Are There Any Stargazing Health Benefits?
It may surprise you to know that there are many great things about stepping out into the night sky – not least the stargazing health benefits.
These are a great and surprising many, ranging from physical to mental health and everything in between. Let’s find out a little more about it…
Stargazing Health Benefits
Getting outside and drinking in the night sky is very good for you, for a multitude of reasons, both physical and mental.
- Fresh air. Getting outside and into nature, even at night, is very good for both your body and your mind.
- Exercise. It’s all too easy to slob around in your favourite armchair until you fall asleep, but how about a gentle stroll in the moonlight instead? It will definitely do you good!
- Relaxation. Stargazing can help to quiet the mind, so it is definitely a good idea to get out and stare at the sky once in a while.
- Reduced stress. We all spend our days running around, meeting deadlines, taking care of day to day life – but a chance to just breathe and enjoy the view is very good for you.
- Education. Learning new things is great for the brain, so why not take up astronomy and learn all about the night skies?
Stargazing is not only a wonderful, fascinating thing to do, but it can also help your physical and mental health too.
This short video will show you a little bit more about the health benefits of stargazing:
Are Dark Skies Good For Your Health?
In this day and age, where we are surrounded by artificial light from our phones, houses and street lights, being in the dark may seem a little strange.
However, it has been proven to be very good for our health! Artificial light can disrupt our circadian rhythms, making it harder to fall asleep.
Natural darkness can help to reset these rhythms and boost the production of melatonin, helping our bodies and our minds relax.
Spending time in nature has been shown to help reduce stress and promote a feeling of relaxation, improving wellbeing.
Looking at dark skies is a great way to practice mindfulness and ensuring that you are present in the moment, which is a definitely benefit to the mental health.
Mindfulness practices can help reduce the feelings of anxiety and stress, and using a dark night sky to practice this will definitely help you.
As long as you stargaze in a safe place where you are not in any danger, stargazing can be a very relaxing hobby, giving you a break from the stresses of everyday life.
Is Stargazing Good For Your Eyes?
As well as being a treat for your senses, stargazing can have some physical benefits too – particularly for your eyesight.
Looking at a dark sky can improve your night vision; as the light-sensitive rods in your retina adjust to the low light, you can see better in the dark.
Being able to see better in the dark is a very useful thing; you never know when you might get a power cut and have to go hunting about in the dark for the candles!
As we all know, can damage your eyes, but conversely a low light situation can actually benefit you.
Because the light from the stars – and even the moon – is so weak, comparatively, you will not damage your eyes by stargazing.
Stargazing is good for the mind and the soul, and, as it turns out, it is good for your eyes too. What could be better?
Why Do Humans Like Stargazing
For millennia, humans have enjoyed gazing at the night sky. Not only is it beautiful, but it is actually good for the physical and mental health.
It helps us to relax; improves our mental health and wellbeing; gives us a chance to get out into nature and just breathe.
Taking just a few minutes out of our busy day to sit, observe and enjoy the night sky is very good for the body and soul.
Another reason for stargazing is that humans have used the heavens as a navigational guide for centuries.
For thousands of years, the stars have been used to guide us, so they are not only beautiful but also very useful!
Although we tend to use satellite navigation these days, star charts and the position of the stars are still used in some cases to help people find their way.
The night sky has always been known as a romantic time – and there really is very little nicer than going for a late night stroll with your loved one.
Why Is Stargazing So Good?
Stargazing, like so many things in the natural world, can help us enjoy a sense of wonder and appreciation of the wider world around us.
Seeing the heavens up close and realising that we are tiny specks in the grand scheme of things can really put our problems into perspective.
Stargazing can also help us to be more mindful and in the present moment, which is very good for the mental health.
Fresh air and exercise are very good for the body, so getting out into the night for a stargazing session will help your physical health as well as the mental side.
Connecting to nature and the world around us is also very beneficial, so going for a nighttime stargaze is a great thing to do.
Stargazing is also a great educational tool for the younger generation; take your little ones out past bedtime and teach them all about the stars and planets!
If you have never done it then you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Give it a try for yourself and you will soon see.
This useful little article will tell you some more about the benefits of stargazing to our mental health.
Final Words
Stargazing is a wonderful thing for so many reasons, as you can see. What better excuse could you need?
The next clear night you get, why not pop out for a peep at the midnight sky? You can do it with a telescope or with the naked eye – the choice is yours!
