One of the things I like best about remote anchorages or overnight passages is the night sky. To be in a place with no light pollution, staring up at the stars, is a truly humbling experience.
As a teenager, I’d camped in some “remote” places where we saw “lots of stars.” But it wasn’t until I was in a place over 100 miles from the nearest tiny settlement (too small to be called a town) that I really saw what the night sky could be.
Now, on the boat, star gazing is almost as much of a daily ritual as watching the sunset.
Watching the full moon rise and set is always spectacular. And did you know that the full moon always rises just at sunset, and sets just at dawn? No matter what your latitude and how long the “day” and “night” are? One will be rising in the east as the other is setting in the west. My photos never do the moon justice.
Lunar eclipses can be spectacular, too. When you’re all alone in a remote anchorage or on a passage, it’s easy to understand how the ancients developed mythical explanations for the event. Our first crossing of the Sea of Cortez just happened to coincide with a lunar eclipse and I happened to have the watch on a beautiful, clear, light wind night that contained it all from start to finish.
Space Station flyovers are another event to watch for — they can be spotted even where there is substantial light pollution. Check NASA’s official “Spot the Station” site to find when it will be visible in your area — it will even tell you what direction and how high in the sky to look. There are also numerous iOS and Android apps to do the same; some apps will work with a GPS-enabled phone or tablet even if you don’t have internet access.
Once we get even 10 miles away from the nearest town, we’ll almost always see at least one meteor (shooting star) a night. Far more during meteor showers.
And the further we get from towns and other sources of light pollution (I don’t want to call the moon a source of light pollution, but yes, the less moonlight, too), the more stars we’ll see.
Once the “dark sky” status gets to that of the rural sky in the image above (thanks, NOAA), we can start to see the Milky Way — always a special treat.
About ten years ago, while camping at Capitol Reef National Park, a “Dark Sky” park, I realized that I’d become horribly spoiled living on a boat and particularly in the Sea of Cortez with few large towns. We went to the ranger presentation on the night sky and discovered that we were among just a handful of people there who had ever seen the Milky Way before: over 80% of North Americans can’t see it due to light pollution.
The Milky Way becomes not just visible, but simply breath-taking, if we’re 100 miles or more from the nearest coast (which usually cuts down on air pollution as well as light pollution), with no moon, few clouds, and calm waters. Those nights are rare, admittedly, but one of the very special moments of cruising and doing overnight passages. The times that make all those “why am I doing this?” times disappear.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Donna Bare says
Great article
Claire Ford says
Thanks, Carolyn. I experienced some of this in West Texas, and I was absolutely awed by how small we actually are in the whole scheme of things.
Diane Mercaldo says
The best night sky we saw was on the Bahama Bank. The stars were the size of diamonds that seemed as if you could reach up and grab a star.
John Fox says
It’s not a night time event, but don’t forget the solar eclipse visible from the Charleston, SC area on Aug. 21st, 2017 around 2:48pm local time. We wanted to drive the boat up there from St. Augustine, but it requires too much exact planning because of our work schedules, and we all know that sailboats and tight schedules don’t mix. While the eclipse itself is visible from land just as well as from the sea, there are also terrestrial events that happen when the sun goes out during the day, such as shadow bands visible on the ground. And you won’t have to fight the crowds.
Time lapse photos might be a bit more difficult 🙂
Of course, being able to see a solar eclipse is also weather dependent, it’s important to keep a weather eye out and be prepared to rent a car and drive inland if the Charleston area is going to be clouded over. We are going to stay in Savannah and be prepared to head west if need be.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yep! We’ve seen quite a number of lunar eclipses, too!
Diane Sanderbeck says
Love this article, Carolyn. I’m a stargazer too. I visited Capitol Reef NP exactly for its dark sky status, but you’re so right, nothing like being out at sea. I’m looking forward to getting back out there on my own boat next year. Thanks for all your great articles!
Patricia Rademacher says
Thanks so much for all your tips. We just moved aboard our boat full time after selling our house. I was surprised with the adjustment but your yips really helped. Great advise about so many things.
Patty and John
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thank you! So glad that you find it helpful.
David Green says
Approximately 12 years ago I was doing the first leg of the Tri-State Regatta (about a 53 nautical mile overnight race from Chicago to St. Joseph, MI). About five hours into the race and in the middle of Lake Michigan we saw a northern lights show for about 45 minutes. The only other lights we saw were running light of other sailboats. There are many places where light pollution is not present, we just need to get there more often.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights. Grew up in Michigan and the one time they were really, really visible in the lower part of the state, I was in Japan. So happy for you!
David Green says
Growing up 1/2 block of the shores of southern Lake Michigan in the 50’s -70’s we saw the changes in light, air, and water pollution. The air and water have been cleaned up except for the now and then releases by factories and municipalities, but the light pollution has only gotten worse. Not much we can do about light pollution where societies exist.
Carolyn Shearlock says
They’ve done quite a bit here in the Keys with “downward-facing” lights and also using red lights. There are lots of nesting turtles here and it’s become a priority. Still, getting just 10 miles away from town makes a huge difference.
Vivienne says
When the light pollution is low, and the stars are really bright they seem to become 3D and closer to Earth somehow!
The weirdest thing is changing hemispheres, what you are used to seeing is so completely different and that becomes very weird indeed!