Dear John
Star Count is now open for submissions! Star Count is our annual citizen science project to map the nation’s view of the night sky, and we’d love you to take part.
Doing a count is simple - whether you live in town or country, just look to the night sky between 21-28 February and tell us how many stars you can see within the constellation of Orion by submitting your count on our website.
It only takes a few minutes. Will you take part?
We think that everyone deserves the opportunity to view a pristine night sky, filled with stars, and dark skies are a defining characteristic of our countryside.
But sadly, light pollution means most people in England can’t see many stars at all, especially if you live near a big town or city. Less than 2% of people that took part last year enjoyed ‘truly dark skies’.
Star Count helps us find out where is best and worst for seeing the stars, and by showing on a map where light pollution is most serious, we can work with local councils and others to tackle it.
So, your count could help others to enjoy the stars in the future!
Here are five simple steps you can follow to take part in Star Count
1. Try to pick a clear night for your count and wait until after 7pm so the sky is really dark.
2. Look south (the way satellite dishes point) and find the Orion constellation, with its four corners and ‘three-star belt’. There’s a handy diagram on our website to help you find Orion.
3. Let your eyes adjust (the longer you wait, the better), then count the number of stars you can see within the rectangle made by the four corner stars. Don’t count the corner stars, but you can count the three stars in the middle – the belt.
4. Make a note of the number of stars seen with the naked eye (not with telescopes or binoculars) and then submit your count on our website.
5. Share your experiences on social media using #StarCount
We hope you enjoy taking a moment to stare up at the stars and ponder the beauty of the night sky.
Happy stargazing!
Emma Marrington
Dark skies campaigner
