I’m really excited about to hear about the new Dark Sky Discovery partnership, which is aimed at inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to come together in their local area and enjoy the night sky.
With a £176.8k grant from the Big Lottery fund and Natural England, and working with astronomy, environmental and community organisations in every English region, the project wants to involve people in identifying safe, accessible places in urban and rural areas where they can take part in stargazing sessions.
A series of Dark Sky Discovery Sites has already been unveiled in England, and also in Wales and Scotland, showing the range of great local spots that people can use for stargazing. “In every community there is somewhere that is the best place to see the stars. Even in towns and cities, there are places such as local parks where people can enjoy the wonders of the night sky, from planets to meteor showers” says Project Leader Dan Hillier, who is based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh. “This project will find ways of helping people from a whole range of different backgrounds – such as schools, community and special needs groups, to discover the universe that is just beyond their doorstep.”
In the South West, the project’s lead partner is Exmoor National Park which recently announced its new status as England’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. Other darker areas in the UK that also have Dark Sky Discovery Sites are the Lake District, Kielder Forest and the Brecon Beacons National Park. There are also several sites in Scotland, including Skye and Morayshire.
Want to stargaze near your own home? Here are some tips from Dark Sky Discovery to get you started. I can’t wait to give these a try:
-Find somewhere away from the glare of direct lights. Local parks, playing fields or forest car parks are all good places.
-Try an hour and a half after sunset, when there is no moon, as this can make it more difficult to see stars.
-You can stargaze with the naked eye, though allow ten minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.
-To get a better idea of what you’re looking at, get hold of a star chart or map. Try the Dark Skies Map which is available in our online shop.
Know a great spot for stargazing? Share your tips for enjoying the night sky in the comments section below.
Related posts:
Related posts:
Hi and welcome. I'm a freelance travel and lifestyle copywriter and editor, with a passion for the great outdoors. This is my personal blog all about getting out in the fresh air and reconnecting with our green spaces and countryside.
