- News

The Guardian newspaper has published a short guide listing their top 10 recommendations for stargazing locations across Britain. They brought out their list following the news that Sark in the Channel Islands has been named the world's first "dark sky island". No public street lighting and careful measures to limit light pollution have made it an astronomer's paradise.

Their list can be found below:

• Kielder forest, Northumberland
  England's largest forest, and home to the biggest man-made lake in northern Europe. Stargazers should visit the Kielder Observatory.
• Galloway forest, Scotland
  The darkest area in mainland Britain, and Europe's first "dark sky park". Up to 7,000 stars are visible at night.
• Kelling heath, north Norfolk
  An area of outstanding natural beauty near the north Norfolk steam railway. Hosts an annual "star party" in early spring.
• Stonehenge, Wiltshire
  An ideal place for watching stars, given the stones' relationship to the skies. Local groups host an evening of stargazing and storytelling in April.
• Wenlock Edge, Shropshire
  Five miles from Much Wenlock. The Veil Nebula has been spotted from here.
• Winsford Hill, Somerset
  Located in the middle of Exmoor, yet still accessible by car, Winsford Hill is even less affected by light pollution than other nearby stargazing spots.
• Mam Tor, Derbyshire
  A bronze age hill fort in the Peak District, Mam Tor is far enough away from Sheffield to be largely free from light pollution.
• Black Down, Sussex
  The highest point on the South Downs: you'll see stars and maybe a few Pipistrelle bats.
• Knighton, Powys, Wales
  Home of the Spaceguard observatory.
• Penbryn Beach, Ceredigion, Wales
  Good for spotting both stars and Bottlenose dolphins.

For information about how to choose a good telescope, why not visit the eLibrary and have a look at our resource 'Choosing a Telescope for a School'?

This news item originally appeared on the Guardian website