Project Description
Dark Skies
Overview
Our dark skies project aims to add an extra dimension to Callander’s visitor offer. With good quality darkness within easy reach of the town centre and clear night skies during the winter months; our project will designate a Dark Sky Discovery Site that will connect people with the wonders of the universe.
Aims & Objectives
This project will:
- Provide volunteer opportunities to help survey the night sky at key locations in and around Callander
- Identify the best places for viewing the night sky, using the Dark Skies Discovery Site criteria
- Encourage people to embrace the cold and dark of the winter months in order to explore the night sky
- Host a number of events and activities for residents and visitors to learn more about the night sky
Project updates
- The project kicked off with an evening of stargazing at McLaren Leisure Centre in November 2018 which was attended by over 240 people.
- In 2019 two training evenings were held for volunteers to learn how to measure the quality of the Callander night sky. Over the last two winters, a small team of volunteers have surveyed 27 different locations to identify the best places for stargazing. There is a final bit of survey work to be carried out by our volunteers in winter 2020/2021 before deciding on the most appropriate location for our Dark Skies Discovery Site.
- A weekend of astronomy was planned for March 2020, The Sky Above Us; unfortunately this had to be postponed due to Covid-19. However we have started our winter 2020/2021 dark skies events programme with two online guest talks in November and December. There will be more events planned for March 2021. Thanks to the Institute of Physics Scotland for funding our dark skies events.
Project Details
Partners include U3A Callander and West Perthshire Astronomy Group, Stirling Astronomical Society and the Core Callander Landscape Partnership Team. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Stirling Council’s Community Pride Fund and the Institute of Physics Scotland.
News & blog
Enter our Cosmic Competition
Win a Space at Home Activity Pack As part of The Sky Above
Skylights for March
This month we can enjoy more daylight as we approach the spring equinox
Skylights for February
February skies continue to be long, dark and clear; perfect for spotting some
Funders and partners for this project
Thanks to everyone who contributed and supported the project including: