Join the Star Camp for an astronomical weekend

19 October 2023

Star Camp is all about creating unforgettable experiences. Seeing a sky full of stars above your head is becoming increasingly rare. But in the North Pennines we still have beautiful night-time skies.

Join our Star Camp for an astronomical weekend in Teesdale during the 2023 North Pennines Stargazing Festival. It’s based at Doe Park Caravan Site in Teesdale and runs between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 October. The camp is perfect for novice astronomers and is great for adults and children (6+ years). Telescopes will be provided, along with expert guidance and you are welcome to bring your own equipment too, including cameras (with tripods) and binoculars.
Richard Darn, expert astronomer and science educator, leads the camp. His motivation is all about opening people’s eyes to the wonders of the night sky: “The reaction of people as they see the rings of Saturn for the first time or the Milky Way arching overhead is amazing. Even if the weather doesn’t play ball, there’s still a buzz about Doe Park during the camp. With colourful and fun beginner’s talks on stargazing in the barn and even a laptop planetarium tour – there’s always something going on”.

Neill Sanders, from Go Stargazing, helps out at Star Camp. A perennially popular activity is designing and launching bottle rockets during the day on Saturday. Neill adds “the bottle rocket activity is always keenly anticipated, with the competition to design the most aerodynamic rocket particularly fierce!”

Alison Lamb, runs Doe Park Caravan Site, reflects on the dark skies in Teesdale and what’s special about Star Camp: “We are fortunate to enjoy some of the darkest possible autumn skies above us here at Doe Park. The Milky Way (and even the Northern Lights, sometimes) can regularly be seen with the naked eye and far-reaching views of countless glittering stars and constellations are the norm.

“Star Camp is the perfect way to enjoy the night skies in an informal, friendly atmosphere. Entertaining talks, family friendly activities and expert guidance from Richard, Neill and friends make the camp accessible, enjoyable and informative for stargazers of all ages and experience and most of all lots of fun.”

For more information, booking details and costs visit https://northpennines.org.uk/event/star-camp-3/