The night skies over the rural cottage where we stayed. Credit: Will Gater
I’ve just spent the last week staying very near to Galloway Forest Park, along with my wife and a few of our friends. I’ve been meaning to visit the forest ever since it was declared the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park back in 2009. The night skies were truly incredible and we were lucky enough to have 4.5 clear nights out of seven. I’ve put together a series of photographs below that show the astronomical highlights of our trip, including several sightings of Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS). If you’d like to find out more about Galloway Forest Park’s dark skies check out this page.
The Kirroughtree Visitor Centre is the site of a dark sky viewing area. Credit: Will Gater
The Orion & Running Man Nebulae, imaged from just outside the forest. Credit: Will Gater
Our first glimpse of C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) on 11/03/13. Can you spot it? Credit: Will Gater
On Monday night we ventured into the forest to see the dark skies there. Credit: Will Gater
The zodiacal light was clear to see from near Clatteringshaws Loch. Credit: Will Gater
The trees in the forest appear to stretch toward the constellation of Leo. Credit: Will Gater
Orion, Jupiter & the Hyades and Pleiades over Clatteringshaws Loch. Credit: Will Gater
The Milky Way peeking through the trees was an unforgettable sight. Credit: Will Gater
Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) was much easier to spot on 13/03/13. Credit: Will Gater
Much of the time watching the comet was spent waiting for cloud gaps. Credit: Will Gater
Comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) over the hills of Galloway Forest Park. Credit: Will Gater
The Earthshine-lit Moon, taken shortly after Comet PANSTARRS had set. Credit: Will Gater
Clouds move past the Earthshine-lit Moon later on in the evening. Credit: Will Gater
A modern LED streetlight in the town of New Galloway. Credit: Will Gater
Very little light shines out the sides of the lights (great for astronomy). Credit: Will Gater
On our last night (15/03/2013) we spotted C/2011 L4 again… Credit: Will Gater
…but it soon set behind the distant hills. Credit: Will Gater