There are many reasons people will get replacement roofs for conservatories. One might be that there has been damage caused by years of weathering or one-off incidents like tree branches or masonry falling in a storm. Another may be a tendency to leak after rain.

However, a particularly good reason might simply be to replace the existing grubby, scratched and damaged glass with something clear and clean that offers much better visibility.

This will not just make it look as good as new, itself a great attribute if you plan to have people around in the summer, but also because it can create a wonderful haven for viewing the sky at night.

What Can You See In The Sky Above Your Conservatory?

At various times of the year, there are some wonderful astronomical phenomena to enjoy. Three can be regular meteor showers, conjunctions between planets, full moons (including a blue moon this month) and, on occasion, eclipses.

This August, for instance, a total solar eclipse over Spain will be visible as a deep partial eclipse from the south of England, followed a fortnight later by a partial lunar eclipse. There is another total eclipse over Spain next year, too.

Other phenomena that can be seen include noctilucent (night shining) clouds in midsummer and the northern lights, which can be visible in the UK as we are at the peak of the solar cycle. They have been seen several times in the south of England in the last couple of years.

A solar eclipse will be a daytime affair and you will need to go out and look north for the northern lights (most conservatories face south), but otherwise, a conservatory can be a great place to use for stargazing.

This is for several reasons:

  • You can still see everything outside through the glass while staying warm on cold nights
  • You can easily find a place to set up a telescope or store binoculars nearby
  • You can keep other accessories close to hand as well, like astronomy books or star charts
  • You can enjoy the celestial wonders while still having home comforts at hand
  •  It is more convenient than heading off to a nearby park or up a hill, especially late at night or in the small hours of the morning.

What Can You Do To Make A Conservatory Into An Observatory?

Of course, for all this to be the case, you need a conservatory that is in a very good state of repair. It is no good having one that has a leaky roof that will drip on your astronomy books, or is draughty and makes you feel cold when viewing an autumnal meteor shower.

Most of all, you will need pristine glass to ensure you can get the best possible view.

Of course, there are some factors that lie beyond the state of the conservatory, such as where you live. Some parts of the south are far better than others for stargazing.

For example, West Sussex includes the South Downs Dark Sky Area, one of several designated locations in Britain with this title, which means there is very little light pollution and you can see a lot more stars with great clarity.

People living here, close by, or in other rural parts of the south of England may find they have wonderful views of the starry canopy above that they can enjoy from inside a conservatory.

Why Is The South Of England A Good Place To See The Sky At Night?

Indeed, Sussex was home to one very famous astronomer, the late Sir Patrick Moore, presenter of The Sky at Night and resident of the south coast town of Selsey near Bognor Regis, chosen for its lack of light pollution compared to his old home in East Grinstead.

However, even if you do live in a town with a lot of light pollution, the glass of a conservatory can still maximise your viewing capacity. Moreover, being at the back of the house, it is likely to be reasonably clear of immediate lighting, such as street lamps.

Being able to do some astronomy from indoors can enhance your opportunities to be sociable. Of course, you can all gather together in a spot outdoors, but being able to offer hospitality can be a great thing, helping encourage fellow stargazers.

Having a place to entertain guests is a prime reason to have a conservatory in the first place, of course, but if the roof needs replacing, it may not be quite such a welcoming place.

However, by replacing the roof before summer arrives, you can make it look as good as new, turning it into a superb all-purpose space that you can relax and entertain by day and use as a cosy base for some stargazing at night.