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Elan Valley Astronomy

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Elan Valley Astronomy

Elan Valley Astronomy

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(Photo: Sorcha Lewis)

 

Elan Valley’s IDA Dark Sky Status Application Progress: Going for Gold

After three years of field research and astronomy outreach, Elan Valley’s application to be recognised as a Dark Sky area has finally been completed and is on its way to the International Dark-Sky Association, an organisation established in 1988 to raise awareness of encroaching man-made light pollution to protect the quality of the night sky.

This is a unique application; for unlike many others, this has been authored by two enthusiastic volunteers on a budget, with help from the Elan Estate, Dwr Cymru and other volunteers.

Amateur astronomers Les and Kris Fry from Ceredigion took over the application from Sorcha Lewis, conservation farmer and countryside ranger, who launched the appeal back in 2012 and brought key people together.

The Elan Estate, situated in Mid Wales, is owned by Dwr Cymru and tenanted to the Elan Trust on a 999 year lease. Its 43,000 acres of land mostly comprises of SSSi moorland, woodland, bog and 6 dams that provides a water supply to Birmingham. The quality of the night sky on the Estate is so good, that it is hoped the area will be awarded Gold Tier Status by the IDA.

The Elan Trust is based on an ethos of conservation and quiet enjoyment of the countryside. Therefore,  if the Dark Sky area application is a success, it contributes towards the protection of this beautiful area and its nocturnal wildlife from encroaching light pollution and for astronomers to enjoy the beauty of the universe above us, for many generations.

The application for the Elan Valley is currently with IDA Correspondent John Barrentine and will be sent to the IDA headquarters in the United States, in time for the 23rd March deadline. If successful, the Elan Valley will be certified a Dark Sky Status, alongside Galloway, Northumberland, Kielder, Exmoor, Kerry (Ireland) and the Brecon Beacons.

Les and Kris Fry would like to personally thank the following people for their assistance;

Alec Baker (Estates Manager, Elan Estate)
Ed Parsons (Dwr Cymru, Area Manager, Elan Valley)
Alan Samuel (Head Ranger)
Voluntary Astro-Rangers
The support and cooperation of the tenants of the Elan Estate

Elan Valley Astronomy will be running events over 2015, commencing with the Solar Eclipse on the 20th March, 2015 in conjunction with Stargazing Live’s special TV coverage. For more details, please visit their Facebook page.

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jflowers

jflowers

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I'd recommend anyone to go to ellan valley not only is it a beautiful place to visit the sky's are extremely good. This is great news and good luck.

Could not agree more, went there last February for an astronomy break and breathtaking scenery for during the day too :)

ElanValleydAM.JPG

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Elan Valley Astronomy

Elan Valley Astronomy

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Hey Calv. Remember Gary Palmer, the solar dude from down Hersty.... Thats where he's living these days. Why a solar imager needs dark skies is beyond me  :evil: .

He does do a bit of astro as well, quite a competent astro-imager, too.   :)

He has run some of our Solar outreach events at the Visitor Centre, which have been very popular!

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Scott

Scott

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He does do a bit of astro as well, quite a competent astro-imager, too.   :)

He has run some of our Solar outreach events at the Visitor Centre, which have been very popular!

Yeah I know he pretty good with dso's as well :). Just hoping he might have bitten  :eek: . He's a great bloke and very talented with his solar work but don't tell him I said that :D

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estwing

estwing

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Hey Calv. Remember Gary Palmer, the solar dude from down Hersty.... Thats where he's living these days. Why a solar imager needs dark skies is beyond me  :evil: .

yeh top bloke got time to chat with people,some of his stuff was mind blowing..solar imaging doesnt get much better than his stuff...anyway cough,cough, strictly visual for me and Elan's one of the finest places to do it!

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faulksy

faulksy

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wow that is brilliant news, we realy love this area us with the dobs and have gone down that way loads of times, its that dark you cant tell if your eyes are open or closed. :grin:

heres some pics from the time before last that we went to df

DSC_0090_2.jpgDSC_0033_1.jpg

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