Whether you’re an amateur or an expert, astronomy can be one of the most satisfying hobbies to pursue. Having the entire universe as an object of study and the solar system at the end of your telescope is mind-blowing. 

Although it may initially seem intimidating to those without a scientific background, there are plenty of activities for you and your family to enjoy all year round. Here are just a few of them; these 5 fun activities for astronomy fans.

DARK SKIES FESTIVAL

National Parks are some of the darkest places you can visit in the UK, and you can celebrate the beauty of our skies at one of the many festivals that are held throughout autumn and winter. 

Dark Skies festivals are designed to entertain and delight everyone who loves the night sky, the planets, stars and astronomy. There’s something for everyone, from night-time activities like caving, running, walking, cycling and stargazing to daytime events where you can learn more about constellations or how to build a rocket. 

There are also many activities for families, first-time stargazers, those who want to expand their astronomy knowledge, or even activities to learn astrophotography. Festivals run late into the year, and many more are held between January and February, so there’s always plenty of festivals to choose from if you want to get your fill of our starry skies.

PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most dramatic annual celestial events you can see in the night sky between July and August. Called Perseids, as the meteors seem to originate from the constellation of Perseus, it is a favourite for meteor hunters due to its high hourly rate and bright meteors.

Those hoping to observe the meteor shower can look out for the event wherever they are as it can be seen easily without special equipment and in light-polluted locations. However, there are certain types of places that will increase your chances of spotting the meteors, and it’s essential to plan ahead by checking the weather forecast; this is because a cloudy evening could ruin your plans to experience this fantastic celestial occurrence. 

Heading out into the countryside or to one of the UK’s many national parks will give you the best chance of seeing the shower, but you can also head to a local park and turn your back to the street lamps to get a better view if you are unable to travel. Once you’re ready, give yourself around 15 minutes to adjust to the dark, as this will help you spot even the faintest of meteors during the Perseid meteor; this means no mobile phones. As the meteors can appear in any part of the sky, for the best experience, find a spot where you can see as much of the night sky as possible. 

While telescopes and binoculars are not necessary, and many people opt to watch the meteor shower without them to avoid restricting the size of the visible sky, there are many astronomical targets to keep an eye out for that would radiate through a telescope.

If you’re going to head to a national park, some of the best in the UK, the guys over at carbon rental company Camptoo tell us that there are the best places to see the meteorite:

• Tomintoul and Glenlivet, Cairngorms – This remote area in the north of Scotland offers a secluded area to take in the dark skies and star gaze for the longest period of time in the UK.
• Coll – Another remote area of Scotland, Coll is an island off the west coast by the Isle of Mull.
• Northumberland National Park -A well-travelled place in the north east of England, Northumberland is a popular spot amongst walkers and camper. 
• Galloway Forest – Another area of Scotland worth visiting is Galloway Forest, just west of Dumfries. It was the first area in the UK to be recognised as a Dark Sky Park.
• Snowdonia National Park -The national park around Wales’ largest mountain has the most campsites on our list, with 137 different sites to choose from for travellers if you’re camping.
• Other destinations recommended include Elan Valley, Exmoor National Park, Sark Island and Brecon Beacons.

WORLD UFO DAY

Every year, in late June or early July, lovers of astronomy, space and the unknown mark World UFO day. Many countries observe this day as 24th June because this was the day aviator Kenneth Arnold reported seeing nine unusual objects flying over the state of Washington, though the World UFO Day Organisation, or WUFODO, established the official date as 2nd July. 

You could, of course, celebrate it twice in quick succession! 

On UFO day, many celebrate what they believe was an alien spacecraft crash that allegedly occurred in the summer of 1947 at Area 51, Roswell, New Mexico, and was subsequently covered up by the US government. Others look to the moon landing, as it is also widely accepted by many in the UFO community that something happened in regards to the moon landing race and that there may have even been aliens involved. For more information, check our UFO Insight and this article on returning to the Moon.

The WUFODO aims for UFO day to raise awareness about the possibility of the existence of UFOs and intelligent beings from outer space. Various celebrations take place all across the world for many reasons, but according to WUFODO, on UFO day, people are encouraged to look at the sky and try to identify UFOs. 

In the UK, many people celebrating UFO day take their families to Liverpool, which is often referred to as the UK’s alien hotspot, with more sightings here than anywhere else in the country. Others head out into the countryside for night-time stargazing in the hope of seeing something more exciting. Whatever you choose to do on UFO day, there’s plenty of fun activities for astronomy fans to enjoy. 

