Many know our islands for their wonderful views, scenic walks and temperate climate, but what surprises many is the wonder of the night skies once the sun goes down.
The Islands of Guernsey are beautiful at all times of day, but on a quiet clear night, the skies are simply breathtaking.
Why can you see stars in some places and not others?
The simple answer is light pollution - so the beauty of less populated areas of the world is the clarity of the night sky and the stars above.
On the Islands of Guernsey, we only have street lights in the more built up areas, such as along the main roads and ports or in St Peter Port on Guernsey. This is one reason why there is much less light pollution - and much clearer skies at night than more industrial, built-up areas of the world.
Less light pollution also brings other benefits, as misdirected or obtrusive light can disrupt ecosystems, waste energy and, as a result, affect our climate and wildlife. Human health can also be affected.
Sark: The World’s First Dark Sky Island
In 2011, Sark was designated an International Dark Sky Community, the first in Europe and the first island globally to be given such status. With such low levels of light pollution (Sark has no motor vehicles, other than farm vehicles and tractors, and no public lighting in its lanes), the Milky Way can be seen clearly from the island - and is even used by locals for navigation.
It is incredibly important to Sark’s 600 residents to protect the island from light pollution and preserve the island for the tens of thousands of visitors that enjoy its tranquillity.
Dark Skies and Wellbeing
In 2014, psychotherapist Ada Blair studied the role that the night sky plays in the lives of Sark residents as part of her M.A. in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.
She found that those living in Sark “place a high level of value and enjoyment on observing the night sky, alone or with others, and feel that this strengthened family/community connection.” She noted that the sky, the stars and the Milky way were a part of daily conversation amongst islanders, and that the community often come together to enjoy the night sky - both of which significantly contributed to their wellbeing. You can read her study on darksky.org.
How to Enjoy Stargazing on The Islands of Guernsey
A stargazing walk on any of our islands is a wonderful experience - and happily, it's easy to find places without any artificial light. Head out with a torch (provided in most accommodation options on Sark), sensible shoes and simply look up.
On Sark, visitors are welcome to borrow telescopes from the Sark Astronomy Society or to enjoy the views from the Sark observatory.
On Guernsey, the Astronomy Section of La Société Guernesiaise holds regular talks and stargazing events with telescopes at the Astronomical Observatory. You can learn more about light pollution and International Dark Sky Week at darksky.org.
