing we noticed about the telescope is how light it is: with a Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera attached it weighed just 2.1kg. This really does make it a grab-and-go telescope for even the smallest of mounts.

Even with a smaller aperture, the change in CMOS cameras over the last few years means images of all sorts of objects are achievable with this telescope. That makes it an ideal travel scope and a good option to take with you on longer trips instead of a set of camera lenses.

Read our full Altair Starwave 70 EDQ-R review .

William Optics GTF 102 five element astrograph

The GTF 102 is supplied with a high-quality soft padded case. It is very substantial and protects the telescope in transit very well indeed. With both carry handles and a shoulder strap, transporting the scope is easy.

We were very pleasantly surprised by the shape of stars across the field of view and right into the corners. The two-element internal field flattener was certainly doing its job and so too was the triplet lens, as chromatic aberration was also well controlled.

Read our full William Optics GTF 102 review .

Founder Optics FOT106 triplet refractor

The FOT106 has an f/6 106mm objective lens with a focal length of 636mm, which makes it a great telescope for observing or imaging larger star clusters, galaxies and nebulae. It's just begging to be taken to a dark-sky site for a proper observing session.

It comes in an aluminium case featuring a range of accessories including a matching field-flattener. This foam-padded, locking carry case should reliably protect the telescope during transit, and we found it kept the who assembly together well, including field-flattener and rings.

The case measures 70cm x 24cm x 23cm, making it certainly manageable and portable for taking to dark-sky sites.

Read our fullFounder Optics FOT106 review .

What did we miss?

If you feel your own telescope is perfect for astronomy travel and should be on our list, let us know! Email us at [email protected] or get in touch via Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Iain Todd is BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Staff Writer.

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• Eclipse & Astronomy

Royal Adventures organizes:

• Observatories
• Aurora Lights
• Archaeoastronomy tours

ECLIPSE TOURS

Our eclipse tours are organized to observe total solar eclipses and annular eclipses throughout the world.   We choose accommodations and viewing sites close to the central path of an eclipse. In addition, we offer observations of the night skies through telescopes. Click on the link here to see our latest eclipse tour offerings.

OBSERVATORY and AURORA TOURS

Our astronomy tours offer private access to some of the largest optical and radio telescopes in the world.  We go behind the scenes to meet astronomers who are peering deeper into the universe than ever before.  In addition to visiting professional observatories, we often include stargazing in the evenings using large amateur telescopes.  Royal Adventures has designed astronomy tours for clients such as the Smithsonian, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, McDonald Observatory, University of Wisconsin and others. Many of our tours have been led by some of the foremost astronomers in the United States and have returned to rave reviews. Our sites for astronomy tours include Chile, South Africa, and Australia as well as tours to see the northern lights or aurora in Iceland.

ARCHAEOASTRONOMY TOURS

Our archaeoastronomy destinations include Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. Investigate how ancient civilizations used the movements of the stars and planets coupled with those of the sun and the moon to measure interlocking time intervals that created a standard measure for time. Explore the ancient Maya, Aztec, Olmec, and Teotihuacan civilizations and their astronomical innovations that evolved to the way we understand time today. For example, the Incas worshipped the Sun with light and shadow effects in their constructs commonly denoting such events as the solstices and equinoxes. They used these orientations, as well as solar pillars, to mark time passage for purposes of crop management and religious festivals. An ancient solar observatory at Chankillo, Peru has been identified as the oldest in the Americas with alignments covering the entire solar year.  Royal Adventures can design a tour featuring archaeoastronomical sites and talks with experts who can explain their significance to ancient civilizations.

We can furnish you with references of other alumni travel directors at your request, just call us at 1-800-453-4754 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll provide you with a list so you may contact them.

CONTACT INFORMATION

We are based in San Ramon California,

Our address is:  9 Crow Canyon Ct. Suite 205 San Ramon, CA 94583 .

Our business hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm.

If you prefer to call or send us a direct email you can reach us at:

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How to Choose and Plan an Astronomical Field Trip

There are a few different topics that you can reliably trust that your kids will be interested in. Dinosaurs, construction vehicles, and proper belly-flop techniques are all worthy subjects, but if you’re looking for a great educational trip that’s sure to inspire your kids to keep exploring, there’s nothing quite like an astronomy field trip!

What is Astronomy?

At its most simple, Astronomy is the study of space, the stars, and everything else…out there. It is the oldest branch of the natural sciences, as cultures across the world have been studying the stars for literal millenia.

We’ve found star maps carved into mammoth tusks and ancient structures aligned to the sun and stars, but it’s impossible to really know the first time a human looked to the sky and began to wonder. For many years, astronomy was used for tracking the seasons and navigating the seas, but in modern times we are taking our knowledge of the stars ever further. We’ve landed rovers on Mars to search for life and we’ve even managed to send probes beyond the edge of our solar system! 