STARGAZING

Stargazing is a magical and inexpensive way to get started with astronomy or backyard astrophotography and provides a fantastic activity for experts and novices alike. Many of the night’s wonders can be seen with the naked eye, so you don’t need any special equipment for your first attempt, but if you want a better experience, many first-timers take binoculars to get more out of the experience. 

If you’re an expert, you probably already have the kit you need. Still, if you’re new to astronomy, it’s worth investing in a telescope along with a decent camera and tripod in order to capture the best moments.

A star chart or an app showing a map of the night sky will be one of the best tools to help you get more out of stargazing, showing you the constellations you’re looking at by assisting you in identifying their stars. If you’re new to using sky charts or maps, to get started, first identify Polaris, the Pole Star, which is always due north.

For the best stargazing in the UK, consider a trip to our best observatories which include the The Island Planetarium near Yarmouth,  The Spaceguard Centre in Powys near the Welsh Marches and the Kielder Observatory which is located in the UK’s largest International Dark Sky Park. 

PLANETARIUMS 

Planetariums were first created at the beginning of the 20th century as a way to reconstruct and map the night sky as accurately as possible. Today, planetariums have been technologically improved to provide immersive experiences for people all around the globe.

The first modern planetarium was built by Zeiss in 1930 following a request from Max Wolf, who was an astronomer and director of the Heidelberg Observatory at the time. Nowadays, there are countless planetariums worldwide, and there are about 40 planetariums in the United Kingdom, alone.

Planetarium shows are both exciting and educational, providing the opportunity to learn about the diverse and wondrous things that exist beyond our earth, including the Moon, comets, stars, planets, and the Northern Lights. 

These shows are ideal for avid astronomers, family, and those curious about the experience, with many going back for more once they have their first taste of the excitement as planetariums capture the imaginations of all ages.

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London is arguably one of the best planetariums in the UK. Here, you can enjoy a wide variety of shows including ‘The Sky Tonight’, a classic guide to the night sky presented by the Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomy. 

Thinktank, Birmingham’s award winning science museum, offers a 4k planetarium system which makes you feel completely immersed in the solar system, while another great place to explore space is Armagh Planetarium in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, which is the longest running planetarium in the British Isles.

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

One of the most exciting activities to experience as a fan of astronomy is a total lunar eclipse. When the earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon lies in the earth’s shadow, an eclipse of the Moon occurs. In order for a total lunar eclipse to transpire, all three must lie in a straight line; this means that the Moon needs to pass through the darkest part of the earth’s shadow, which is known as the umbra.

Total lunar eclipses don’t happen often, but astronomy fans are in luck as the next total lunar eclipse will occur on 16th May 2022, and will be visible over parts of Europe and Africa, most of North America, and all of South America. 

While those in the UK will not be able to see every aspect of the eclipse, they will still be able to see the lunar eclipse in totality when the Moon turns red. If you’re interested in witnessing the next total lunar eclipse, you will need to have an early start to your day, as the Moon will begin to enter the earth’s shadow shortly after 02:30 BST, and the full eclipse will happen just before 04:30 BST.

Although the eclipse lasts for more than five hours, ending at approximately 07:50 BST, observers in the UK will only be able to view the eclipse between 02:30 and 05:10 BST as the Moon will be below the horizon after this period.

Happy stargazing!

‘’A life lived through a lens is not a life worth living.’’ And which famous ‘philosopher’ said that? Why, IDEAL magazine, of course.

But let’s face it; there’s not many stronger feelings of smug satisfaction than when you capture a superb selfie, one which accentuates all the parts you’re particularly proud of, and even tones down those of which you’re not. 

So often, it’s a game of chance, but in the right hands, getting the ideal selfie isn’t purely down to luck. There’s an art to this thing, and if you’re looking for the perfect profile picture or stunning self-portrait, then you’re in luck; here’s 5 easy and effective tips to make your Instagram selfies stand out.

AVOID THE DREADED GLARE

Sweaty, shiny, slippery…the dreaded glare can be blamed for many a selfie-based transgression.

There are a few simple steps you can take to avoid this. Firstly, if you’re shooting with the flash, bounce that light off another surface instead of shooting straight into your face. Should you wear glasses, you could opt for anti-reflective lenses, too. 

Secondly, play around with position to mitigate the glare and if all else fails, take the selfie at a different time of night.

Beware a glare you don’t at first notice, too. Often this glare, whether that’s a shiny forehead or devil-esque eyes, isn’t always noticed until the profile picture or selfie shot has been posted. For this reason, never post pics to Instagram when you’re out and about; wait until you’re inside and your eyes have readjusted to the ordinary light. 

PETS & PROPS

An existential question, perhaps, but is a selfie still a selfie if you’ve got a pet in your pic?

