Troopers Hill Stargazing

2024 Star Gazing Event >>

Troopers Hill Dark Sky Discovery Site

Dark Sky Discovery SiteTroopers Hill was declared as a "Orion Class" Dark Sky Discovery Site in December 2015.

Despite its location in the midst of brightly lit St George it is a good place to visit for star and planet watching, relatively protected from light pollution and with a good horizon.

Dark Sky Discovery Sites are places that:

• provide good sightlines of the sky

• are away from the worst of any local light pollution

• have good public access, including firm ground for wheelchairs

• are generally freely accessible at all times.

"Orion" sites are those where the seven main stars in the winter constellation Orion are visible to the naked eye. Typically, this means away from, or shielded from, bright lights such as street lights, security lights or approaching car lights.

Visiting Troopers Hill for Star Gazing

Photo by Benn Baker, annotated by Rod Davis Maps & directions to Troopers Hill

Star gazers should visit Troopers Hill via the wheelchair access route from Malvern Road, use torches and either keep to the wheelchair access path or keep north and west of the chimney on the fairly flat area of turf nearby. As Troopers Hill is an exposed hillside, layers of warm, windproof clothing including head covering are advised.

The best observing site is near the chimney on top of the hill where you are above the City's lights.

The Hill is in a residential area, please consider our neighbours and keep noise to a minimum, especially if visiting late at night or early morning.
 

Star Gazing Events at Troopers Hill

2024 Star Gazing Event >>

We aim to host public star gazing events in February or March each year with the Bristol Astronomical Society. Star gazing is best near a new moon and of course requires clear skies, so the weather is always a challenge.

We ran events successfully each year from 2014 to 2019, sadly the weather in February 2020 prevented us from running an event and the Covid-19 restrictions mean we couldn't hold an event in 2021. Weather again defeated us in 2022 & 2023.

Weather (and everything else) permitting, we hope to be back star gazing in 2024 and that Bristol Astronomical Society will be able to join us for solar observing at an event in summer 2023.

Past events:

Details of Star Gazing Event 14th Feb 2019 >>

Details of Star Gazing Event 22nd Feb 2018 >>

Details of Star Gazing Event 13th Mar 2017 >>

Details & Photos of Star Gazing Event 2nd Feb 2016 >>

Details & Photos of Star Gazing Event 26th Mar 2015 >>

Details of Star Gazing Event 11th March 2014 >>

Star Gazing Event 2014 Video >>

Photo by Alex Whitman

Troopers Hill Star Trails, composite day / night photo by Alex Whiteman


More Information

www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk

Other Dark Sky Discovery Sites in Bristol: The Downs - Victoria Park.

Map showing all UK Dark Sky Discovery Sites

Bristol Astronomical Society - www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk

2024 Star Gazing Event >>