Important notice: This is an archived version of the Peak District National Park Authority's website. It was last updated on 2 August 2011. The current version can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk. This old version of the website will remain available until all content and functionality has been transferred across to the new website, after which it will be switched off.
Looking After
How we work to look after the National Park, conservation, ranger services, biodiversity and policies.
- The work of the Authority
How we make decisions, the role of Members and staff. - Current consultations
We want your opinions on these consultations - Ranger service
What our rangers and volunteers do around the National Park. - Plans & policies
Corporate plans and policies
Dark Skies
The Night Sky
The night sky is inspiring, from the thousands of stars visible on a clear dark night, to the arc of nebulous light rising across the sky that is our Galaxy, the Milky Way. It is also amazing to think that with the naked eye we can view our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, which is 2.5 million light years away. However, over the past 100 years, our skies have become more difficult to view as they have become obscured by man-made light pollution. Unless we act now, there is the potential for future generations to grow up never experiencing the wonder and beauty of a truly dark night sky.
What is Light Pollution?
Light pollution is artificial light that shines where it is neither wanted nor needed. Not only does light pollution have an impact on people’s enjoyment of the night sky, it has also been shown to have an impact on quality of life, as well as wasting energy.
What we are doing?
The Peak District National Park is lived in and visited by many and is an area of the countryside that currently has some dark skies. We are working with others to ensure that our special landscapes and skies are there for future generations to enjoy. We are looking to pursue international recognition from the International Dark Sky Association for the quality of the National Park’s night skies.
We asked the public to measure the darkness of the night sky in early 2011 by observing the constellation of Orion (the Hunter), and we recieved over 200 responses. This data is currently being analysed, and we will release the results in Summer 2011.
Forthcoming Events
October 21 - 24: Peak Star Party 2011
The Peak Star Party 2011 is being held at Shallow Grange Farm, just south of Buxton in the Peak District, between 21 and 24 October, giving the three nights 21, 22 and 23 October. The party is open to anybody with an active or pending interest in astronomy.
http://www.peakstarparty.co.uk/
Acknowledgements
The Peak District National Park Authority acknowledges the work of the International Dark Sky Association, Globe at Night, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Campaign for Dark Skies, the Peak District Dark Skies forum, and Macclesfield Astronomical Society’s MyDarkSky project.