Hey, we don’t mean those much-memed Tinder profile pics with a heavily sedated tiger. But rather, including a beloved pet in a selfie can add intrigue and humour to a shot which is so often otherwise, well, a little self indulgent.

The same goes for other ‘props’, like a pair of comedy sunglasses (mind that dreaded glare!), an amusing top hat, or a fake moustache…have fun with this thing!

THE RULE OF THIRDS

This rule allows you to take out-of-this-world selfies by employing one of the most efficient, effective rules of composition.

How does the rule of thirds work, we hear you ask? Well, you simply divide the picture (or, in this case, the phone screen’s display) into nine equal squares by mentally drawing two vertical and two horizontal lines. There are apps to do this for you, by the way.

Then, place your face (the subject) along these lines, ideally at the intersections rather than slap bang in the middle of a square, which, often inadvertently, looks too obvious and simplistic. This technique will help you focus the attention of anyone looking at the photo on the intended subject, which is you, clarifying the viewer’s gaze and creating a harmonious picture.

Alternatively, and a little more complicated in getting to grips with, you could consider the Golden Ratio (roughly 1.618 to 1) to position your shots in a historically eye-pleasing way.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE MAGIC HOUR

‘’When the sun goes down, that’s the magic hour…’’

Another term well known to those with even a passing interest in photography should be the magic hour (sometimes also referred to as the ‘golden’ one). Indeed, to those in the know, these are the two windows of opportunity when most of the greatest shots are taken. 

These rose tinged 60 minutes just after sunrise and just before sunset, at dusk and dawn basically, are without fail the ones most bathed in that warm kind of glow which both evokes nostalgia and the sense that anything’s possible. Harness its power to capture the best selfies possible.

ALL THE FILTERS, NO IDEAS

We have the whole world at our fingertips these days. You can take an image of the ocean at your door and turn it into a desert on just about any phone, all with the wonder of filters, and this also applies to your face. 

The great thing about Instagram is that you can take a selfie that you like, play around with it as much as you please, all while retaining the original for reference and, if needed, retreat. Then, you simply put it through every available filter and see what comes out. For the most part, these will go straight into the cutting bin, but occasionally you’ll strike gold. 

We would recommend exercising a little caution here, however. Natural selfies are still so often the most visually arresting.

THE BOTTOM LINE

We really ought to be having more fun with selfies than we currently do, but all too often, they’re a po-faced endeavour. Instead of getting trapped into formulaic and dull patterns, why not push your pictures forward, using the magic hour, the rule of thirds, props, pets and more. Good luck and we can’t wait to see what you produce!

The winter is most certainly a fun time of the year – in fact, for many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year – but it is also a time when we find we’re constantly busy. 

With socialising and shopping taking centre stage, it feels like the winter is spent out and about more than any other season, and if you’re not prepared, you can sometimes get caught out. With that in mind, we have created the ultimate list of things that you need in your handbag to keep your life running smoothly during the cooler months. Here are some must-haves for your handbag this winter.

FOLD UP SHOPPING BAG

There’s no excuse not to use reusable shopping bags when the planet feels like it’s on its last breath. There is a wide range that you can now find with some even folding up snugly to fit into your handbag…ideal for those times you find yourself at the supermarket till bagless and shamefaced!

HAND SANITISER

This should go without saying, but you should have a bottle of hand sanitiser in your handbag. Even if you think the worst of COVID is behind us, we’ve all read about the ‘worst cold ever’ currently stalking the country’s public spaces. Protect yourself and those around you. Nuff said…

FACEMASKS

Hey, even if you spent the global pandemic sharing conspiracy theories on Facebook, it should be noted that in many parts of the world, wearing a facemask is normal during cold and flu season, both out of politeness and in the name of public health.

Protect yourself from that pesky cold we mentioned, as well as the continued threat from COVID, and carry a facemask in your bag when you are out and about this winter. 

Besides, with some of the more funky mask designs, they can actually be a great fashion accessory. Or, super handy when you’re trying to hide from an ex or a colleague!

TISSUES & LOZENGES 

Do you jump if someone coughs behind you or move away if another person has the sniffles? Obviously not every sniffle out there is COVID, but to reassure the general public and keep tickly throat at bay with some lozenges and that nose in check, always have a pack of tissues handy in your handbag. Hey, you could even lend one to that annoying sniffler opposite you on the tube. Just a thought… 

POTIONS & LOTIONS 

And by potions we mean makeup; after all, the transformation a little makeup can do to your skin is pretty magical.  

In winter the cold weather can be tough on our skin but the rain can be even worse. Keep your face looking good by carrying your makeup bag around with you in case you get caught in a rainstorm and all of your carefully applied slap slips off. Indeed, there’s nothing worse than spending time on your makeup to have it all washed off in the rain when you are out and about. Actually, there is; when your tears wash it away, but anyway….

