Iceland’s flagship airline, Icelandair, reveals the best hotspots in Europe for stargazing based on factors such as
Iceland’s flagship airline, Icelandair, reveals the best hotspots in Europe for stargazing based on factors such as brightness, artificial light, Bortle Scale rankings and elevation.
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Riaño Mountain Reservoir, Spain, is crowned the best stargazing hotspot in Europe, with a stargazing score of 76/100, followed by Dungeagan, Ireland (74) and Galloway Forest Park, Scotland (73).
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Riaño Mountain Reservoir, Spain, is the only listed location in the ranking rated an ‘excellent dark sky site,’ scoring 1 on the Bortle Scale.
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Thingvellir National Park, Iceland, comes in fifth place overall with 67/100 and is the second-highest stargazing spot at 1,037m high.
With warm summer nights and clearer skies, now is the perfect time to escape to a dark sky location and relax. Escaping the city lights to gaze at the stars in a serene, natural setting provides a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
A new study from Icelandair, has revealed the best stargazing hotspots in Europe by mapping out the most enchanting natural beauty spots for stargazers to experience the night sky this summer. The study collates multiple factors, including brightness (mcd/m2), artificial brightness (μcd/m2), Bortle scale rankings, and elevation (m).
As Iceland’s flagship airline and with Iceland being home to celestial beauty such as the Aurora Borealis, Icelandair determines the top destinations for your summer celestial observations to inspire your next trip.
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Top 10 European Destinations for Star-Gazing Data:
The Top Five Destinations for Star-Gazing in Europe:
1 – Riaño Mountain Reservoir, Spain
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Riaño Mountain Reservoir has been revealed as the best stargazing spot in Europe with a score of 76/100. This beautiful Spanish ecosystem is renowned for its remarkably dark skies, free from the light pollution often associated with urban areas. The reservoir has the lowest levels of both brightness (0.172mcd/m2) and artificial brightness (0.691 μcd/m2) recorded of all the destinations. The lack of artificial light allows for clear and unobstructed views of the stars, planets, and galaxies, making it a prime destination for stargazing enthusiasts. With Riaño Mountain Reservoir being at sea level, you are at risk of hazes and fog, but with its Bortle Class ranking of 1, this picturesque natural beauty spot falls under the category of “Excellent Dark Skies”, making it a magical setting for observing the night sky.
With this being ranked an ‘’Excellent Dark Sky,’’ you’re in with the chance of seeing the zodiacal band and galaxy M33 in all their glory.
2 – Dungeagan, Ireland
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Irish spot, Dungeagan is located in Kerry, and has come second in the ranks with a stargazing score of 74/100. It places second for both the lowest levels of brightness (0.177 mcd/m2) and artificial brightness (5.58 μcd/m2). Duneagan also ranks 2nd on the Bortle Scale, making this location a ‘’typical truly dark site’’ so immerse yourself in the serenity of the Irish countryside while gazing at the stars.
3 – Galloway Forest Park, Scotland
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Coming in close third, Galloway Forest Park is officially recognised as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) with a star-gazing score of 73/100. This recognition ensures that the park is actively committed to preserving its dark skies, making it one of the best places in Europe for stargazing.
The park’s low brightness (0.186 mcd/m2) and minimal artificial brightness (18 μcd/m2) make it the third darkest sky in our ranking. With ideal conditions for stargazing, only further supported by its Bortle Scale rating of 2, Galloway Forest Park is another ‘’typical truly dark site’’. This means the milky way will be ‘highly structured’ to the naked eye and look like ‘veined marble’ through binoculars. Any clouds will be seen as dark holes to a starry background.
If you’re looking to head here this summer, the park hosts regular stargazing events and provides dedicated stargazing facilities, such as observatories and viewing platforms, perfect for beginners.
4 – Ballycroy National Park, Ireland
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In fourth place with a stargazing score of 70/100, Ballycroy National Park in Ireland is likely to be a stargazing hotspot for many years to come. The park is protected with ecologically dark-sky friendly lighting to maximise your stargazing opportunities and preserve this sensitive environment. As another ‘’typical truly dark site’’ with a Bortle Scale rating of 2, this location is 90 metres above sea level; the elevation of Ballycroy National Park will reduce haziness and fog, allowing for a clearer night and more opportunities to see some celestial wonders. Surrounding yourself with trees, lakes, and moors will make it all the easier, quite literally, to stare into space.
5 – Thingvellir National Park, Iceland
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Home to many celestial wonders, Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park is the fifth-best location for stargazing this summer with a stargazing score of 67/100. Located near the Arctic Circle and only a 45-minute drive from the capital, Reykjavík, Thingvellir National Park presents an incredible opportunity to witness the beautiful Northern Lights in this ‘rural sky’ site, rated 3 on the Bortle Scale. This means the Milky Way’s complexity remains evident and four globular clusters, M4, M5, M15, and M22, will stand out as distinct naked-eye objects.
Thingvellir National Park is elevated 1,037 metres above sea level, the highest of the top five, contributing to its allure for stargazing. Being at a higher altitude offers an unobstructed view above the dense air found at lower altitudes, leading to clearer and more crisp views of the night sky.
Whether it’s witnessing the Northern Lights, spotting shooting stars, or simply contemplating the vastness of the universe, stargazing here is sure to be memorable.
Gísli Brynjólfsson, Director of Global Marketing said “Iceland is a perfect location for stargazing, and its unique geographic location near the Arctic Circle makes it one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights. October to March offers darker skies and longer nights, so there’s a greater chance of being able to see the phenomenon than in the summer months (when the midnight sun means 24-hour daylight and no dark skies). If you’re making a trip to Iceland with the aim of seeing the Northern Lights, during your stay you should check the local forecast and choose a location where there is minimal cloud cover to make sure you have a greater chance of seeing them.”