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Dark Skies Award - Galloway Forest Park
Due to its remoteness, the Galloway Forest Park has been awarded the status of being one of only three "Dark Sky Parks" in the western world, along with the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah and Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania. The fourth has been proposed already in Geauga Park District in Ohio. But this means that the largest forest park in Scotland has become the only Dark Sky Park in Europe, causing double celebration amongst astronomers, as 2009 also marked the 400th anniversary of Galileo's astronomical discovery of the telescope.
Once these three hundred square miles of rugged wilderness are plunged into darkness, under an inky-blue sky, they become the darkest in all of Europe. It is here where enthusiasts come to stand in awe, wonder and amazement at the vast universe which is revealed above them. Onlookers are given the rare chance to witness shooting stars; the Andromeda galaxy, the aurora borealis and stellar nurseries, where new suns of distant planets are born.
The dark skies of the Galloway Forest Park allow star-gazers to be able to view the vast expanse of universe, from Earth. Being able to view the heavens is a unique pleasure, that if we are not careful, we will lose due to increasing light pollution. The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) has set up this award in high hopes to reduce light pollution, as unneccessary amounts are leaking and hiding the raw beauty of the night sky and it is this that is having harming effects on both wildlife and humans.
The Galloway Forest Park is also home to the Wigtownshire Astrological Society who have recently built an observatory on the edge of the forest park at Glenamour. More details about this and the work of the society can be found at: www.wigtownshire-astro.org.uk |
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