Keep things compact and have some emergency makeup foundation and mascara handy to help tidy up your face if it does get washed off. We’re also huge fans of carrying a Dr. Paw Paw in our bags come winter – this multi-tasking balm does wonders for moisturising, skin protection and hair conditioning…it’s even a decent lip balm.

Hands can get cracked and dry in the winter, especially since we’re all still washing our hands more (aren’t we guys? Aren’t we?). While handwashing helps to prevent illness, frequent hand washing can dry your skin. Moreover, using disinfectant products can dry out our skin even more, creating a vicious, never-ending cycle. To avoid cracked and sore hands, pop a moisturiser in your handbag, too.

Read: 6 Winter skincare mistakes you could be making, and the IDEAL ways to remedy them 

A HANDBAG HERO HEADSCARF

Here at IDEAL, scarves are a winter staple in our handbags and have come to the rescue on many occasions. Forgotten your tissues and don’t want to use your sleeve in public?  Just whip the headscarf out of your bag and pretend it’s a handkerchief. Been rained upon and your hair is a frizzy mess? That headscarf is your saviour. Keen to sit in the park but the ground’s frostbitten and dirty? You know what to do.

Wash the scarf between uses, of course. We know what you were thinking…

A MINI UMBRELLA 

Damp, drizzling and with perennially grey skies – yep that’s the UK in the winter, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

We would actually. Anyway, having a small umbrella in your bag can help you to stay that little bit drier when the Great British weather all too predictably announces itself. An umbrella is advisable, but make sure it’s sturdy enough to withstand the wind yet small enough to fit in your handbag. And if you also decide to pack a rain poncho,  we won’t judge you.  

SUNGLASSES

On those sunny, snowy winter days (they do happen) a pair of sunglasses is essential. Too much sunlight is a threat to your eyes any time of year, and although you might spend a good portion of winter seeking even a singular ray of sun, overexposure at any time of year can be detrimental, especially when snow is involved. 

Snow can reflect as much as 80% of UV radiation – which is double what you would normally be getting. In contrast, water, grass and soil reflect no more than 10% and dry beach sand up to 15%. So, even though you might not realise it, your eyes might be in danger of being exposed to too much UV radiation in wintry conditions. 

Read: 5 IDEAL tips for looking after your eyes this winter 

GLASSES CARE KIT

Do you wear glasses? If you do, you need to keep a glasses care kit in your bag. The cold weather and rain can cause strains and stains on your glasses that make it hard to see out of them. Fortunately, there are plenty of little sprays and cloths that you can invest in to carry around with you. On top of that, remember to always bring your glasses case with you so you can pop them in there and they won’t get scratched.

HAND WARMERS

You may not have heard of hand warmers, but they are cute little things that you can use to keep your fingers warm when you are out and about. These are really great on the train when the heating isn’t working, for instance, and can be popped inside your oversized mittens and carried discreetly around with you. 

You can even get a big one to slip under your clothes to keep you warm under your jacket. If you feel the need to cover yourself in hand warmers and hot water bottles before you leave the house, we won’t judge you for it! Rest assured; we’ll be doing it, too.

POWERBANK

How often do you find yourself running out of power when you are heading home from work? On a dark winter night, this is never a good idea – and can actually be unsafe – so make sure that you have a power bank in your bag so that you can charge your phone on the go. Just make sure that it is fully charged or it will be pointless carrying it with you! Yes, we do speak from experience.

GLOVES AND A HAT

If you don’t wear a set of gloves and a hat, you can always put some in your handbag and have them ready in case it gets too cold. You might forget about them if you don’t normally wear them but if they are in your handbag, you pop them on and help keep you a bit warmer when you are out and about. And the best bit? We think a set looks pretty darn stylish. 

A BOTTLE OF WATER

Staying hydrated can be tough during the winter – it almost feels counterintuitive to be drinking water when it’s cold out. 

But getting dehydrated in winter is actually easier than in summer, because we don’t notice that we’re losing water. Having a water bottle handy at all times can negate this issue, and can also help with keep those dry winter skin issues we mentioned earlier at bay, too.

ACTIVITY PACKS FOR KIDS (OR KIDULTS)

This is a strange one but just hear us out for a second. Having an activity pack in your bag can be a lifesaver, especially if you have kids or a kidult who are getting bored. A small colouring book can make all the difference to a journey and they will love seeing this little pack of fun appearing from your bag. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

So there you have it, we’ve reached both the bottom of our bag and the bottom of the article. Hang on, has anyone got a spare hair tie we could borrow?