Star Attraction Top Tips to Save our Dark Skies

In , we have very low levels of It’s becoming evident that poor and inappropriate lighting in rural areas, as well as light pollution from urban areas light pollution and as a consequence, have very is threatening the quality of our dark skies. You can help dark skies that are jam-packed full of stars! conserve our dark skies by following these simple tips when installing outside lights on your own home or business. In 2013, Northumberland National Park and most of Water & Forest Park became Choose warm-white (<3000k), energy-efficient light bulbs. England’s first International Dark Sky Park, Bulbs or lamps of 500 lumens confirming it one of the best places in the or less are appropriate for most country to go stargazing. domestic purposes.

All you need are clear skies and a place far Northumberland away from street lights to look up, and you’ll see more than 2,000 stars in our Milky Way with Direct all outside lighting the naked eye. If you want to experience using downwards or shield lights to large telescopes to observe planets, distant reduce glare and unwanted light International galaxies and other astronomical phenomena, intrusion to your neighbours. there are some great stargazing events taking place at amazing venues such as the Kielder For more advice on conserving our Dark Sky Park Observatory, Sill National Landscape Discovery darks skies: Centre, Battlesteads Observatory, Twice Brewed www.britastro.org.uk/dark-skies Observatory, Observatory and at www.darksky.org a number of Dark Sky Discovery Sites located around the Dark Sky Park.

For more information on stargazing in the This Stargazing Guide has been funded by Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, go to: www.visitnorthumberland.com/darkskies www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/darkskies www.visitkielder.com/events

Based upon an original design by Forestry Commission , updated by Media Services, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.

Photos: Aurora at Sycamore Gap, Hadrian’s Wall © Graeme Peacock. Kielder Star Camp © Robbie Ince. Kielder Observatory © Gary Fildes. Kids stargazing at Cawfields © Alasdair Mackenzie. BERWICK UPON TWEED Dark Sky Discovery Sites are easy to find and have star maps in place to help you locate key stars and constellations. Some have 24-hour toilets available or are places where you can stay and eat. Please remember, when stargazing, to be courteous to local residents at night and use a red- KELSO light torch, as white light reduces your ability to see the stars. 16 WOOLER

Kirknewton 1 Kielder Observatory 10 Walltown Village Hall NE48 1EJ CA8 7JD / CA8 7HZ

2 Kielder Castle 11 Ingram & Bulby’s Wood NE48 1ER NE66 4LT © Ian Glendinning, 11 POWBURN Kielder Water & Forest Park 3 Kielder Camp Site 12 Alwinton Car Park Ingram & ALNWICK NE48 1EJ NE65 7BQ Alwinton Bulby’s Wood A68 Car Park 4 Tower Knowe 13 Tarset Village Hall Key 12 NE48 1BX NE48 1NT Northumberland B6367 International Dark NORTHUMBERLAND NATIONAL PARK ROTHBURY A1 5 Elf Kirk Viewpoint 14 Elsdon Village Green Sky Park Byrness Kielder Rochester Follow the signs at Kielder Water NE19 1AF Hadrian’s Wall 17 18 A697 Camp Site Elsdon Scottish Border Village Hall 6 Hawkhope Car Park 15 Falstone Village Hall Kielder Castle Follow the signs at Kielder Water NE48 1AA 3 2 KIELDER WATER OTTERBURN 14 & FOREST PARK 7 Stonehaugh 16 Kirknewton Village Hall 1 Stargazing Pavilion NE71 6XF Kielder Hawkhope Car Park Observatory 6 NE48 3DZ 4 15 17 Byrness 13 MORPETH 8 The Sill NE19 1TT Tower Knowe 5 BELLINGHAM National Landscape Tarset Elf Kirk Village Hall A696 Discovery Centre 18 Rochester Viewpoint A68 NE47 7AN NE19 1TA Falstone Village Hall B6320 7 9 Cawfields Picnic Site Stonehaugh Stargazing Pavilion NE48 9NN Cawfields B6318 Walltown Picnic Site The Sill B6318 NEWCASTLE 9 8 Appsolutely Magic! 10 UPON TYNE CORBRIDGE GREENHEAD HALTWHISTLE There are some amazing free astronomy apps now available to A69 download onto your mobile device, turning it into a planetarium in your palm! These will allow you guide your way easily around the night sky - just type in ‘astronomy’ into the Search of your Please note: When using sat nav at Kielder Water - unless you activate ‘no toll roads’ Appstore or Playstore. you may be directed via the Drive which is an unsurfaced road.