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s r i f is from mid-August through to early May. S S S It’s also easiest to see the stars if there is no Moon – look out for new Moon phases.
Spring is Top tips best for Be patient – Autumn planets as your eyes is best for the Milky Way and adjust to the darkness, the shooting stars Winter S S S more you will see. is best for star Try to avoid looking at any clusters and lights as it can take up to constellations 20 minutes for your night Further information vision to come back. For details of dark sky events, when to Take care, there might be hazards hidden see shooting stars or the northern lights by the dark. and simple starcharts visit Bring warm clothing and blankets if you want www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/stargazing to stay cosy as clear nights are also the www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk S S most chilly. © Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority 2017 Binoculars are useful if you have Designed by Nic Draper Design Cover photo: Ribblehead Viaduct them, but you can Picture Credits Josh Hull, Matthew Savage see lots with the naked eye. Stargazing Guide An easy guide to help you navigate
Northern Lights your way around the sky at night.
Skies above Ingleton Looking north The Plough is the most easily recognised group of stars in the northern sky. ORTON KIRKBY STEPHEN 4 North Malham 1 National Park Centre (BD23 4DA) REETH Buckden 2 National Park Car Park The superb dark skies of the Yorkshire (BD23 5JA) Dales National Park are one of the things that SEDBERGH 3 3 S S S make it such a special place. Free from light NPC Hawes HAWES National Park Centre pollution, it is a stargazer’s paradise. SEMER WATER AYSGARTH (DL8 3NT) NPC Tan Hill Inn 4 Where should I go? YORKSHIRE DALES (DL11 6ED) You can get fantastic views of the night sky, NATIONAL PARK stars and planets just about anywhere in the KIRKBY LONSDALE 2 National Park. The more remote you are BUCKDEN from ambient light sources, including street NIDDERDALE lamps, the better. INGLETON KETTLEWELL AONB There are S S What can I see? MALHAM TARN four Dark Sky KILNSEY On a clear night you could see as many as GRIMWITH PATELEY BRIDGE Discovery Sites RESERVOIR 2,000 stars. In most places in the National 1 GRASSINGTON around the National SETTLE MALHAM NPC Park it is possible to see the , Milky Way Park which are a great NPC as well as planets, the northern lights, place to start your stargazing shooting stars – and not forgetting adventure. These locations are the Moon. open to the public, provide parking and other facilities and are accessible SKIPTON to people of all abilities. S S