Come and Stargaze in the Brecon Beacons

On March 16th you can come stargazing at the Brecon Beacons National Park Visitor Centre. This event is organised by Dark Sky Wales who have their own mobile planetarium and so are able to take you on a virtual tour of the heavens. The Planetarium was made possible with the help of The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the team do great work going into schools throughout the academic year.

Martin Griffiths, the lead presenter for Dark Sky Wales, is going to give a talk which is sure to be really interesting.

We must all keep our fingers crossed that the skies will be bright and clear so that Allan Trow and Martin Griffiths can also use the telescopes and binoculars to guide you all over the night sky. If the weather doesn’t play ball the event will still go ahead with the presentation and mobile planetarium

March is a wonderful time of year for stargazing. You will be able to see the wonders of the late winter sky but do dress in really warm clothing!

This is happening at 7pm on a Friday night so why not make a weekend of it and stay in the area? The Brecon Beacons National Park has the most wonderful choice of activities and the walking is second to none.

Also lots of different places to stay and to eat so come along!

Although large areas of the National Park remain free from light pollution, the gradual encroachment of all sorts of lighting means that starlight, which may have travelled for hundreds or even millions of years to reach our eyes, is stolen from us at the last moment by this skyglow.

There are many simple things that you can do in your own home to protect our dark nights – and probably reduce your energy bills too. For example, you could use low wattage bulbs, fit exterior lights with motion detectors, shield exterior lights or tilt them towards the ground and switch off lights when you don’t need them. Worth a thought?