Recording Your Observation

Observation Date & Time

Please enter the date and local time of your observation.

Observation Location

Select how you want to record your location
Select the Google Maps option if you're not sure what your observation locations latitude/longitude is or enter your observation locations Postcode area, e.g. PA12 3.

Are there street lights in the area?
Answer yes if there are street lights visible in your observation location and enter approximately how many and also the type of street lights used.

Are there security lights in the area?
Answer yes if there are security lights visible in your observation location and enter approximately how many and also give a percentage of the amount of security lights that are incorrectly positioned. The Institute of Lighting Engineers suggest domestic security lights should point directly downwards and should not exceed 150w. See illustration below:

Information about Light Pollution and the Law can be found on the British Astronomical Association website here.

Download the 'Institute of Lighting Engineers guide to Domestic Security Lighting' from their website here.

Download the 'Statutory Nuisance From Insects And Artificial Light' from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website here.

More information about light pollution can be found on the Environment Agency website here.

Location Type
If your observation location is your home, please select the appropriate residential option from the drop down list. For example, if you live in a town or city please select Residential Urban. If you live in the open countryside please select Residential Rural. Anywhere else please select Residential Suburban or use your own judgement.
If your observation location was a campsite or caravan site please select the appropriate option and answer questions about the site which will help astronomers in choosing future locations for their observing. Please also type the name of the site and any other information you may think is useful in the Additional Location Comments box.

Additional Location Comments
Please enter any other information about your observation location you may think is useful in the Additional Location Comments box.

Sky Quality

Select how you want to record the sky quality.
There are two ways you can record the sky quality. You can either count the number of stars in the Big Dipper/The Plough asterism of Ursa Major or select the appropriate magnitude level.
If you want to count the number of stars in the Big Dipper/The Plough, please use the illustration below to find Ursa Major.

Once you find the Big Dipper/The Plough, try and count the number of stars along the Big Dipper/The Plough 'handle' and the 'saucepan' as in the illustration below. Please include the stars within the 'saucepan'.

If you want to record the sky quality by magnitude, please click on the link below to view our magnitude guide.

View the Magnitude Guide

Please ensure your eyes are properly dark adapted by allowing your eyes to adapt to the dark for least 30 minutes.

Cloud Cover
Please select the appropriate radio button to specify the percentage of cloud cover at the time of your observation.

Haze / Skyglow
Please select the appropriate radio button to specify the level of haze/skyglow/light pollution at the time of your observation. Light pollution can show as an orangey glow on the horizon. In towns and cities this can seriously effect the view of the night sky and can sometimes even block out the brightest of stars. In rural areas the light pollution should be extremely low or nonexistant so you should be able to clearly see the Milky Way.

Additional Sky Quality Comments
Please enter any other information about your observation of the sky quality you may think is useful in the Additional Sky Quality Comments box.