The Night Sky at Gamekeepers
The Night Sky at Gamekeeper’s Cottage
We stayed at Gamekeepers (as the owners and your hosts) in early March and there were cool, clear skies. One of the quiet joys of staying at Gamekeeper’s Cottage is the lack of light pollution. With no nearby streetlights and only the soft rustle of the Suffolk countryside for company, the night sky opens up in a way many visitors haven’t experienced in years. On clear evenings, the heavens feel close enough to touch and in early March 2026, they offered an especially memorable display.
A Bright Full Moon to Start the Month
Early March 2026 began with the Full “Worm Moon” on 3 March, the last full moon of winter. Although the total lunar eclipse associated with this full moon was not visible from the UK, it was still a strikingly bright presence in the sky. As the Moon rose over the woodland around the cottage, it cast long silver shadows across the garden and lit up the surrounding hedgerows.
Constellations Dominating the March Sky
March is a transitional month: winter constellations linger in the west while spring constellations rise in the east.
From Gamekeeper’s Cottage, one could see:
• Orion sinking toward the western horizon after dusk — still unmistakable with his three star belt. • Taurus, with the orange giant Aldebaran glowing warmly and the delicate Pleiades star cluster nearby. • Gemini, marked by the twin stars Castor and Pollux, high and easy to spot throughout the month. • Leo, rising in the east, led by the bright star Regulus, signalling the arrival of spring skies. With Suffolk’s low light pollution, these constellations were crisp and clear — ideal for stargazing even without equipment
Zodiacal Light: A Rare Treat
Throughout March 2026, skywatchers were encouraged to look for the zodiacal light — a faint, triangular glow rising from the western horizon after sunset. It’s caused by sunlight scattering off ancient dust in the inner Solar System but sadly we did not see this. In a dark sky location like ours, this subtle glow would have been far easier to spot than in towns or cities. I think it would have been shielded by the woodland and we did not know to look for that.
Planetary Highlights Several planets were well placed for viewing in early March: Venus and Saturn Conjunction — 8 March Venus, the brightest planet, appeared very close to Saturn low in the western sky just after sunset. Although low and somewhat challenging to see, a clear western horizon — which your cottage enjoys — made this pairing more accessible.
Jupiter Among the Stars of Gemini Jupiter shone brightly throughout March, positioned among the stars of Gemini, making it one of the easiest objects to spot in the night sky. The Arrival of Spring The spring equinox on 20 March marked the moment when day and night were nearly equal in length. From this point onward, the stars of spring — Leo, Virgo, and the Beehive Cluster in Cancer — took centre stage.
Why Gamekeeper’s Cottage Is Perfect for Stargazing
The combination of minimal light pollution, wide open skies, and quiet rural surroundings makes the cottage an ideal base for anyone who wants to reconnect with the night sky. Even casual observers can enjoy bright planets, major constellations, and the soft sweep of the Milky Way on the darkest nights. Whether you’re stepping outside with a cup of tea or wrapping up for a longer look with binoculars, the night sky here is always worth a moment of your time.