City Skyline to Countryside Wonder - Hampshire’s Starry Night Sky

Victoria Greenwood moved to Hampshire from Oxford three months ago. From her back garden in a small rural village in the Test Valley the big, open dark night skies have been a revelation.

Victoria joined CPRE Hampshire after hearing about the charity’s interest in ‘Dark Night Skies’ and light pollution. She talked about her experience in an interview with our Operations Manager, Alison Talbot.

“Moving to the countryside from a city I have been transfixed by the starry skies. I am stunned by the clarity of what I can see and I am keen to learn more.

I was unaware of the effects of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife. I am on a learning journey and it’s great to tap into the resources and expertise of night sky experts. There are so many different perspectives and some great resources for beginners.

I got myself a Planisphere from a local bookshop, a Night Sky Atlas and downloaded the Sky View App onto my phone. With these simple tools I am beginning to make sense of what I’m seeing.

However, for me, it’s not about being able to recognize and name all the stars. It’s about the sense of wellbeing and calmness that gazing at the stars can give you. The dark night skies make me feel grounded. It’s the human experience of being something very small in a vast universe. It can put worries in perspective and be a very relaxing and enjoyable experience.

As some of the best times to view the dark night skies can be in the Winter it gives you something to feel excited about in that post Christmas period that can sometimes be difficult for people.

My top tips. Don’t be worried about not knowing anything. You can start your lovely learning journey at any time. If the night is clear, it’s there at any time of the year. Grab yourself some warm clothes, a good pair of binoculars, a reclining camping chair, a hip flask of something to keep you warm and … enjoy the night sky view.”

Find out more about CPRE Hampshire’s Dark Skies initiatives.