Campaign to Protect Rural England urges New Forest residents to join in star count and support Dark Sky Reserve campaign

AN astronomer is calling on residents to become star hunters to help the New Forest move a step closer to becoming a Dark Sky Reserve.

Spearheading the drive, Kevin Manning said the area has the potential to be one of the best places in the country for stargazing if more efforts are made to reduce light pollution.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is urging families to join in its annual star count, which started yesterday (Friday) and runs until 24th February.

The charity plans to use the data to campaign to have the Forest designated as a Dark Sky Reserve.

The status is for areas with exceptional quality of starry nights that must also be “specifically protected”, according to the International Dark-Sky Association.

Mr Manning told the A&T: “Dark skies ratings are set out in three tiers and I would say the New Forest is already at bronze level.

“To get to silver would take a widespread effort from local authorities and individuals to actively reduce light pollution.

“The International Dark-Sky Association reviews areas like the Forest every five to 10 years.

“I would like it if we could reduce light pollution here within five years, but realistically it would be more likely to take 10.

“It would take a concerted effort to reduce light wattage and the length of time lights stay on for.

“Also colour temperatures are often too blue – not only does this affect the night sky it affects creatures’ life rhythms, including ours.”

To support the Dark Sky Reserve bid, Mr Manning is urging people to go out and count how many stars they can see with the naked eye, appropriately, in the constellation of Orion the hunter.

CPRE has published a guide on identifying the constellation and plans to use the public’s feedback to create a stargazing map showing the best and the worst places for light pollution.

Mr Manning said Orion is identifiable by the three main stars in its “belt” and four to its right.

For many in the Forest, the constellation will be around 25 degrees above the horizon due south between 7pm and 8pm.

He said skies are often “clear” at this time of year, making it the ideal time to count stars, adding: “In towns or suburban areas you may only count 10 or so within Orion, but in more remote areas of the Forest it could be up to 30.”

To submit data to the CPRE star count, visit cpre.org.uk/starcount