See the Stars at Wicken Fen

Wicken Fen is one of the best locations in the country to see the annual Perseids meteor shower as each August a spectacular display of shooting stars blazes across the night sky reaching its peak on the 12 August, when up to 80 meteors an hour have been recorded in previous years.

The National Trust has published a free online guide to the summer night sky at Wicken Fen, one of seven guides produced by the Trust for its best star gazing properties across the country. Perfect for families and anyone new to astronomy, the guide includes information about the different phases of the moon, key constellations to look out for during August, and nocturnal wildlife, from bats, glow worms and owls that can be seen or heard at night on Wicken Fen.

Besides the Perseid meteor shower, the vast dark skies of Wicken Fen provide the ideal location to see the Summer Triangle, a constellation made from three stars: Deneb, the brightest star in the constellation, 60,000 times brighter than the sun, with the light we see having 1,550 light years to reach earth. Vega, the fifth brightest star in the sky, it is 26 light years away. Altair, a bright star with two pale stars on either side, one of the nearest stars to Earth at only 17 light years away!. The planet Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, 486 million miles away from Earth, can also be seen in the early evening just above the horizon in the South East.

Jo Burgon, Head of Access & Recreation at the National Trust, said:

"Light pollution from our towns and cities has increased so much in recent years but head out to the countryside for the perfect place to explore the beauty of the night sky, away from the intrusive glow".

"There's so much to look at and it won't cost you anything, so spending time looking at the night sky is time well spent and something that you'll always remember."

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) commemorating the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's use of a telescope to study the sky. It's a great chance to discover the stars and all the wonder they hold.

Jonathan Shanklin, from the British Astronomical Association, added:

"Seeing a bright fireball blazing across the heavens is an awe inspiring sight and can trigger a life-long interest in astronomy. These shooting stars are tiny fragments of comets, which themselves are remnants from the birth of our solar system.

"The best views are from darkest sites, which is why Wicken Fen is so good for astronomy"

August isn't the only time for star gazing; it's great all year round and the Trust website offers a basic introduction to astronomy, including monthly constellation guides, useful facts about the universe and where to find local astronomy groups and events.

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Notes to Editors
1. The seven best National Trust sites for star gazing are:
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire - Close to historic Ely, the wild landscape of the National Trust's oldest nature reserve offers dark skies and a wealth of nocturnal wildlife to listen out for.
Black Down in Sussex - Get closer to the stars on the highest point in the South Downs, just over a mile from the town of Haslemere.
Teign Valley in Devon - Discover the stars at one of South Devon's beauty spots set within Dartmoor National Park and close to Castle Drogo.
Penbryn Beach in Wales - Beautiful, unspoilt mile-long beach on the Ceredigion coast in west Wales, great for a bit of star gazing and a late night paddle.
Stonehenge Landscape in Wiltshire - Step back in time and discover the ancient skies of Salisbury Plain's chalk downlands, home to the impressive prehistoric stone monument.
Mam Tor in Derbyshire - Escape the bright city lights of Sheffield and experience the peace and tranquility of Mam Tor's dark skies in the Peak District.
Friar's Crag in Cumbria - Surrounded by the breathtakingly beautiful scenery of the Lake District, Friar's Crag in Keswick juts out into the spectacular lake of Derwentwater; a restful place to contemplate the world above us.

2. The National Trust is Europe's biggest conservation organisation and looks after special places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland for ever, for everyone. People and places are at the heart of everything it does. Over 3.6 million members and 52,000 volunteers help the Trust look after 300 historic houses and gardens, 1,100 kilometres of coastline and 250,000 hectares of open countryside. Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

3. More information on the IYA 2009 can be found at http://www.astronomy2009.co.uk/
The Society for Popular Astronomy - www.popastro.com and the British Astronomical Association - www.britastro.org/baa - are the two major national societies for amateur astronomers.