Needless to say, recent years have been extremely exciting for the astronomical community. 

Unfortunately, despite all of our incredible advancements in space-faring technology, astronomical field trips remain distinctly earth-bound. Even so, with a little bit of creativity and a cloud-free night, there are plenty of great ways to help your kids explore outer space! 

What Kind of Astronomy Trip are you looking for?

In my mind, field trips have always been about learning more about topics experientially, but that can be a bit tricky when learning about outer space. It’s pretty hard to experience outer space directly! 

Even so, there are several different types of field trips that can help your kids learn more about outer space and our continued efforts to understand humanity’s place in it. 

Stargazing with Kids

I love getting the chance to go stargazing with my kids when I can! 

As far as field trips with kids go, star-gazing remains one of the simplest ones you can do, as all you really need to have a good time is some space outside and a dark, cloudless sky. Unfortunately, more than 90% of all Americans live in areas with large amounts of light pollution, so dark skies are quite a bit more difficult to find than they were in the past. 

You don’t have to travel very far outside of town before the sky darkens enough to see many of the brightest stars, but the further away you can get from bright lights, the better, as many of the faintest stars can’t be seen except in the darkest of skies. 

The best way to maximize your star-gazing time is to find a camping spot in an area far enough away from a major city to give you some great views. The best spot that I’ve personally experienced was my family’s campsite in Badlands National Park , which came with the added bonus of waking up to bison and prairie dogs surrounding our tent! 

If you need some help finding a good spot, some sites, like Hipcamp, have dark skies filters that you can use to find the best stargazing camping spots near you. (Plus, if you use my referral code, jacobs74d938 , you can get $10 towards your first campsite booking!)

Also check out…

The Wonderful “Good-ness” Of Badlands National Park

Constellation books

There are a ton of books you can get that do an excellent job of explaining the basics of stars and constellations to kids. Be sure to check your local library before buying any, but here are a few that I would suggest starting with.

What we see in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky

This book was my own kids’ first introduction to constellations and space, and it is an absolutely beautiful place to start.

Stargazing for Kids: An Introduction to Astronomy

Astronomy Activity Book for Kids

Constellations for Kids: An Easy Guide to Discovering the Stars

Star-gazing Apps

Books are great resources for learning about the stars, but when it comes time to actually find the stars in the sky, it ca be hard to find the stars they mention. Instead, I like using the Star Walk 2 app on my phone when I want more details on what I’m seeing in the sky.

I really love this one because it can orient your phone’s screen to your real world position so you can more easily find specific objects or learn more about what you’re looking at in real time!

You can check it out here . (Not an affiliate link. Just a really good app!)

Star-gazing Tours 

If you decide to do your stargazing in a popular location, there’s a chance that you’ll be able to join a star-gazing tour! 

Stargazing tours have several major benefits over watching the stars on your own. Many times, the tour guides may have access to professional level telescopes that can let you see planets, nebulas, and more with way more detail than you’d be able to see without. Plus the guides will also have lots of experience to share! 

I’ve been on star tours in the Atacama desert twice, and highly recommend the experience, if you ever visit the area. Closer to home, I know Badlands National Park has regular ranger-guided star tours, and several other national parks have stargazing festivals throughout the year. A quick search of the NPS website returns 706 results for stargazing , so you’re pretty likely to find some great astronomy opportunities at a ton of different national parks!

I love America’s National Parks System and highly recommend taking advantage of their offerings as often as you can.

Telescopes for Beginners

While you don’t need a telescope to enjoy your time stargazing, bringing a good one along can help you to see a lot more than you’d be able to see otherwise. I’ve had the opportunity to use other people’s telescopes several times, but I admit that I only own a small birding telescope, myself. It’s great for spotting animal life in the distance or looking at craters on the moon, but isn’t quite strong enough to do a great job with stargazing. 

If I had to pick one for myself, I’d love to spring for this app-enabled telescope from Amazon ! It uses an app on your phone to help you easily calibrate the telescope to find planets, nebulas, and other celestial objects. It looks super simple and comes well-reviewed, but unfortunately does cost a bit for a first-time telescope. 

If you’re looking for something less expensive, I would instead suggest this beginner’s telescope from Toyerbee . It’s still not the cheapest on the market, but comes well-reviewed and has plenty of magnification to still capture some great views!

StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ Telescope

ToyerBee 70mm telescope

Cameras for taking pictures of stars (Astrophotography)

Telescopes are awesome for getting to seeing the stars, but sometimes you’re going to want to share what you’ve seen with others. For that, you’ll need a camera capable of taking a picture of the stars!

There are some professional level astrophotography cameras out there, but if you’re just getting started, you might be surprised to learn that your phone may be capable of some pretty incredible shots on its own! 

