I’m well aware of how lucky I am to live where I do! For more than just the dark skies too.

I’m absolutely with you on your comments about the dark sky issues; in fact you’ll find a link in my sidebar to the dark skies initiative site. I’m a little more optomistic than you about the future of the few remaining dark sites, our local councils are considering reducing the lighting and the national park authority would throw a wobbly over any major increases

As for somewhere to stay with a large scope, I’ll have to think on that one. Ideally you’d want to be on high ground, our valley sides do obscure the horizon up to 12 maybe 15 degrees. I guess coastal would also be a possibility. If I come up with something I’ll email you.

Clear Skies
AnnMarie

– Richard Harvey, The Daily Mail.

“Not to spend time under the stars is as cruel a dispossession as to be denied days out in the country.”

– Max Hastings, The Daily telegraph.

Dear Ann Marie,
I am the Observing Co-ordinator of The Letchworth and District Astronomical Society here in floodlit Hertfordshire. (www.ldas.org.uk) We have a small observatory at Standalone Farm on the edge of Letchworth. One cannot say the night sky is dark here, the Milky Way is barely visible, and that’s on a good night. Over the years it has driven me to fury how stupidly we have obliterated the starry heavens above with so much wasted upward shining light pollution. About 95 per cent of the UK is now blighted by this ever worsening environmental disaster. According to my Phillips Dark Skies map, only the far north west of Scotland, the border country, Dartmoor and some of Cornwall and central Wales remains free of this scourge. You don’t know how lucky you are to live in Corris. Most of the country doesn’t get the views of the night sky that you are blessed with. I have to go on hoiday to do real dark sky astronomy, which is why I go to the Equinox Skycamp in north Norfolk twice a year. (www.star-party.org.uk) Do you know of anywhere in or around Corris a travelling amateur astronomer can go with a large telescope, some place to stay where they don’t mind me being up all hours and sleeping in during the day? Also have you considered joining and supporting the CPRE/BAA Campaign for Dark Skies? (www.dark-skies.org.uk and http://www.cpre.org.uk) If something isn’t done to turn the tide, it won’t be very many more years before north Norfolk and central Wales too join the rest of the UK under a blanket of skyglow. Thank you for reading this.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Townsend.

Is the beautiful location where you shot the images your observing site? Boy am I jealous:)) By the way, your blog looks very cool.

Math