Darkness and light pollution

Your eyes take 20–30 minutes to fully adapt to the dark. A moment of white light (your phone screen) is enough to lose much of that adaptation.

• Use a red torch, or a red filter on your screen: it disturbs night vision much less.
• For faint objects try averted vision: look slightly to the side, the edge of the retina is more sensitive.
• Dress warmly: even in summer, standing still at night gets cold.

Choosing the place

From a city centre you see a few dozen stars; from a truly dark site, thousands. Even getting 20–30 km away from the main lights makes a big difference. Look for an open horizon and a safe place, ideally with company.

Choosing the night

Check the weather and the Moon phase: the best nights are clear, dry and moonless. GAIA's calendar shows the new Moon nights.