Leanne Reuben took these photos last night.
In the night of 23/24 April, the Northern Lights danced over Exmoor. Here are some photos:
Beautiful Northern lights over Lynmouth
Debbie Tucker
“Last night from Haddon hill, unedited straight from the camera, a gorgeous aurora view. So lucky to live on the doorstep of a dark skies reserve.
Laura Grant”
“I haven’t taken much time with these but wasn’t really necessary i think you will get the idea, one picture taken from each direction.
The whole sky was alight.”
Nick Harbourne
For thousands of years, humans have looked up at the night sky and wondered at what they saw. This wonder helped to define our sense of who we are, our myths and legends, our religious beliefs and a sense of our place in a wider cosmos. But the dark skies that were the night time backdrop for the vast majority of human history are for many of us now a rare sight. Our night times are filled with the orange glow of street lighting and we are all more likely to be looking at a television or a smartphone than gazing at the stars.
So why not take the time on Exmoor to look up and rediscover your sense of wonder? Good spots are Holdstone Hill, County Gate, Brendon Two Gates, Webbers Post, Anstey Gate, Haddon Hill and Wimbleball Lake. On a clear night the night sky of Exmoor is simply stunning when many astronomical sights can be seen through the naked eye and even more can be discovered through a telescope or binoculars.
To help you get the most from Exmoor’s dark skies we have produced a new Dark Skies Pocket Guide – download it here or pick up a copy from one of our National Park Centres where you can also hire a telescope ! – you can see one of the telescopes and and how to use them in this short video.
Here is the link to the full programme.
Good weather for stargazing? Check out the Exmoor Weather forecast from the Met Office here
The Milky Way over Dunkery and Porlock on 21 September 2017.
Photo by John Spurr
We live a few miles from the nearest town and so the yard is a great place for night skies. The moon was bright and reflecting beautifully off the stream, casting amazing shadows and reflections… Love how this image captures the details, the serenity of the night echoed in the softness of the water…
By Louisa May
Wimbleball Lake 3.30am on 1 May 2016.
Moon just starting to rise bottom left, Mars, Saturn and Antares to the right of the Milky Way.
Photo by Paul Howell.
Wimbleball Lake. 3 May 2016.
Photo by Paul Howell.
Shooting star over the Milky Way, Mars and Saturn.
Photo by John Spurr.
Moonset from Exmoor.
April 2016.
Photo by John Spurr.
Photo by John Spurr.
Photo by John Spurr.
It was cold , when I took this last night. For people wanting to get milky way shots or stars, it’s better to wait until late March until early September , the galactic centre is brighter in summer. I hope to get a full Milky Way in May / June. This was a 15s exposure at F2.8 at 16mm.
Paul Waby
Exmoor 4 all 