If you like looking into the sky, both budding and experienced stargazers won’t want to miss seeing the full ‘Flower Moon’ on 23rd May. Said to spring from the abundance of flowers that bloom, it signals the arrival of spring in its full splendour.
With this in mind, the team at Millets have revealed the best places to go stargazing and full moon watching in Wales – here’s their tips for finding the best places, where to find like-minded stargazers and how to take the best pics – we share their advice below:
| Rank | Location | Light pollution level –
brightness (mcd/m2) |
Air quality index | Stargazing score/10 |
| 1 | Neath | 1.14 | 34 | 9.95 |
| 2 | Llanelli | 1.12 | 39 | 9.72 |
| 3 | Merthyr Tydfil | 1.29 | 35 | 8.61 |
| 4 | Wrexham | 1.49 | 34 | 8.17 |
| 5 | Barry | 1.56 | 37 | 6.39 |
| 6 | Bridgend | 1.76 | 31 | 5.94 |
| 6 | Caerphilly | 1.61 | 35 | 5.94 |
| 8 | Newport | 2.29 | 31 | 4.17 |
| 9 | Cardiff | 4.42 | 21 | 3.50 |
| 10 | Swansea | 1.9 | 46 | 3.28 |
The full study is available here: https://www.millets.co.uk/blog/the-best-outdoor-stargazing-spots
Best times to Stargaze in May
From the 6th to the 9th of May is the best time of the month to witness astrological phenomena, with the lowest levels of illumination and most minutes of darkness through the nights. The market town of Neath, located in Neath Port Talbot, is the optimal Welsh location for witnessing astronomical events, thanks to its dark skies and low air quality index (AQI). The town is the second darkest of all locations we looked at, with a 1.14 mcd/m2 brightness, second only to Llanelli. When stargazing, choosing a dark location away from artificial brightness and city lights is ideal for witnessing the stars.
Finding like minded astronomers
If you like stargazing and want to meet up with others who share your enthusiasm, Glamorgan is the best place in Wales to visit for stargazing groups. Keen astronomers can find six stargazing groups for social astronomy opportunities.
Meanwhile, in North Wales, Wrexham takes the no.1 spot for stargazers – but residents of Denbighshire have two groups available for budding stargazers.
And if you also want to take pictures, Millets have also shared some tips on how to do this:
So, there you have it – all that’s left is to pick your best spot and head out with your telescope and camera. Enjoy every minute!