South Africans are in for some of the year’s best stargazing this weekend
· The South African
South Africans looking for an excuse to escape the city lights may want to keep their eyes on the sky this weekend.
A new moon will occur on Friday, 11 September, creating some of the darkest night skies of the lunar month – and making it one of the best times to go stargazing.
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In South Africa, the new moon occurs at around 5:27am on Friday, meaning the nights around Thursday and Friday will have very little moonlight competing with the stars.
And while a new moon may not be much to look at itself, because it is essentially invisible from Earth, what happens around it can be spectacular.
Why the new moon is the best time for stargazing
Moonlight can dramatically brighten the night sky, washing out fainter stars and making it harder to see features such as the Milky Way.
During a new moon, however, the Moon is positioned roughly between the Earth and the Sun, leaving the side facing Earth largely unlit. The result is a much darker sky.
That means more stars become visible, and faint objects that might disappear under the glare of a bright moon have a better chance of standing out.
Of course, there is one other important ingredient: getting away from artificial lights. A new moon won’t magically turn a brightly lit suburb into the Karoo, sadly.
For the best views, stargazers should head somewhere with low light pollution, open horizons and clear skies.
Where to go stargazing in South Africa
Sutherland, Northern Cape
If South Africa had an unofficial capital of stargazing, Sutherland would be very high on the list.
Home to the South African Astronomical Observatory’s Sutherland facility, the area was chosen for its clear skies, semi-arid environment and low levels of light pollution. The observatory sits around 1 800 metres above sea level and offers some of the world’s best conditions for astronomy.
Visitors can also book stargazing experiences in and around the town, making it an excellent option for anyone who wants a little expert help identifying what they are looking at.
Tankwa Karoo National Park
For those who really want to get away from civilisation, the Tankwa Karoo offers vast open spaces and exceptionally dark skies.
SANParks describes the park as a place of solitude and wide horizons, where visitors can stargaze beneath countless stars in the quiet of the Karoo.
The lack of major towns and artificial lighting makes it an ideal destination for anyone hoping to experience a truly dark night sky.
The Cederberg
The Cederberg is another favourite for Western Cape stargazers.
Its rugged mountains and distance from Cape Town’s city lights offer a much darker sky than most urban areas, while astronomy experiences in the region can give visitors the chance to see far more than they would with the naked eye.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
The Kalahari is known for its dramatic landscapes during the day, but once the Sun goes down, the stars take over.
Remote camps and enormous open spaces make the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park one of South Africa’s standout destinations for seeing the night sky away from major sources of light pollution.
Karoo National Park
You don’t necessarily have to travel to the most remote corner of the country to enjoy a better view of the stars.
The wide-open landscapes of the Karoo provide plenty of space between visitors and the glow of South Africa’s major cities, making the region another excellent option for a night spent looking upwards.
But, you don’t have to travel far to enjoy it
Of course, not everyone can pack a bag and head to Sutherland for the weekend.
Even from home, the new moon can offer a better opportunity to spot stars than a bright full moon. The trick is to find the darkest location you safely can, whether that’s a garden, farm, beach, campsite or quiet spot outside town, and give your eyes time to adjust.
Avoid looking at your phone for a while, switch off unnecessary lights and spend at least 20 minutes letting your eyes adapt to the darkness.
Then look up.