11 Best places to see the night sky [Pics]

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Best places to see the night sky Galloway Forest Park in Scotland has been highlighted as a Dark Sky Park with very little light pollution, and one of the best places to view the night sky in Britain. Here we suggest a few more places, both abroad and close to home, where you can see the galaxies above at their most dazzling.

Natural Bridge National Monument, Utah, USA This ancient, natural monument in the US state of Utah is so far away from cities and their associated light that it was named the first international Dark Sky Park.

The Very Large Telescope, Chile So high and dry is Paranal in Chile, and so clear its night skies, that the European Southern Observatory set up its aptly named Very Large Telescope in the area...

The Very Large Telescope, Chile While more casual observers are unlikely to pick up the kind of detail pictured here (of spiral galaxy NGC 1350), the conditions in this region of Chile are among the best in the world for amateur stargazers.

\ Star-gazing in the UK Despite a much denser population, there are still places in the UK for uninterrupted views of the night sky. The National Trust recently highlighted several places where observers could get good views of the Perseid Meteors (pictured) in Britain...

Stonehenge, UK Visitors to this ancient pagan site have keenly watched the night sky above Wiltshire since prehistoric times, an activity that continues to this day, despite the presence of nearby A roads.

Wicken Fen, Cambridge The National Trust also suggests Wicken Fen in Cambridge, one of the country's few surviving 'wild' fens, known for its big skies...

Mam Tor, Peak District as well as the area around Mam Tor in the Peak District, shielded from the bright lights of nearby Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds.

Kielder Observatory, Northumberland This observatory opened in 2008, making it one of the newest stargazing facilities in Europe. Northumberland is known as a region with specular, clear night skies.

Northern Lights Some of the most spectacular night skies are visible to the naked eye – although sadly not from the UK. Good places to see the strange haunting Northern Lights include Sweden (pictured), northern Canada, and other areas beyond the Arctic Circle.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London If getting out of the city really isn't an option, the wonder of the night sky can still be appreciated. The Peter Harrison Planetarium in Greenwich is one option, or you could also try the National Space Centre in Leicester.