Caravanning is a great way to get out and about to indulge your hobbies and if astronomy is one of them, there’s an exciting event coming up.
On September 18th, there’s due to be a partial lunar eclipse visible in the UK and the experts at Giants Causeway Tour have put together some tips on how to see it.
Top tips on seeing the eclipse
Timings
It’s going to be a late night or an early morning if you want to see the eclipse from your caravan, as it’ll be visible between 1.41am and 5.47am.
The maximum eclipse will occur at 3.44am in the UK, so find a dark spot to be at this time and you can expect to get the best views.
Caravanners can feel smug snuggling down close to their eclipse viewing position without having to drive home in the early hours of the morning.
Get up high
As well as scouting out a viewing spot that’s free from light pollution, it can be a good idea to get up high.
An elevated vantage point can give you an unobstructed view of the horizon, the sky and the moon.
Pack a good camera and some binoculars
Load your caravan up with any good photography equipment you have, including telephoto lenses and tripods to get some decent shots of the eclipse.
If you haven’t got a sophisticated camera then a quality zoom feature on a smartphone can also garner better results than you might think.
Remember to bring your binoculars along too, as these will enable you to get a clearer view of what’s going on in space.
Check the weather forecast
Before you go to the effort of driving your caravan to the perfect spot and camping out for the night, be sure to look at the weather forecast first.
If it’s scheduled to rain, then the chances are it’ll be too cloudy to see the eclipse. If you’re happy to have a little caravan adventure just in case, then you could still give it a go, but don’t get your hopes up.
Seek out an astronomy group
Joining in with a group of knowledgeable amateurs can be an effective way to get more out of your eclipse-viewing experience.
As well as giving you insights into what you’re seeing, a local astronomy club may also have equipment like telescopes that they’ll let you have a look through.
Bring snacks
Like most things that involve waiting, bringing plenty of snacks will help the time to pass more quickly.
It’s also a good idea to fire up the caravan stove and make hot drinks to keep you and anyone else in your viewing party warm as September nights in the UK can get chilly.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Martin Brechtl
