A light for when all other lights go out

By Dav Bridger

Ranger - West

The shorter days of winter mean longer, colder nights, with the northern hemisphere leaning away from the sun as the Earth tilts on its axis, whilst it orbits our closest star. It is this tilt, of approximately 23.5 degrees, that is responsible for our seasons and has us clinging to ghostly memories of summer: blue skies, warm sunshine on skin, trees abundant with verdant leaves, and wildflower meadows humming with the sounds of pollinators and chirps of Field Crickets.

Winter has its own merits too of course, whether that be frosty mornings that are crisp underfoot, the sight of snowfall, or that feeling of snug and cosiness under a blanket on the sofa, as you press play on the annual rewatch of Gilmore Girls.

For me, the dark skies of winter provide an opportunity for star-gazing. There is nothing quite like the sense of peace that overcomes you as you stand out there on a clear night, far from the light pollution and bustle of towns and roads, staring up into the ether. Who knows, perhaps there is something out there staring back?

What’s more, there is no entry requirement to enjoy star-gazing. You don’t have to buy any fancy equipment, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to do it, no subscription to pay. You don’t even have to make an account and provide your email address! Access to nature and wild spaces is so vital for our wellbeing, learning and understanding, and something that everyone should be able to enjoy without a paywall.

After twenty-thirty minutes in the dark, your eyes will have adjusted to the low light levels and released rhodopsin, a chemical that finetunes your eyesight in the dark. This process is given the term ‘dark adaptation’, and will result in you seeing more stars and detail than when you first arrived. The key is to not break it by looking at bright lights, such as your phone screen during this time, though!

Orion, ‘The Hunter’, and in particular the three stars of Orion’s belt, is a good constellation for beginners and is best seen in the dark skies of winter. The Plough is another easy spot with the naked eye, though it is not classed as a constellation, but an asterism – a small pattern of stars. There are 88 recognised constellations, one such constellation being Ursa Major, the Great Bear, which coincidentally the Plough asterism forms the head, neck and torso of.

It is not just stars that light up our skies, however. The planet Venus can often be seen with just the naked eye, appearing as a steady, silver glow. Confusingly, it is also known as the Morning Star and also as the Evening Star, depending on the time of year, but is never visible at midnight from the UK. At time of writing, Venus is currently visible in the night sky at dusk.

The next full Moon – Earth’s only natural satellite – will be seen on Monday 13th of January. The first full moon of the new year, it is named the ‘Wolf Moon’, though perhaps those of us in Sussex should use the Anglo-Saxon name, the ‘Moon After Yule’. How apt!