Dark Skies Festival 18-26 Feb
This is one of the best places in the country to see stars and incredible night skies because of the low light pollution levels and clear horizons. Under the dark skies of the North York Moors National Park it’s possible to see up to ten times as many stars as in a city.
After the success of the first Dark Skies Festival early last year, North York Moors National Park will be once again working with the Dales on the second Dark Skies Festival (18 - 26 Feb 2017).
The big open skies of the North York Moors are breathtaking by day and also by night when the dark sky panorama is revealed. Three places in particular are recognised as special sites in the National Park:
National Park Centres at Sutton Bank and Danby, plus Dalby Observatories in Dalby Forest have been named as Dark Sky Discovery Sites (Milky Way class) – so named because the galaxy is often visible to the naked eye from the sites.
Other places in the National Park are also recognised as great places for stargazing, including Rievaulx Terrace where the National Trust sometimes hosts night walks and stargazing events.
Dark Sky Discovery is an innovative network of national and local astronomy and open space organisations that helps people to enjoy the night sky.