To commemorate the International Dark Skies Week 2024, the Dedham Vale Society Dark Skies Campaign are holding a FREE Dark Skies Fair at Boxted Village Hall on Sunday April 7th from 3:30pm to 10:00pm. There will be lots of activities for both young and old. 

There are a number of speakers lined up to talk about the night skies and the effects of the encroaching light pollution on our beautiful National Landscape.  Starting with Dr Chris Gibson: The Famous Moth Man.

Topics will range from Wildlife and Nature to our own health.  There will be a number of astronomy talks including: recognising the night skies, our solar system, and buying a telescope. 

There will also be practical workshops where there will be a number of experts on hand to help you with telescope workshops and one to one advice sessions.  If you want to know something about your equipment then bring it along and you can be shown how to use it.

Weather permitting during the day there will be some Solar Telescopes trained on the Sun where you will be able to see sunspots on the surface, and flares and prominences being ejected into the chromosphere. As the sun sets we celebrate the dark skies with the moon out of the way you will be able to observe some of the faint and fuzzy delights above us.

There will be a number of exhibits, films and activities for all ages. Including paper rocket making and colouring.

Booking is not required, but emailing DedhamValeAstronomy@gmail.com will help gauge the number of attendees to expect. There is no charge for this event, and there will also be free refreshments available.  

Our event page will be regularly updated at https://www.dedhamvalesociety.org.uk/pages/dark-sky-fair