PEOPLE in Dorset are being urged to take part in Star Count 2019.

Organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), it gives people the opportunity to become ‘citizen scientists’ by taking part in a cosmic census that will help to map our dark skies.

The nationwide Star Count, which is also supported by the British Astronomical Association, goes live this Saturday, and will run until February 23.

Stargazers, whether in town or countryside, will be asked to count the number of stars they can see (with the naked eye) within the constellation of Orion, which is only visible in the winter months.

As well as promoting dark skies and engaging people in the wonders of stargazing, CPRE aims to highlight the blight that light pollution – an issue often overlooked – is causing our dark skies, and its subsequent impact on people and nature. Not only does light pollution prevent people from enjoying the beauty of a starry sky, it can seriously disrupt wildlife behaviour and badly affect people’s sleeping patterns, impacting on physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Emma Marrington, dark skies campaigner at CPRE, said: “A dark sky filled with stars is one of the most magical sights our countryside has to offer, and for thousands of years our night sky has been a source of information, fascination and inspiration for all of humanity. Increasingly, however, too many people are denied the opportunity to experience this truly natural wonder.

How to take part in Star Count 2019:

  • Try to pick a clear night for your count, with no haze or clouds, then wait until after 7pm so the sky is really dark. We’ll be accepting results taken from Saturday 2 February until Saturday 23 February, but the best time to do the count is from 2-9 February, when the moon is smallest, so the skies are darkest! Once you’ve found your spot:
  • Looking south into the night sky, find the Orion constellation, with its four corners and ‘three-star belt’.
  • Take a few moments to let your eyes adjust, then simply count the number of stars you can see within the rectangle made by the four corner stars. You should not count the corners, but you can count the three stars in the middle – the belt.
  • Make a note of the number of stars seen with the naked eye (not with telescopes or binoculars) and then submit your results on our online survey form. To give you an idea, if you see less than 10 stars, this indicates severe light pollution, and if you can see over 30 stars, you're looking at a truly dark sky!
  • Share your experiences with others on social media using #StarCount2019 @CPRE @BritAstro