Say YES to Stargazing on the Isle of Wight!
The Isle of Wight is a perfect destination for eager stargazers. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with light pollution kept to a minimum, as well as a mild climate, stargazing on the Island is a great night-time activity for the whole family.
Where are the best spots on the Island?
Separated from mainland Britain on one side by a stretch of water, and with the English Channel on the other and no major cities, the Island has very little light pollution. As darkness falls, the number of stars visible can be breath taking. The Milky Way, Cassiopeia, Orion, and the Plough dazzle in the ink-black sky.
For the best chance of spotting stars and meteor showers in a truly dramatic display, try stargazing in the Isle of Wight’s most remote locations.
The best spots with car parks are Freshwater Bay, Compton Bay, Brook Chine, Whale Chine, Culver Down and Yaverland. Or make your way to Brighstone Beach / Cliff, the Needles Headland, St Catherine’s Down, Brading Down, St George’s Down, and The Longstone at Mottistone.
Top tips for Isle of Wight stargazing
Autumn, Winter, and Spring offer the best times to stargaze. The October half term is ideal for families as skies darken by 8pm.
For the best experience, plan a stargazing trip before, during, or soon after each new Moon. During these times there is no bright moon in the sky to deflect the light from fainter stars. As a result, the naked eye can see thousands of stars, compared to just a few hundred at other times.
Plan ahead for all the best stargazing and astronomical events occurring by visiting the Sky Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events.
Stargazing advice
- Choose a clear night!
- Wrap up warm – don’t forget your hiking shoes and a windproof jacket - you can go out any time from 6:30pm onwards on a winter’s evening.
- Consider bringing binoculars to spot shooting stars, a portable camping chair and a red torch (which will help you see the stars better).
- Find a good spot to stand and look, away from street and car park lighting.
- It can be daunting to know where to start looking. So download our stargazing maps to orientate yourself with the night sky, or use a mobile app such as Star Walk 2 or Sky Map which use your location to tell you exactly what’s in the sky at any given moment.
Download stargazing maps
Finding out more about stars on the Isle of Wight
You only need your naked eyes to stargaze but adding a bit of magnification can really enhance your experience. A pair of binoculars is great for looking at the moon or at stars within constellations. Especially for younger stargazers, the chance to look at a planet such as Saturn or Jupiter through a powerful telescope adds a real ‘wow’ factor.
Fort Victoria Country Park is a Dark Sky Discovery site and the car park is an easily accessible observing site with hard surface parking and level access for wheelchairs. The car park is a level hard surface area, but care should be exercised if moving beyond the rock and post marked perimeter.
Vectis Astronomical Society over in Newchurch open their Observatory to the public every Thursday evening from 8pm. Run by volunteers, all are welcome to discover more about the Isle of Wight night sky.
You can even learn about the solar system in the daytime, with the pram and wheelchair-friendly Solar System walk from Bonchurch to Ventnor. The walk is laid out on the 1000-yard scale of 1 inch to 100,000 miles. Starting from the model of the Sun, the planets of the Solar System are marked out to scale with signs showing some key facts about each one. Walking from the Sun to Pluto takes 1,019 paces, the equivalent of 3,660,000,000 miles. By the time you reach Pluto, you will no longer be able to see the sun. Ideally, the walk starts at the model of the Sun in Bonchurch and finishes outside the chalets at Wheelers Bay, but it can of course be taken in reverse, starting at Ventnor Haven.
Staying on the Isle of Wight
If you’d love to spend a night under the stars, observing distant planets and streaking meteors, see below for a list of places to stay along with dark skies events.
If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try one of the Island’s stargazing friendly accommodation spots? Camp out under the stars or choose a cosy cottage with a range of extras such as binoculars, torches, portable folding chairs or waterproof picnic blankets.
to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
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