BBC News Website - Dark Sky Award to Galloway Forest Park

[JimBobs63]

Hi,

Just read this on the BBC News Website this morning. Good news for those living in Southern Scotland and Northern England....

BBC NEWS | Scotland | South of Scotland | Forest park given Dark Sky honour

Enjoy some dark skies up there!

Shame there's no chance of us experiencing anything like that "down south".....

Jim

[simon hicks]

Fantastic news! A small group of us at the Renfrewshire Astronomical Society use this area a lot for imaging....and its very dark....darker than Kielder for those that know that site.

[old_eyes]

Also reported on Guardian website - would be an interesting trip.

Astronomers name Scottish park one of world's best stargazing sites | Science | guardian.co.uk

old_eyes

[James]

Shame there's no chance of us experiencing anything like that "down south".....

Jim

Ah but there is in the likes of Exmoor, Devon, Wales... OK, still a bit of a travel for those in the south east though.

The news report suggested that other national parks in the UK were now considering whether this was of interest to them; hopefully Galloways actions will lead to other national parks trying for the same status and who knows, even a general increase in awareness

James

[JimBobs63]

Yeah that's a good point, James.

I did really mean "in the south-east"....!

Jim

[narrowbandpaul]

Alasdair and I helped with the lighting audit, carried out in the glentrool area.

We went round on a particularly horrible day, looking at the types of lighting on peoples houses and outbuildings

glad to see our work helped with the Dark Sky Park application

Paul

[markystars]

I live at kielder and its very dark here unless theres cloud to the south in which case the light tends to bounce of it, other than that its great. Hard to imagine a darker place but is great to think that there is

[James]

Yeah that's a good point, James.

I did really mean "in the south-east"....!

Jim

Closest for you then I guess will be Norfolk. The Kelling area may not be anything like as dark as Kielder or Galloway but at least they get a lot more clear nights...

James

[Ant]

This was all over Radio 4 this morning...

'Tis good news!

Ant

[Tinkerbell]

Fantastic news! A small group of us at the Renfrewshire Astronomical Society use this area a lot for imaging....and its very dark....darker than Kielder for those that know that site.

I know Kielder and I would say on a par, depending on the conditions

[acey]

Love this quote from the Enviro minister:

http://stargazerslounge.com/astro-lounge/91271-did-she-really-say.html

How dark is Galloway Forest? Can anyone tell me what sort of limiting magnitude has been recorded there?

[mark skelton]

This was all over Radio 4 this morning...

'Tis good news!

Ant

It was on radio 2 at lunch time too. Hope more parts like wales get it too:icon_salut:

[Capricorn]

Now that it a recognised dark site they will look to the tourism aspects . Means building a well lit dual carriageway into, and through, the park and building several well floodlit carparks.:D:D:D

[Tim]

I heard this on the 8am news on Radio 2 as well. Which is likely the most listened to news radio program in the UK, all the more so since Wogan is set to retire soon.

Great news, and Steve Owens comments were good I thought.

TJ

[Dangerous-Dave]

Great news. I've imaged not too far from there but it was in the middle of June so I didn't really get the benefit. For those who go there regularly, what is the best site? Clatteringshaws car park? Gatehouse Station?

[SteveWelsh]

Cant wait to go up and see Galloway forest for an observing night. been before but not with telescopes...

[Brunty12345]

i watched the news which was on about galloway park and the sky is very clear and dark where i am its just a shame that i dnt have my telescope yet

[Brunty12345]

and theres a lot of stars where i am i need to hurry up and get my telescope

[laser_jock99]

I certainly believe other parts of Britain deserve to get some kind of 'protected' Dark Sky status. Where I live in Wales is very dark- but it has no kind of National Park, AONB or other special status. It's just remote and dark- the question is how long can it be kept that way?

A local campaign group has started to try and get the Cambrian Mountains elevated to at least Area Of Outstanding National Beauty status and one of the reasons they cite is to preserve the pristine night sky of the area:

Cambrian Mountains Society - landscape - introduction

At the moment the area has no special status so more or less any 'development' can take place, and we all know where that leads......

[Brunty12345]

You get dark clear skies around my area but not near as good as Galloway park lol can't wait to get my telescope!

[mark skelton]

Well I've just heard that 7staines are doing a moutian bike event at galloway called the 'darkest challengeon earth'. It will be held on saterday 13th of march between 16:00hrs and 22:00hrs.