Astronomer's call for revolution over light pollution to ensure Yorkshire's access to stars in the night sky

Vast swathes of Yorkshire face a mounting threat to their sight of the stars, a dark skies consultant has warned, as he calls for a 'plastics-style' revolution over the damages of light pollution.

Richard Darn, an amateur astronomer who is supporting the region’s national parks in ambitions towards dark skies status, has spoken of the joys and wonders which can be witnessed in astonishing detail in some of the area’s more rural landscapes.

Tomorrow is to see the launch of the North York Moors’ first ever fringe festival, with observation evenings, stargazing and ‘‘bubble’’ midnight walks, to celebrate its unfettered access to the skies. Yet even amid a rising appreciation of such experiences, Mr Darn warns, sight of the stars is waning for so many others with mounting light pollution.

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“There has never been a time when there has been greater pleasure, but that great pleasure has come when we are almost suffering the greatest risk to the dark skies,” he said. “I’ve seen the quality of the sky deteriorate over the past 10 years. Many people don’t realise what a dark sky looks like – in Sheffield, you could be lucky to see a handful of stars.

Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce RollinsonYorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson
Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson

“We are so lucky in our national parks that we have this access, but we have got to get out of the notion that it doesn’t matter in towns and cities,” he added. “We could all have a better environment if just stopped using light with abandon.”

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Pioneering scheme to protect North York Moors' dark skies for stargazers

An International Dark Sky Reserve is an area recognised for its exceptional quality of starry nights, with some of the world’s best known being in Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons.

In both of Yorkshire’s national parks, from the North York Moors to the Yorkshire Dales, authorities have ambitions of securing such status, with the latter having submitted applications.

Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce RollinsonYorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson
Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson
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There is an expressive enthusiasm in Mr Darn's voice as he speaks of recent stargazing trips within the national park, particularly of Neowise, a comet in July that was visible to the naked eye.

Over recent years there has been a push towards Dark Skies Friendly lighting, recognising the kind of harsh lighting that can be harmful to seeing the stars but also in the way that it is used.

Something as simple as pointing a garden spotlight downwards rather than up, or lowering the lumens or wavelength, can make a change, adds Mr Darn.

"It's so compelling, it's so amazing to see the difference that friendly lighting can make," he said. "It's about learning to use lighting that's better quality, with less pollution not less light, in people's lives.

Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce RollinsonYorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson
Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson
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"People think astronamy is boring but everywhere you look something is happening," he adds, with an infectious enthusiasm.

"Astonomy is enormous fun, if you're a geek like me or just curious. Yorkshire has some great skies to enjoy."

Fringe Festival

Access within the national parks is stunning and improving under movements towards Dark Skies Friendly initiatives, Mr Darn has said, but with advances in technology it is too easy for the nation to turn towards a greater quantity, rather than of greater quality ‘‘friendly’’ lights.

Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce RollinsonYorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson
Yorkshire's wonders of the night sky. Image: Bruce Rollinson

Last year, a review of the national park system famously called for every schoolchild in England to “spend a night under the stars” to reignite a sense of wonder. Mr Darn, warning there is a “blind spot” when it comes to perceptions of light pollution, has called for a greater recognition of the changes that can be made in planning and personal use.

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“People want to get out and to see the dark skies, to see the Milky Way and feel that immersion with Mother Nature,” he said. “Older people realise what has been lost. The young have probably no concept of what is behind this fog of light.”

The skies within the North York Moors National Park enjoy truly celebrated access to the stars, with the authority’s first fringe festival launching tomorrow to run until November 1.

Among the highlights on the 10-day festival programme are moonlit walks, ‘‘bubble’’ observation evenings with the Whitby Astronomical Society, stargazing in Dalby Forest, ghost walks and astro-photography sessions.

A number of cafes and B&Bs, having joined the national park’s dark skies friendly scheme, are offering guides, blankets, binoculars and flasks, with Wellspring Farm at Sawdon having put up a viewing pod for guests.

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James Mitchinson