Our volunteer request to measure and map the darkness of Cumbria’s skies to help identify where a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’ could be created in Cumbria, has received an overwhelming response.

Cumbria has some of the darkest skies in the country, where people are still able to see the spectacular natural wonders of the stars above and where the behaviour of nocturnal animals isn’t threatened by light pollution. We're leading work to gain internationally recognised Dark Skies Reserve status in Cumbria, to help protect this darkness.

Our Dark Skies officer Johanna Korndorfer said,

"We want to ascertain just how good our dark skies are, as well as where they could be better.

“We need committed volunteers to take dark sky meter readings in five different places around the county. We’ll pick areas closest to where you live and train you on how to use the meter readers and when to take the readings. The data will then be added to our evolving map of dark sky readings.

"Volunteers will go out and take meter readings in pairs, which is safer and more fun. The first round of readings will be taken between 23 – 30 November, when the skies are darkest as theres no moonlight.”

Following an overwhelming response, we now have enough sky meter reader volunteers, thank you.

For more information about the Dark Skies Cumbria project, see https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/dark-skies

Banner image by: Rob Fraser somewhere-nowhere.com