Stargazing Festival wraps up for another year

As the moon sets on another Stargazing Festival, it is time to reflect on the activities and experiences in the ninth celebration of the dark skies in the North Pennines National Landscape.

This autumn, over 700 people have gathered at over 30 events up and down the North Pennines to celebrate, appreciate, learn about and marvel at the dark skies in the darkest mainland National Landscape. Visitors came to a variety of venues such as observatories, a heritage railway, waterfalls and even a castle.

Over 60 people attended the Stars and songs event at Bowlees Farm in Teesdale. The clouds parted giving clear views of Saturn and its rings, the Seven Sisters and the Milky Way. Families enjoyed singing round the campfire, space themed craft activities and music from Durham University flute choir.

Ten hardy souls joined the Dark skies run up to High Force, the biggest waterfall in England, following the High Force and Bowlees Geotrail. They felt the power and experienced the remarkable atmosphere of the waterfall at night. Stars came out and the curve of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, arced above the runners on the stretch to Bowlees Visitor Centre, ahead of tea and cake.

Almost 30 people discovered how to ‘chase’ the Northern Lights at a packed event at Allenheads Observatory. Visitors photographed Comet Lemmon and the Andromeda Galaxy in crystal-clear skies from Alston Moor Observatory. Families trooped down to the bottom of High Force to experience the dark skies and thunderous roar of the falls – a magical experience for the little one. People also used their creativity to make lanterns, which they took down Nenthead Mines.

Great food and stargazing experiences and talks were combined at High Force, the Lord Crewe Arms and the Hive, Nenthead. Visitors found out about the fascinating Orionid meteor shower at Grassholme Observatory in Baldersdale.

Festivalgoers were treated to a number of really clear skies and a wide range of thought-provoking, dark skies events across one of the darkest places in England and one of the best places to stargaze. They heard about the importance of dark skies for tranquillity, wellbeing, wildlife and of course stars.

We hope visitors went away with an understanding that dark night skies are truly precious and that we all need to help protect the night.