Big star count across Sussex will check quality of our skies at night

Star Count 2019 will be running for the first three weeks in February and is open to anyone who would like to act as a ‘citizen scientist’ to help create a cosmic census of the quality of the dark skies across East and West Sussex.

In 2016 the countryside charity, CPRE, published satellite maps which showed that Wealden in Sussex has some of the best dark skies in the country. However the same maps revealed that Crawley has some of the worst light pollution outside London.

This month’s star count has been designed for anyone of any age to take part – whether they live in the countryside or in a town or city. Stargazers can download a simple guide which will show them how to count the number of stars they can see (with the naked eye) within the constellation of Orion.

The Star Count in Sussex is supported by the British Astronomical Association and by the South Downs National Park which is an International Dark Sky Reserve.