Star-Gazing in Plettenberg bay

Plettenberg Bay's Night Sky and what you Can expect to see

Star-gazing in Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay’s night sky is arguably even more beautiful than the incredible daytime views in nature, the beaches and out at sea. The Milky way is a prominent feature in these Southern Constellations along with many celestial objects visible with the naked eye or binoculars. For those who wish to go out onto the beaches around Plettenberg bay and simply enjoy the splendour of the night sky, or those who wish to stargaze and spot planets or comets, Plett has a place for you to see it all. Plettenberg Bay offers several excellent spots for stargazing due to its relatively low light pollution and beautiful natural surroundings. Wherever you choose to view the magnificent night sky over Plett, please always be safety conscious and remove any trash when you leave.

Stargazing in Plettenberg Bay is like therapy for the soul, so if you are out there, please be respectful of the experience that you and others are engaging in by keeping noise and light to a minimum.

Sky orientation and the constellations

Since Plettenberg Bay is in the Southern Hemisphere, the sky will feature prominent southern constellations. The band of the Milky Way galaxy is usually very visible in the clear, dark skies of Plettenberg Bay, especially away from city lights. On a clear night it is an incredibly spectacular sight and can be viewed from most beaches and of course Robberg nature reserve’s carpark. There are many star gazing spots frequented by locals and tourists alike so you are likely to encounter a few welcoming locals who will be able to point you in the right direction.

The South Celestial Pole is a point in the Plettenberg Bays sky that remains relatively fixed, and you’ll see constellations rotating around it throughout the night. The Southern Cross is another key feature in the sky above Plett which is a small but distinctive constellation and easily recognizable, visible to the naked eye and used in navigation. Surrounding the Southern Cross is Centaurus which is one of the largest constellations in the sky and contains Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to the Solar System. During the Southern Hemisphere winter between May and August, Scorpius (Scorpio) is prominent in the evening sky, featuring Antares, a bright red supergiant star. Right in the centre of the Milky way and very close to Scorpio is Sagittarius, which is rich in star clusters and nebulae. Sagittarius marks the center of the Milky Way.

During the beautiful summer nights Orion is visible over Plettenberg bay, and although normally associated with the Northern hemisphere, Orion and the more commonly referred to Orions Belt can be seen when facing North. If you have a small telescope seek out Orion and you should be able to see the Orion Nebula, a spectacular sight. Orion is a very good place to start your sightings, The three belt stars (also known as the Three Kings) are bright and very prominent in the night sky above Plettenberg Bay and the Southern Hemisphere in general.

Sirius is the brightest star in the sky above Plett. If you follow the line of Orions belt up and to the right you will be able to identify Sirius as the brightest star. Sirius is particulary bright and visible in the summer months between November and April but visible all year round.

All this being said many of us simply want to walk hand in hand along the beach with a loved one or spend time with friends under a magnificent canvas that is the Southern Sky.

Image credit and with thanks to Karen Braby Photography

Best places to star-gaze in Plettenberg Bay

Robberg Nature Reserve does not allow people in the Reserve after 6pm in winter and after 8pm in summer but you can take a walk down to one of Robberg’s beaches, lie on the sand, or find a spot close to the nature reserve carpark which has minimal light pollution and enjoy all that the Southern Sky has to offer.

We would recommend one of the many mobile apps available like skyfari, Stellarium or Star Walk. These apps will identify your position and orientation and then point out planets, stars, nebula and other interesting parts of the night sky.

Any of Plettenberg bays beaches are excellent places to watch or just switch off the lights in your room at Emily Moon River Lodge and you will be able to gaze up at the night sky in the distance over the Bitou river with a cocktail in hand.

When is the best time to star-gaze in Plettenberg Bay?

The most important thing when selecting your spot to watch the stars is to select a place that has as little artificial light as possible.

Check the Moon Phase, a new moon or waxing/waning crescent provides the darkest skies.

Of course clear skies are essential, so check the forecast to avoid cloud cover. The Western cape is a winter rainfall area so spring and summer nights are most often clear.

Take a pair of binoculars or a small telescope if you are a serious star-gazer, this will enhance your experience, but even without them, the Southern Hemisphere’s stars are spectacular.

Enjoy the night skies over Plettenberg Bay!

Image credit and with thanks to Karen Braby Photography