If
last week’s World Space Week has left you with stars in your eyes, the Tamar
Valley AONB have planned two events next month that will take you to infinity…
and beyond!
Join
the team, together with Space Odyssey, for a unique mobile planetarium and
outdoor stargazing experience, in one of two locations within the Tamar Valley.
Discover more about the quality of our night sky, then take part in a star
count near Sandhill House Country Retreat B&B, in the Tamar Valley, just 5 minutes drive away in Harrowbarrow.
Sam
Barnes, Helping Hands for Heritage project officer, explains more about the sky
at night; “The night skies are an important part of the character of the AONB,
and contribute to its tranquility. Genuine starry skies are getting harder to
find, and only 11% of England still has truly dark night skies as the threat of
light pollution from our surrounding towns and cities is affecting that
tranquility”.
Over
the past years, the Campaign for Rural England (CPRE) has been monitoring and
analysing the impact of street lighting, lighting from large supermarkets, and
housing development. One of their surveys suggests that 83% of people have
their home view of the night sky blighted by light pollution. It can also
affect wildlife by interrupting migration and feeding patterns.
The
CPRE have been running community star counts where volunteers count the number
of stars that are visible to the naked eye within the Orion constellation.
More
than 30 stars mean a true dark sky - but only 4% of counts in 2014 revealed
this; and 59% could see 10 or less stars - indicating severe light
pollution.
The
FREE stargazing events will take place on;
-
Friday 21st November, Buckland Abbey’s Great Barn
-
Saturday 22nd November, Harrowbarrow Village Hall
Choose
from one of two sessions taking place each evening, at 4:45pm and 6:45pm, each
lasting around 1¼ hours. Enjoy a spectacular 360-degree projected image show in
the planetarium, followed by real life stargazing outside (weather permitting).
Places
are strictly limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment – 01822
835030, volunteering@tamarvalley.org.uk (Tamar Valley AONB team). Please dress warmly. Refreshments will be available.
The
events have been made possible by funding from an 'Our Heritage' grant from the
Heritage Lottery Fund and is part of the Tamar Valley AONB's Helping Hands for
Heritage project.
