Our Observatories and Dalby Forest

We are very fortunate to have a good relationship with the Forestry England (formerly the Forestry Commission) who provide us a dark sky site in Low Dalby (Dalby Forest) where we hold our public observing events.  Our society observatories are also located here so our members can take advantage of the dark skies all year round.  

When we say dark sky, we really mean DARK!

Dalby Forest is a 3,440 hectare forest situated within the boundaries of the North York Moors National Park and Low Dalby itself is a very small village inside the Forest.  The location of the observatories is away from the small number of properties and therefore we get absolutely no light pollution from nearby dwellings.  The surrounding horizons are dense trees, and the observatories sit in a natural valley looking South.  We hold our annual StarFest star camp at a different area within Dalby Forest, but visiting members have said that “…the Dalby forest night appears as good as “Kielder” and definitely darker than the Kelling Heath sky in Norfolk…” – Mick Phipps.  

Dalby Forest’s dark sky location. Original map (left) produced by UK Dark Sky Discovery.

M33 (Triangulum Galaxy) imaged from Dalby during Starfest 2012. Image Credit: Juergen Schmoll

As you can see from the map above, Dalby Forest is located in a dark blue area, which represents minimal light pollution.  The lighter the shade of blue, the more light polluted the skies.  The yellow and red areas are urban areas with excessive light pollution, and are the UK’s larger towns and cities.  For comparison, the large expanse of dark blue near the England/Scotland border region is roughly the outline of the Northumberland National Park and Kielder Forest Park, where the Kielder Observatory is located.  There is little wonder astronomers travel from all over the country (and even internationally) to visit our annual StarFest and take advantage of our dark skies.

Dalby Forest – “Milky Way” Class Dark Sky Discovery Status

In January 2013 our dark sky status was confirmed by UK Dark Sky Discovery with the award of “Milky Way” class Dark Sky Discovery Status, making Dalby Forest officially one of the darkest skies and one of the best places in the country for stargazing.

 The Low Dalby Astronomy Centre

Sir Patrick Moore FRAS opening the Low Dalby Astronomy Centre, 2001

In September 2001, Sir Patrick Moore, FRAS, came to Low Dalby to open our original observatories at the Low Dalby Astronomy Centre.  This was a UK ‘first’ project between the society and the Forestry Commission, intended to “exploit the woodland’s pristine dark skies” (Forestry Commission Press Release, 2001).

 

The domes located outside the Forestry Commission Visitor Centre in Dalby Forest

 

By 2008, the original green observatories had been replaced and relocated outside the new Forestry Commission Visitor Centre.  When you come along to a public observing event, this is where we meet.  The site of the domes is fully accessible from the nearby car park.

We have previously held an Autumn event with the Forestry each August, along the theme of a ‘Nightwatch’ to combine the joys of nocturnal wildlife with stargazing . In 2012 and 2013 this was ‘Bats and Stars’.  
These events are very popular with the public and we hope to resurrect these again soon.

Society members preparing for Dalbyology 2012

Each June/July, we contribute to Dalby Explorer Day (formerly “Dalbyology”) which is organised by the Friends of Dalby Forest.  

This event is based on a theme which changes each year, and all the contributing charities and organisations attending put on a display or activity based around this theme.  
Themes have included “Mimics”, “Speed”, “Communication”.

In 2013, the theme was ‘Habitats’ and SARAS had an exhibition about atmospheres on other planets and places in the Solar System where life may have evolved, for example. 

We also discussed the Sun and had several specialist solar telescopes set up for the public to see our Sun in action. 
Our solar telescopes are purpose built for observing the sun and allow safe observation of your nearest star – NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN THROUGH REGULAR TELESCOPES OR BINOCULARS.

 The North Yorkshire Moors National Park – International Dark Sky Reserve

In 2020 the North Yorkshire Moors National Park (NYMNP), in which Dalby Forest is situated,  successfully applied for and was awarded the status as a designated International Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark-Sky Association, one of only 21 in the world. 

SARAS assisted in gathering sky quality data to assist with the application and has a seat on the NYMNP Dark Skies Steering Group.