Stars, nebulae, galaxies, clusters, and even a few planets will be at your fingertips when the National Park Visitor Centre, near Libanus is briefly transformed into a mini-observatory on Saturday 9th October. The event will offer keen star gazers a wonderful opportunity to view the night sky, see demonstration models, actual telescopes plus learn about star gazing equipment and astronomy from the Cardiff Astronomical Society. The event runs from 7.00pm until 9.30pm – and due to overwhelming demand booking is essential.
Richard Levy, National Park Visitor Centre Manager said: “Our Winter nights are almost upon us so it’s the perfect time to celebrate the start of a new star gazing season with an event like this. With experts on hand from Cardiff Astronomical Society visitors can learn more about the mysteries of the night skies, astronomy and what to look out for. Spaces are limited so we urge any would be astronomers to book their place as soon as possible.”
Tickets cost £5.00 per adult and £3.00 for under 16s (ticket price includes parking and soup and a roll), and the event will go ahead whatever the weather. For further information on star gazing in the National Park please contact the National Park Visitor Centre on 01874 623 366 or email the Visitor Centre.
-ENDS-
Pictures: Copyright of Allow Trow, Dark Skies Wales
For copies of the photographs please visit our website or contact me directly.
Editor’s notes: The National Park Visitor Centre is fast becoming the perfect location to host star gazing events, with the ideal combination of being easy to get to, but still secluded away from light pollution. At previous events visitors have seen Mars, Jupiter, the International Space Station whizzing overhead at the beginning and even Saturn and its rings. We are also planning to hold further star gazing events in 2011 because of overwhelming demand to discover more about our dark skies.