Work out what the site can give before deciding it cannot give much.
Map the horizon in daylight
Stand where you will observe and note how high the obstructions are in each direction. A strip of sky towards the south is worth more than an open view north, because that is where the planets and most bright objects pass.
Avoid observing over roofs and tarmac
Both radiate the day’s heat for hours and generate local turbulence. Over grass, away from the house, is measurably steadier even a few metres from where you started.
Screen the lamps, not the sky
A board, a sheet on a line or a parked car between you and a security light protects dark adaptation. The sky brightness is beyond your control; the direct glare is not.
Choose targets by where they will be
An object that only clears the roof at two in the morning is not tonight’s target. A planisphere set to the hour answers this before you carry anything outside.
And use the constraint
A site with a narrow view is a good site for the Moon and planets, which are bright, high for part of the year and unaffected by light pollution. Save the faint list for the drive out.
The questions that keep arriving
Does a neighbour’s security light ruin everything?
It ruins dark adaptation, which is worse than it ruining the sky. A screen — a sheet, a board, a parked car — between you and the lamp costs nothing and recovers most of it.
Is a balcony usable?
For the Moon, planets and double stars, entirely. The building itself radiates heat, which hurts seeing, so pointing away from the wall and over open ground helps.
Last reviewed 17 September 2026