One of the best things about Landal GreenParks locations is undoubtedly their dark skies, revealing the full majesty of the heavens above us – and a spot of stargazing certainly makes for an unforgettable holiday experience, especially for those of us who spend most of our time in towns and cities.
Indeed, many of our resorts are even located within or close to one of the UK’s official International Dark Sky Reserves and Parks, which include the South Downs National Park (Marwell Resort), West Penwith Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Clowance – 10 miles), Galloway Forest Park (Brunston – 18 miles), and the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks (Woodland Lakes – 10 miles).
So, if you fancy adding a distinctly celestial dimension to your stay with us this year, here are some top astronomical highlights to look out for…
Meteor shower: Perseids
17 July-24 August (peak 12-13 August)
Perhaps one of the best known showers, thanks to its rapid-fire, bright meteors, the Perseids will radiate between the constellations of Perseus and Camelopardalis. The peak is due to take place a few days before the new moon, so the sky should be nice and dark for the show!
August supermoons
1 August and 31 August
In August there’ll not only be one full moon, but two – and better still, they will be the only two Super Full Moons of 2023! Essentially, you’ll be witnessing a full moon at its closest approach to Earth, thus appearing 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than a full moon that’s at its furthest distance away.
Planets at opposition
27 August, 19 September, 3 November and 13 November
Look out for four planets shining particularly brightly in the night sky this year, as they move directly opposite to the Sun and become fully illuminated. Saturn will be first on 27 August, followed by Neptune on 19 September, Jupiter on 3 November and Uranus on 13 November. You should be able to spot most of the planets with the naked eye, but a pair of binoculars or a telescope will give a better view.
Meteor shower: Orionids
2 October-7 November (peak 21-22 October)
Keep an eagle eye out for these pieces of Halley’s comet zooming through the heavens, and often leaving bright streaks of light behind them. Pick a spot where you have the widest view possible, as these fast-moving meteors can be seen all over the sky if conditions are favourable. The brightness of the Moon may not be ideal around the peak time, but it’s worth looking either side of these dates too.
Partial lunar eclipse
28 October
Ok so there won’t be a huge amount to see from the UK, but on this day a small portion of the Moon’s surface (just 12 per cent when viewed from here) will be covered by the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow (the umbra), producing what’s known as a partial lunar eclipse. Eyes on the skies at 9.15pm to see it at its maximum!
Meteor shower: Geminids
4-20 December (peak 14-15 December)
One of the highlights of the astronomy calendar, as many as 150 meteors per hour could be visible during the Geminid shower. Famously multi-coloured, these meteors can range from white, to yellow, to green, red and blue. The early hours of the morning around peak time are your best bet for seeing the Geminids, but it’s still worth looking at any time of the night during the active period – just be sure to wait until a few hours after sunset.