Secrets and folklore of North Yorks Moors starry skies to be revealed in festival

A dedicated team at the national park work to ensure light pollution on the moors remains at an absolute minimum – from planning applications to protecting wildlife who thrive in the dark.

The Dark Skies festival will run from February 10 to 26.

Events on offer this year – the eighth the Festival has ran – are set to include stargazing in Dalby Forest, a bird of prey photography evening in Helmsley, and a night walk around Robin Hood’s Bay, complete with stories of the smugglers the village is famous for.

Astronomer Richard Darn explained what might be seen by those who want to brave the cold to investigate a February starry night.

“Some of the darkest skies we experience in Yorkshire come in February, meaning we get to see more stars,” he said.

“That usually accompanies a chilly night, but dress in layers and you’ll be left feeling snug under a sky of wonder.

“The ancient constellations of Orion and Leo share prime spot in the southern sky, whilst star clusters look at their sparkling best.

“Milky Way is also low down this time of year which means we can see out into deep space without our view being blocked and spy other galaxies whose light has taken millions of years to reach the Earth.”

There’s even a small chance stargazers could see the elusive Northern Lights, Mr Darn added.

Mike Hawtin, the project lead for Dark Skies at the National Park, explained that it’s not just the beauty of the night which needs preserving.

“It’s potentially a huge lift in the rural economy,” he said. “It’s about a half million pound uplift for the area.

“Supporting the Festival encourages and inspires the businesses involved to use their links and networks throughout the year.

“But you have of course, also got the tranquility, and we have lots of events based around mindfulness.

“There’s a cultural elements to dark skies too. We’ve all heard of the Plough and other different constellations, and it’s about helping people understand that culture and how those stories have developed.

“Stargazing is known as a gateway science and it’s often the first chance a child has of understanding our kind of our place in the cosmos and what’s out there. It hopefully inspires them to go on to be the scientists of the future.”

A full list of festival events is available on www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk.