Stars can be viewed through the Panoramic window and skylight from the double bed. Or you can lie on the mezzanine nets and gaze through the skylight.
The Dome is the perfect place to Stargaze from with it being in the Dark Sky Park. The best place to see stars is from outside as you can have a much greater field of vision but when the cold starts to creep in you can view them from the heat and comfort of the Dome be it from the King-size bed, Giant Bean bags, reclining chairs or up on the mezzanine nets under the Sky light.
What you need to know
The best time to see the stars is on a moonless night in the winter, with the sun setting shortly before 4 in the afternoon and not rising again until just before 9 in the morning on the Winter Solstice (21 December) it gives you the maximum time to see stars. During the Summer Solstice the sun sets just after 10 in the evening and rises again around 4.30 in the morning, even with the reduced hours of darkness you can still be treated to a spectacular display of stars.
UK's 1st Dark Sky Park
The IDA International Dark Sky Park granted the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Status this was the 1st in the UK. The status is awarded to places that have land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.
The remoteness and sparse population of the area combined with the newly adopted lighting management plan ensure that Galloway Forest Park’s skies will remain pristine for generations to come.
Stars, distant planets & meteors
There are over 7000 stars visible on a clear moonless night. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible and with a reasonable pair of binoculars, you can even see the four largest moons of Jupiter (Jupiter has 79 Moons).
If you are lucky and have a clear moonless night Dark Sky Dome is the perfect place to be awed by a meteor shower.
Part of Galloway Forest Park
300 square miles of the Galloway Forest Park have been protected from light pollution, this area of the park is the Dark Sky Park and is annually reviewed by the IDA (International Dark Sky Association). The criteria to be recognised as a Dark Sky Park:
•Light meter readings to show the area remains at sufficient quality.
•67% of properties have to have ‘Dark sky friendly lighting (this is why the dome has no outside lighting, so as to preserve the Dark Sky).
•Support shown from 80% of the area and population, the Dark Sky Dome fully supports Dark Skies.
•Dedicated education and public outreach programs to highlight the value of natural night-time darkness.