From April 5-12, it’s International Dark Sky Week!
Every year, the International Dark-Sky Association hosts dark sky week to create awareness about light pollution and its negative consequences, the solutions, and to celebrate the natural night. This year, IDA is inviting everyone to discover the night where they live with events hosted all over the world by advocates, International Dark Sky Places and other organisations.
Due to the uncertainty around UK lockdowns and ongoing need for social distancing, Dark Sky London encourages all Londoners to safely participate from home or their local areas this year, and to observe government guidelines about COVID-19 safety. As well, there are heaps of online events, many of them free, to get you excited about discovering the night.
Check out our list of the best places to go stargazing in and around London.
Online activities
Full list of International Dark Sky Week events
Twitter AMA with IDA’s Dr. John Barentine
Facebook LIVE – Discover The Night with IDA – A whirlwind global tour of the night with IDA’s Executive Director, Ruskin Hartley
Get involved on social media using the official hashtags: #IDSW2021, #DiscovertheNight and #DarkSkyWeek.
Listen to the official International Dark Sky Week playlist on Spotify.
UK & Ireland Dark Sky Week events
Dark Sky Locations in the UK – A one hour talk by Twice Brewed Stargazing highlighting the best places in the UK for dark skies
Observing the Moon and Planets – talk by astronomer Steve Tonkin of Cranborne Chase Dark Sky Reserve
Lighting – At What Cost To Our Insects – A Talk by David Smith and Prosiect Nos (Snowdonia National Park)
Space4All Virtual Astronomy Workshop Special – hosted by IDA Bristol Delegate Josh Dury
What is a Dark Sky? – short film by Davagh Forest International Dark Sky Park
The Right Light at Night – talk by astronomer Steve Tonkin of Cranborne Chase Dark Sky Reserve
Make Your Own Planisphere Video Workshop – Om Dark Sky Park & Observatory
Bats of Snowdonia – A free talk on Snowdonia’s bat species by Sam Dyer
Stars and Stones – Terry Mossley from the Irish Astronomical Association explains the connection between the stars and the stones at Beaghmore Stone Circles
A virtual road show of Mayo! – online events hosted by Friends of Mayo Dark Skies
Feed from OM Telescope – explore the universe virtually through Om Dark Sky Observatory’s 14” Meade telescope
Dark Sky Week Bingo
This year, you can have some fun by playing Discover the Night Bingo. Everyone who gets bingo will be sent an IDA magnet and sticker. Download your bingo card here or save the image below to get started. If you have a smartphone you can place emojis or use the markup feature to cover the activities that you complete. You can also print it and use a pen or marker. Share your completed cards with on social media (even if you don’t get bingo) by tagging @IDADarkSky and @darkskylondon and using the #DiscovertheNight and #IDSW2021 hashtags.
Dark Sky London 