WILD SKIES SHETLAND

Wild Skies Shetland is a new, Unst-based charity which aims to showcase the local skies through exhibitions, site maps and accessible apps.
​This work is under way, and it is hoped that the first few activities will be available at some point in 2021. ​

our skies

Where else to look for the northern lights and some of the world's best skies than from the UK’s northernmost island?

Credits to all photos on this page: Rob Brookes

Northern Lights

​The aurora borealis are called “mirrie [shimmering] dancers” in Shetland. They are best seen between October and March, and you need to be lucky not to have too much cloud, or too full a moon. Most displays in Shetland are a distinctive green, sometimes with moving multi coloured “curtains”.

dark night skies

There are many easily accessible places in Unst to admire truly dark night skies.  The aurora, the milky way, falling stars and planets, all are here in plenty. 

THE MIDNIGHT SUN

The midnight sun – or more accurately the “simmer dim” or long twilight – means that July days in Unst have on average 19 hours of sunlight. Why not come and see if you can read a book outside at midnight on the longest day?

windy skies

​Shetland can get strong, dramatic winds. This means that storms and clouds travel quickly across the sky – perfect for sky-watchers. In 1992 some equipment at Saxa Vord (the highest hill on Unst at 285 m) measured a windspeed of 197 mph (317 km/h) — and then the equipment blew away!

CULTURE

Culture in Shetland not surprisingly reflects aspects of these dramatic skies. Words, music and stories illustrate how people’s lives are influenced by their over-arching skies.

MORE NEWS COMING SOON

We are working hard behind the scenes to move things forward with Wild Skies Shetland, and we will be releasing more information on the project when we can. 

VIRTUAL SKIES

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A series of dusk to dawn images/time-lapses from Unst, Shetland. They are accompanied by 'Da Day Dawn', a traditional Shetland tune.

"The skies above Unst are dramatic, ever-changing and big, with numerous inspiring views.  With its record hours of sunshine in summer and record wind-speeds, Unst’s skies can rightly claim to be remarkable.”

CONTACT US

Please feel free to contact us:

​wildskiesshetland@gmail.com
​