Hawnby in North Yorkshire dims street lights to get a better view of the Milky Way.

A modest village in North Yorkshire may soon become a meeting place for stargazers as all street lights are dimmed to better see the night sky.

North York Moors National Park officials have announced a project to turn Hounby near Helmsley into the first English “Dark Sky” village.

This means all street lights and outside lights will be turned off to help counter light pollution and improve visibility of the Milky Way.

These include lights at individual sites as well as public spaces such as the town hall and the local pub.

They will only be rejected up to the threshold to be “dark-sky friendly” and still provide necessary illumination for safety or visibility purposes.

North York Moors National Park officials have announced a project to turn Hounby near Helmsley into the first English

North York Moors National Park officials have announced a project to turn Hounby near Helmsley into the first English “Dark Sky” village. In the photo: a building with original street lamps

All street lights and outdoor lighting will be turned off to help counter light pollution and improve visibility of the Milky Way.  In the photo: a building with subdued light

All street lights and outdoor lighting will be turned off to help counter light pollution and improve visibility of the Milky Way. In the photo: a building with subdued light

Mike Hawtin, North York Moors National Park Dark Skies Officer, explains: recent training concluded that people around the world now see fewer stars with the naked eye due to skyglow caused by artificial lighting.

We aim to show how easily a Hounby-like approach can be taken for communities and help us protect the pristine qualities of our dark skies.

There are a few more places in Wales and Scotland where street lights have been converted into dark-sky friendly towns or villages, but we think Hounby will be the first village to go even further by redoing both street and exterior building lighting when the project will be completed. later this year.

We definitely don’t mind light, as it’s needed for a variety of reasons, whether it’s just to unlock the front door or operate machinery at night.

“The steps needed to prevent light interference can be as simple as changing the angle of a spotlight to ensure beams aren’t wasted throwing harsh light into a dark valley.”

The project, run jointly by the National Park and landowner Mexborough Estates, will transform more than 100 lights at 30 sites into dark-sky-friendly alternatives.

Artificial light that is excessive, intrusive, and ultimately wasteful is called light pollution, and it directly affects how bright our night sky looks.

With over nine million street lights and 27 million offices, factories, warehouses and homes in the UK, the amount of light we cast into the sky is enormous.

While some of the light escapes into space, the rest is scattered by molecules in the atmosphere, causing a glow that makes it hard to see the stars against the night sky.

Light in the pub before the launch of the project

New subdued lighting

The project, run jointly by the National Park and landowner Mexborough Estates, will transform more than 100 lights at 30 sites into dark-sky-friendly alternatives. Left: before, right: after

The Hounby project, which is halfway through completion, is allowing locals and visitors alike to get a clearer view of the Milky Way, which appears to us as a hazy band of stars.

WHAT ARE DARK SKY RESERVES?

North York Moors National Park is one of 21 sites in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Association by the International Dark Sky Association.

Others include the national parks of Snowdonia, Exmoor and the Brecon Beacons, Kerry in Ireland, and Big Big Bend in the US and Mexico.

To be approved, districts must have a low-light meter reading and at least 67 percent of their properties must have dark-sky-friendly lighting.

These are fixtures that serve the right purpose, illuminate only the right area, are connected to a timer or motion sensor, are not too bright for their intended purpose, and have a warm color.

The application for the status of an international dark sky reserve must also be supported by at least 80 percent of the area and population must be approved.

Stargazers can also see other planets and meteors with the naked eye, and sometimes the northern lights.

Last month “Northern Lights” was visible in Great Britain as far south as Cornwall.due to a particularly strong ejection of charged particles from the Sun.

Some of the lanterns in Hounby are fitted with special LED bulbs that prevent rising light and emit a softer, warmer color that less impacts nighttime wildlife.

Studies have shown that light pollution negatively affects our “circadian rhythm” – the body’s internal clock, which is associated with depression, weight problems and even cancer.

It also affects wildlife and some experts say it is driving the “insect apocalypse”.

For example, lighting fixtures can deadly attract moths and beetles and make it easier for predators to spot other insects.

They can also break sleeping patterns of magpies and doves And “lunar compass” of marine life.

The North York Moors say the Dark Sky initiative will cut energy use and bills, and reduce the village’s carbon footprint.

Mexborough Estates owner Jamie Savile said: “Honby is a small traditional moorland village blessed with large and far reaching open skies over the surrounding hills and moorland.

“We hope that with hospitality and accommodation nearby, the village will be able to offer a cozy new style of nighttime astrotourism in a picturesque setting both day and night.”

North York Moors National Park is one of 21 sites in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Association by the International Dark Sky Association.

Others include the national parks of Snowdonia, Exmoor and the Brecon Beacons, Kerry in Ireland, and Big Big Bend in the US and Mexico.

To be approved, districts must have a low-light meter reading and at least 67 percent of their properties must have dark-sky-friendly lighting.

These are fixtures that serve the right purpose, illuminate only the right area, are connected to a timer or motion sensor, are not too bright for their intended purpose, and have a warm color.

The Hounby project, which is halfway through completion, is allowing locals and visitors alike to get a clearer view of the Milky Way, which appears to us as a hazy band of stars.  Pictured: The Milky Way over Ravenskaya in the North York swamps.

The Hounby project, which is halfway through completion, is allowing locals and visitors alike to get a clearer view of the Milky Way, which appears to us as a hazy band of stars. Pictured: The Milky Way over Ravenskaya in the North York swamps.

North York Moors National Park is one of 21 sites in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Association by the International Dark Sky Association.  Pictured: The night sky over the playground at Dalby in the North York Moors.

North York Moors National Park is one of 21 sites in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Association by the International Dark Sky Association. Pictured: The night sky over the playground at Dalby in the North York Moors.

North York Moors National Park is one of 21 sites in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Association by the International Dark Sky Association.

North York Moors National Park is one of 21 sites in the world designated as an International Dark Sky Association by the International Dark Sky Association.

The application for the status of an international dark sky reserve must also be supported by at least 80 percent of the area and population must be approved.

After a five-year evaluation process, in December 2020 the Moors of North York gained status, as did the Yorkshire Dales.

There, four well-known businesses, including a pub near the Ribblehead Viaduct and the Wensleydale Cheese Factory in Hawes, received grants to allow them to make their outdoor lighting more comfortable for the night sky.

The Station Inn has already installed 19 directional outdoor LED lights to help reduce glare and make the night sky clearer.

Journalist Claire Hobbs said: “We were delighted with the positive change in our business that the designation of an International Dark Sky Sanctuary has brought.

“Working with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Dark Skies initiative, we not only received support to make the hotel ‘Dark Sky friendly’ with modifications to our outdoor lighting, but also received support in terms of promotions and access to astronomers.

“Now we host regular stargazing nights and each one is incredibly sold out, whether it’s midweek or weekend. This creates a much-needed trade in an always challenging off-season.”

London skyscrapers may soon be forced to turn off their lights at night to save energy.

LondonThe glittering skyline may soon be a thing of the past as new legislation could force high-rise buildings to turn off their lights at night.

The City of London Corporation, the capital’s governing body, has developed documentation that it hopes will help “reduce light pollution and save energy”.

If taken care of, it would give new businesses and building owners in the Square Mile a “curfew” when they must turn off or dim outside lights.

This only applies to lights that are not required to be left on for safety and crime prevention.

This “Supplemental Lighting Planning Document” will impose curfews on new developments that will need to accept them as part of their planning application.

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