Stargazers from across the country will be descending on the North York Moors over the next two weeks for the annual dark skies festival.
It's eye's to the skies this weekend as the Dark Skies Festival returns to the North York Moors.
The two week festival sees a range of activities taking place from stargazing to canoeing evenings.
Astronomer Richard Darn says the moors are a special place for appreciating the night sky.
Richard Darn says with the national park now enjoying 'international dark sky reserve' status, the event attracts a lot of people.
The Moors National Park Centre at Danby in the North York Moors will serve as a hub for many events including an evening with the Whitby & District Astronomical Society. The Inspired by… gallery at the Centre will also be hosting two exhibitions, starting with a preview event on the opening night of the Festival, where visitors can see how the fragility of the night sky is interpreted through the work of specially-commissioned artists, printmaker Helen Peyton and cosmic artist Louise Beer.
Following on from last year’s lockdown virtual Festival success, families will also be able to log into ‘In The Night Sky Live’ sessions from the comfort of their home, courtesy of the Space Detectives run by Jo Richardson, who is just one of six UK Space Champions working on behalf of the European Space Education Office.
There will a range of activities running across the two weeks of the festival and Richard says it's not all about star gazing.
Among the events taking place will be astrophysicist turned Zen teacher Mark Westmoquette bringing his star bathing approach to the Festival, drawing on his astronomy background and showing how people can use the night sky to live ‘more in the moment’. It's one of several new events enabling visitors to pause the button on everyday life and let the night sky soothe the soul.
These will run alongside perennial Festival favourites such as stargazing safaris, nocturnal wildlife trails, dark sky runs, walks, cycle rides and canoeing evenings, astrophotography skills sessions and art exhibitions.
Families with younger children can also enjoy the opportunity to slow down during a Mindfulness Walk organised by Whitby YHA when stargazing, nature at night and views across the cliff tops above the harbour will help reinvigorate all the senses.
Meanwhile to coincide with the new moon, visitors can join Wild Roots Foraging for an afternoon gathering foraged food in Easby Wood before walking uphill towards Captain Cook’s Monument to enjoy panoramic twilight views. The group then returns to an open fire for foraged nibbles and mugwort hot chocolate in preparation for a starlit stroll through the forest.
Richard Darn says the events attract a range of people from across the country, and he hopes that attending the events will inspire more people to engage with preserving the night sky, especially younger visitors.
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