dark skies
Light pollution means vast majority of us can’t enjoy wonder of a properly dark sky, CPRE’s Star Count shows
Wednesday 24 May 2023
Light pollution affects the vast majority of the population, with three-quarters of people in the UK finding their view of the night sky obscured, new data has shown. The results of Star Count 2023, released by CPRE, the countryside charity, find only 5 per cent of people can enjoy the wonder of a truly dark […] Read more >
It’s time for Star Count 2023!
Monday 16 January 2023
Star Count 2023 is coming! From February 17-24, CPRE’s annual citizen science project returns. Last year, thousands took part and counted the stars in their night sky. So save the date and help celebrate our dark skies. What is Star Count? We think that dark and starry skies are a special part of enjoying our […] Read more >
Fears over soaring energy costs reduce light pollution, Star Count suggests
Tuesday 17 May 2022
A significant reduction in severe light pollution levels, first recorded during lockdown last year, has continued, according to the results of a nationwide star count. Despite lockdown being well and truly behind us, there does not appear to have been a corresponding increase in light levels from outdoor and street lighting. The ‘lockdown legacy’ of […] Read more >
Public asked to become citizen scientists in annual Star Count to map light pollution in our skies
Monday 28 February 2022
People are being asked to take part in the annual Star Count to record how clear our view is of the night sky. CPRE, the countryside charity, is working with the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies to map light pollution levels across the country. In the biggest citizen science project of its kind […] Read more >
Be a part of Star Count 2022: it’s almost with us!
Monday 21 February 2022
For two weeks in February and March 2022, we’re again asking for your help in looking up at the heavens. Can you help us by counting stars to measure our dark skies? We think that dark and starry skies are a special part of our countryside. Nothing beats looking upwards to see velvety blackness, with […] Read more >
Dramatic reduction in light pollution during lockdown, Star Count reveals
Wednesday 7 April 2021
A nationwide Star Count conducted in February has revealed a significant drop in light pollution levels across the UK. Almost 8,000 counts were submitted from February 6-14 in the annual citizen-science project that asks people to count the number of stars they see in the Orion constellation. A total of 51 per cent of people […] Read more >
Star Count can inspire us in lockdown… and it’s fun
Wednesday 27 January 2021
Running out of ideas to keep the family busy during lockdown? If so, CPRE’s Star Count provides the ideal solution. Next month – from Saturday, February 6, to Sunday, February 14 – CPRE, the countryside charity, is asking us all to choose a clear night, look skywards and see how many stars we can spot […] Read more >
Thousands join Star Count 2020 to show the value of dark skies
Friday 29 May 2020
In February, more than 2,400 people across the country took part in a star-counting survey run by CPRE, the countryside charity. By counting the number of stars visible in the constellation of Orion, it helps build up a picture of the nation’s views of the night sky. CPRE believes that a star-filled night sky is […] Read more >