"Stargazing for your Health" -- CVAS Astronomy Update May 2025.
Image credit: Kira Gilbertson
It turns out that stargazing is literally good for your health. Most people enjoy gazing up at a star-filled sky, often feeling better afterward without quite knowing why. Now, science is catching up to what we've felt all along: spending time under the night sky can boost physical and mental health.
Being “in nature” has health benefits. For example researchers have found that walking through green spaces boosts immune system white blood cell levels more than walking alongside city buildings. Nature really does change us, right down to the cellular level. And it makes sense that “nature” extends to the starry night sky. Indeed, research published last year in the Journal of Environmental Psychology indicated that the more someone felt connected to the night sky, the more positive was their mental health and happiness.
I often feel a sense of awe when looking at a star-filled sky or an aurora, or viewing Saturn’s rings or the moon’s craters through a telescope. Several studies have shown that experiencing “awe” tends to lower heart rate, increase the presence of the happy-hormone oxytocin, and reduce inflammation.
Stargazing can be active and/or meditative. I love recognizing constellations, stars and planets, and looking through telescopes and get a thrill from the “Wow, look at that!” joy. Other people enjoy a more relaxed form of stargazing, lying back and simply soaking in the beauty and watching for meteors, letting their minds drift away from daily stress. This is close to deliberate “mindful stargazing”, observing the stars without evaluation or judgment (or technology!), keeping your mind on the stars and not on thoughts of the future or past. A few writers have recently used the term “star bathing” to refer to mindful stargazing, a take-off on “forest bathing” —the Japanese practice of immersing yourself in a forest for benefits to mental and physical health.
Mindful stargazing is a form of meditation, which is beneficial for balancing stress.
The body’s response to stress is to flood our bodies with cortisol. This is great unless we live with on-going stress, since chronically high cortisol levels can lead to multiple health issues. But we can interrupt the overproduction of cortisol by “mindful” practices that quietly focus the mind on the present (like meditation, yoga, or – you guessed it --stargazing). Research studies confirm that these practices can lead to measurable health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, lowered anxiety and depression, and a greater ability to fight off infections.
I don’t imagine we’ll ever be given a prescription for “20 minutes of stargazing daily” to lower blood pressure or reduce anxiety. But sometimes when I am enjoying the star-filled night sky, I will take time to do some “mindful stargazing” and literally stare into space, deliberately not thinking about anything, with a smile on my face.
---- Essay by Lauren Likkel, a member of the Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society.
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Mental health benefits of stargazing and astronomy
Connecting with the night sky can improve your wellbeing.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/stargazing-mental-health-benefits
Away from the city and looking up at the stars on a clear night, the quiet only disturbed by the occasional hoot of an owl, it can feel like our everyday stresses become lighter, even if only temporarily.
When you’re captivated by what’s in front of you, whether you’re observing with the naked eye or at the eyepiece of a telescope, negative emotions seem to dissipate.
If you're feeling under pressure, now could be the time to examine how stargazing can help improve your mental health and wellbeing.
Science, stargazing and mental health
Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that spending time in nature, especially if you live and work in an urban setting, enhances positive emotions and reduces stress.
Even watching videos of natural environments has been found to reduce the physiological markers of stress, like high blood pressure.
But much of this research focuses on the daytime experience.
Once the Sun has set and the luscious greenery is cloaked in darkness, can stargazing and the night sky offer the same mental health benefits?
Stargazing and astronomy involve spending time in nature, even if it's just taking a nightwalk under the stars.
One study published in February 2024 found that people with a greater connection to the night sky had better mental health and felt happier.
Research also suggests that environments that are less visually arousing – meaning they are less complex or have little movement – offer better stress reduction than environments that are more stimulating.
The night sky can, of course, be stimulating and awe-inspiring, but this generally comes from our internal appreciation of the sights before us.
Even the busiest of meteor showers will feel more calming than watching the same number of cars speed down a motorway.
Lift your eyes, lift your spirits
Experiencing awe is beneficial for our mental health, according to Mampho Ledimo, a psychology and sociology student working on a project called Astronomy for Mental Health.
Feelings of awe have been shown to reduce inflammation, lower the heart rate and increase the presence of the hormone oxytocin, boosting positive emotions.
But one of awe’s most important implications is in our sense of self.
People with mental ill-health, such as depression, anxiety or eating disorders, can have an amplified self-focus.
Ruminating over worries, experiencing negative thoughts about themselves or believing that they’re personally responsible for bad things happening.
When we engage with something awesome, something bigger than ourselves, it helps reduce focus on the self.
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Flagship Project 2: Astronomy for Mental Health
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What is ‘Skychology’? How looking at the sky can boost your wellbeing
https://unplugged.rest/blog/what-is-skychology-and-what-are-the-benefits
Have you ever taken a moment to look up at the sky and just felt... better? Well, there’s reason behind that. It’s called 'Skychology' – a fusion of the sky's vastness dwarfing our stresses and its therapeutic effects on our mind. In today’s bustling life, sometimes the simple act of looking upwards can make a world of difference.
What is Skychology?
Originating from the word "sky" and "psychology," Skychology is the concept that sky gazing can significantly benefit our mental health through its calming and meditative effect on the mind. By looking up, it can help ground you and provide a sense of perspective, making your problems feel smaller in comparison to the vast expanse of the sky. A similar feeling can be found by looking at mountains. Looking up at the sky, during day or night can also provide a canvas for mindfulness - by easily watching colours, moving clouds or stars, you can reach full sense of calm.
What are the benefits of skychology?
1️⃣ Increase feeling of calm
The act of looking up at the sky can provide a sense of calm. It can also make worries feel smaller in comparison to its vast expanse.
2️⃣ Sparks meditative state
Focusing on the sky in day and night can be a great way to practice mindfulness - the colours, clouds and stars create feelings of awe and wonder.
3️⃣ Reduces stress and anxiety
The colour blue has been found to significantly lower stress levels and heart rate so looking up to the blue sky can reduce feelings of anxiety.
4️⃣ Gets you outside
Being outside and in nature have been shown to have positive effects on our wellbeing, including reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety.
What is the science behind skychology?
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that exposure to more expansive spaces like the sky can lead to a greater sense of well-being and a reduced sense of confinement. Another study in 2019 supports the idea that natural environments, including the sky, have restorative effects on mental health.
Mindfulness practices have been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. According to a 2014 study in JAMA Internal Medicine, mindfulness meditation showed moderate evidence of improving anxiety, depression, and pain. So when we apply mindfulness techniques to sky gazing, you've got a science-backed recipe for serenity.
How to Practice Skychology
Step 1: Find Your Spot and get comfortable
Choose a comfortable location where you can see a good expanse of the sky and sit down or lie on your back. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself.
Step 2: Look Up
Begin by focusing on the sky. Notice the colours, the cloud formations, or the clarity of a night sky sprinkled with stars.
Step 3: Mindfulness
Let your thoughts pass like clouds. Don't try to change them, just observe.
Step 4: Reflect and Journal
After your sky gazing session, consider jotting down your thoughts or feelings. You'll likely notice a significant uplift in your mood and mental clarity.
So the next time life feels a little overwhelming — just look up! The sky is always there, waiting to offer you a slice of serenity, a dose of inspiration, and a whole lot of mental health goodness.
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