I’ve used my Pixel phones to take night-time photos several times over the years, and I have loved how well the pictures have turned out! 

So long as you have astrophotography mode enabled, all you have to do is set your phone up with its camera facing the portion of sky you want and click to start the process. After that, you’ll need to keep your phone completely still as the camera essentially takes a 5-minute long video. At the end, the phone compresses the entire 5 minutes down into a single shot!

I’ve used water bottles and rocks as makeshift holders in the past, but I’ve generally found that buying a cheap tripod and a bluetooth shutter button can make the whole process way easier, since you can more easily aim your phone where you want it.  It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be able to hold your phone still. 

65” Phone Tripod

Flexible Cell Phone Tripod and Bluetooth Remote Control

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Other Astronomical Events to watch with kids

The stars tend to be visible in most rural locations, so long as you can get a cloudless night. But there are other astronomical events that depend a lot more on timing and location to see. 

Luckily, many astronomical events occur on a repeating schedule so you can reliably predict when they will happen! In-the-Sky.org has a calendar of astronomical events that you can use to plan your next trip. (Embedded below) 

Events like comets, meteor showers, and eclipses are regular and easy to predict, which makes them great choices for field trips. Other astronomical events, like auroras, are caused by irregular events and can’t be consistently predicted, though there are usually times where they are more or less likely to happen. 

Other phenomena are completely unpredictable and you have to be lucky to spot. I will never forget the time I walked outside and saw a surprise asteroid hanging in the sky! It was small enough that astronomers completely missed it until it was less than a day away from Earth, but still big and close enough that my wife momentarily mistook it for the moon. It was absolutely incredible , and I will probably never be so lucky again. 

Other phenomena like this include meteors and meteorites, or asteroids that pass close enough to be seen with a telescope, but not with the naked eye.  

Watching Rocket Launches with kids

While stargazing trips are all about looking out at the beauty of space, watching a rocket launch is all about watching our attempts to explore the stars ourselves! 

My family recently had the opportunity to watch a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral during a camping trip in Florida. We managed to get a great site at Moss Park Campground in Orlando where there is a lakeside boardwalk with a fantastic view of the skies over Canaveral. It was a fantastic location for watching the rocket launch from a distance. Plus, it was just a really good campground. Definitely check it out if you’re looking for a campsite in the Orlando area. 

If you’d prefer a closer place to watch, Florida’s Space Coast website has a great list of popular viewing spots, as well. Just be aware that the closer to the actual launch site you get, the louder the launch will be. Even at a distance, rockets can be plenty loud enough to cause some kids stress.

If you have kids that are sensitive to noise, but who also want to experience a rocket launch, I’d suggest investing in a good pair of earplugs, like these kid-friendly ones from Alpine . Or these over-ear muting headphones , if they don’t like feel of in-ear earplugs.

While most rocket launches you can watch in the States occur at Canaveral, there are other launch sites you can check out both in the States and around the world. If you get the chance, it’s definitely worth checking out! For a complete schedule of rocket launches from around the world, you can visit RocketLaunch.live . 

Museums and Planetariums with kids

Normally I prefer field trips that allow kids to experience things for themselves, up close and personal. However, that can be quite tricky when we’re talking about other planets and stars! 

That’s where museums come in. 

Most science museums in the US will have at least a couple of exhibits dedicated to space exploration, and these are fantastic resources for giving kids a way to learn about space in a more hands-on way than just reading books. 

If you have access to a museum with a planetarium, star shows are also a ton of fun! 

The quality of the exhibits varies greatly from museum to museum, but most will have plenty of graphical representations of our solar system and a variety of different constellations for younger kids as well as more informational displays for older kids who like to read.

One of the absolute best space museums in the US is the Smithsonian National Space and Aviation Museum in Washington D.C. In fact, if you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend exploring as many of the Smithsonian Museums as you can fit into your stay! ( Protip: the DC Metro train system is reliable and inexpensive, so it can actually be both cheaper and easier to stay outside of DC and take the train in to see the sights!)

Archaeoastronomy 

Archaeoastronomy is a blending of astronomy and archaeology, and is essentially the study of how ancient cultures studied and understood astronomical phenomena. It probably leans more towards archaeology than it does astronomy, but if you time your trip to locations like Chichen-Itza , Abu Simbel, or Stonehenge appropriately, you can witness the absolutely fascinating ways that ancient cultures arranged their architecture to align with the stars! 

It’s worth noting that these areas do tend to get pretty crowded on the days when the stars line up with their design, but it’s a chance to see these archeological sites in a way that most people never get to experience, so there’s some give and take. 

The night sky has been a constant presence in the life of humans for humanity. It has inspired countless artists, poets, and scientists over the millennia, and remains one of the easiest sources of beauty and mystery to access for most people around the globe.

Have fun exploring!

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