Stars up, lights down!

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The Dark Skies Committee is determined to involve local schools in their campaign to preserve the night skies. In November 2021 Mike Barrett, the astronomer, contributed to a practical with telescopes at Stoke by Nayland C of E Primary School. He noted how knowledgeable and enthusiastic the children were and sent them all home with one of our leaflets. 

Another stargazing event at the school is planned for April as well as ongoing telescope gatherings at Polstead Green. Littlegarth School, Nayland will create astronomy projects such as learning about the biological impact of artificial night-time lighting on wildlife, observing sunrise/sunset, recognising constellations and the mythological stories behind their names and following good lighting practice.

Mike will give a talk to the students at Littlegarth on Friday 22nd April, an event which will kick off International Dark Skies Week which runs from 22nd – 30th April 2022.

The Dark Skies Committee had a supportive letter from Libby Purves of The Times and have alerted Lord Rees of Ludlow, Astronomer Royal, to their grassroots campaign. They hope they will encourage other groups to understand the connection between astronomy and conservation.

A Twitter account has been opened and one of their followers is the recently retired International Dark Skies Association (IDA) Director of Public Policy, Dr John Barentine. Follow us @DarkSkyDedham.

The Dark Skies Committee communicate often with the IDA based in Tucson, Arizona USA. It has the largest reach and diversity of Dark Sky certifications around the world and is currently revising its guidelines.

The Committee expect our dark sky efforts to be recognised and will continue to take night-time light readings, to finalise the streetlights census, to develop imaginative outreach activities and to seek support from local and national authorities and media stations. 

The light domes from Colchester, Hadleigh, Harwich and Felixstowe continue to impinge on the AONB and The Dark Skies Committee try to make their concerns known. The new Colchester Stadium lighting, 2.6 miles from the southern edge of the AONB, is causing distress to drivers on the A12 and one of the members will speak to the relevant authority. The area is a bit like the curate’s egg, dark in places, bright in others!

The Dark Sky movement addresses the problems of people living in urban and suburban areas and seeks to explain that access to the night sky is possible and perhaps unbeknownst to them, not far away.

The Dark Skies Committee recognise that many individuals and families have never experienced natural darkness, always having lived in some gradient of light pollution. With permission from the AONB they will make a star gazing trail with posts and small sky maps in the Vale next summer 2022.

Luckily, it does not have to be totally dark to see the stars or the waxing and waning moon. The Dark Skies Committee plan to attract a new audience by explaining astrotourism to publicans and hotel owners, by inspiring young people to think about space exploration and by organising informal starry night telescope gatherings, one of which will take place at Higham Racecourse. Astronomy can lead to conservation, always with an emphasis on acceptable lighting. 

In IDA-speak, The Dark Skies Committee hope the Dedham Vale Society may be considered a “front-end steward of the nocturnal environment” and although they have no legal status, if they gain defined recognition from the IDA, they shall have moral authority to influence local commercial, civic and social organisations such as planning offices, parish councils, environmental agencies and highways departments. Stars up, lights down!

Please let us know if you have suggestions or questions. The Dark Skies Committee are seeking volunteers; teachers, conservationists and astronomers are especially welcome. To join the committee or help in any way, please contact one of the committee members:

Marcia Brocklebank, The Dark Skies Committee