November 2006 - April 2008
/ Samhain 2006- Giblean 2008
Throughout Scotland / Air feadh na h-Alba
Using the light-free night skies above the national forest estate,
Dark Sky Scotland will be the first ever Scotland-wide astronomy programme.
In partnership with the Royal Observatory Edinburgh and others, Forestry Commission Scotland will help to inspire pupils, teachers, families, communities and visitors through a range of activities including observing the night skies, both from Scotland's forests and, on-line, from international observatories.
Scotland, and its forests in particular, has some of the darkest skies in Western Europe, offering spectacular naked-eye views of stars and planets. The Dark Sky Scotland programme, running from November 2006 to April 2008, aims to:
- inspire the public, pupils, teachers and parents through the night sky and astronomy & space science;
- encourage positive attitudes toward science & technology subjects & careers;
- develop dark sky tourism to engage people with astronomy & space science;
- develop the network of people able to run future events; and
- create partnerships of organisations that will support future activities.
Forests and woodland are excellent outdoor classrooms to promote environmental awareness and improve our health and well-being. Now, Dark Sky Scotland will provide young and old with an exciting new reason to visit and explore Scotland's diverse national forest estate.
The project will also be inspiring and supporting dark sky tourism, which can add a fresh dimension to many visitors’ experience of Scotland, especially in the Spring and Autumn.
So – visit the Dark Sky Scotland website at www.darkskyscotland.org.uk and find out about star gazing events in your neck of the woods!
