Take part in CPRE's #StarCount2019 and help them to find our darkest skies, to ensure more of us can experience this natural wonder.

Dark, starry skies are one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer. But light pollution means many of us can’t see the stars. We want to reconnect people with the wonder of our glorious night skies.

You can take part in #StarCount2019 and help find our darkest skies, to ensure more of us can experience this natural wonder.

CPRE's Star Count will take place this February, with support from the British Astronomical Association, and it will be asking you to look up at the night sky and tell us how many you can see in Orion. You can do this from anywhere in England. Your results will help to create a map showing the best places to enjoy the stars. And it will also support CPRE's work to combat light pollution and reclaim our dark skies.

We're grateful to John Macfarlane for sending us this short piece of 'time ramp' footage shot at Loweswater on the evening of 2.2.19 looking towards ORION. As the length of exposure increases so too do the number of stars that appear (as does the Milky Way as well as light pollution from Keswick and unusual moving sinuous green shadows perhaps another effect of light pollution, or possibly the Northern Lights). Melbreak is on the left and an ancient ash tree on the right. Judging from these scenes, you will have your work cut out with the count! But please do take part if you are able to, the data will be valuable in supporting Dark Skies in Cumbria!

You'll find more information on the CPRE website and instructions on how to take part and how to submit your results.

www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-do/countryside/dark-skies/star-count-2019