Pick a dark spot

You can start stargazing in your garden, if you’re lucky enough to have one. If not, head to a park or another place that’s as dark as possible.

Choose the right night…

If you want to look at the stars, rather than the moon, pick a night when the moon isn’t really out. “Moonlight blocks out the fainter stars,” says Hannah. “So, you’re better off going out when you don’t have a bright moon.” It’s also best to avoid cloudy nights, because the cloud cover will obstruct your view of the stars. You can track the movement’s of the moon on the Royal Observatory’s monthly blog.

…and the right time

When you’re stargazing it’s important to head out at the right time. “As we enter into summer the days are getting longer so we’re getting to a time when we won’t get a proper astronomical night,” says Hannah. She recommends going stargazing later in the summer months when the brighter stars begin to appear. “It does get cold though, so wrap up if you’re going to be out for a while.”

Lie down

It’s best to lie down when you’re stargazing. This means you can see more of the night sky and helps to block out light pollution from things like street lamps or your neighbours’ windows.

Adjust to the dark

To see stars properly, let your eyes adjust to the dark before you start stargazing. Around 20 minutes is enough to get your eyes used to the darkness.

Leave your phone at home

Try not to look at your phone while you’re stargazing because it will disrupt your night vision. “Astronomers always use red lights,” says Hannah, “because it doesn’t disrupt your night vision as much.” You can switch your phone to red light mode.

An astronomer’s guide to learning to stargaze, wherever you live