Astronomers have named a Peak District beauty spot as one of the best stargazing spots in the whole country. The much-loved Surprise View on the outskirts of Hathersage is ideal because it's so dark - 15 times darker than Sheffield city centre just a few miles away. Read more
The Peak District National Park is lived in and visited by many and is an area of the countryside that currently has some dark skies. We are working with others to ensure that our special landscapes and skies are there for future generations to enjoy. We are looking to pursue international recognition from the International Dark Sky Association for the quality of the National Park's night skies.
We asked the public to measure the darkness of the night sky in early 2011 by observing the constellation of Orion (the Hunter), and we received over 200 responses. This data is currently being analysed, and we hope to release the results in March 2011.