Stargazing in the garden
Blankets on the grass, lights off, heads back — and suddenly the garden is an observatory.
Blankets on the grass, lights off, heads back — and suddenly the garden is an observatory.
Free · No credit card · Works on phone and desktop
Stargazing doesn't require a telescope, a dark countryside, or any astronomy knowledge. All you need is a clear night, somewhere to lie outside, and twenty minutes of patience for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
Download the free app Star Walk or Stellarium on your phone: point it at the sky and it shows which constellation, planet or satellite you're looking at. Kids find this magical. Look together for the Big Dipper, the North Star, and in summer the Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb, Altair).
In June the nights are still relatively short, so wait until after half past ten. Outside the city you'll see more. But even in a lit-up suburb the brightest stars and planets are clearly visible. Make it a ritual: every year on the first clear summer night, head outside.
Try the app free for 28 days. No credit card needed.
+ Add to our bucket listFree · No credit card · Works on phone and desktop
