Dark Skies

Formerly known as the International Dark Sky Association. Dark Sky International is a worldwide recognised authority combating light pollution. Using a strict application process they award prescribed areas such as towns, parks, islands etc registered Dark Sky status. These can be prescribed as Dark Sky Parks, Dark Sky Sanctuaries, Dark Sky Reserves, Urban Night Sky Places and Dark Sky Communities.

Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway was the first area in the UK mainland to be awarded Dark Sky Community status. It has been recognised since 2016.

Jim Paterson presented with the Joy Griffiths Award

Moffat Dark Sky Contacts

The main contact and Dark Sky Manager for Moffat is Jim Paterson. Jim is a retired freelance lighting engineer and Fellow of the Institute for Lighting Professionals. Jim is a prolific advocate for Dark Skies and their advantages. He has processed more Dark Sky applications than any other IDA advocate, 13 to date these include: Isle of Sark, Galloway Dark Sky Observatory, National Parks of Exmoor, Brecon Beacons, Northumberland with Kielder Forest and Snowdonia National Park, North Ronaldsay, St Helena and of course our very own Moffat Dark Sky Community. We are very lucky to have Jim on our team at Moffat Community Observatory. Jim is helped in his role as Moffat Dark Sky Manager by Jeff Furner and Stephen Hunter who can also be contacted in relation to Moffat Dark Sky Community.

Why Are Dark Skies Important

Astronomy

The advantage of darker skies to our own Moffat Community Observatory is rather obvious. The more control we have over light pollution in our surrounding neighbourhood...the more we are able to see faint night sky objects.

Faint objects such as Galaxies, Nebulae and Comets really stand out against the blackness of a dark sky versus a light polluted one.

When taking images of the night sky (individual objects or landscape), even minimal amounts of light pollution will show up in images after only a few seconds.

Even without a telescope or binoculars. Many people love to walk at night and take in the majestic spectacle of the stars and spiral arms of our own Milky way or bask in the crisp light of our Moon. The picture opposite taken from darksky.org illustrates well how this is almost impossible in light polluted areas. Find out more at darksky.org Night Sky Heritage.

Moonlight and night time walks are popular among walking groups. In our local area some of these are organised by Sonny Sethi.

Nature

Many species of animals, birds, fish and insects, have evolved through millions of years to take advantage of the dark nights. This is usually for hunting, breeding or navigation. Industrialisation by humanity which brought about light pollutions has only occurred over the last hundred years or so. These animals who rely on the darkness for their very existence have not had time to evolve new ways of coping with our incursion on their domain.

We have all seen the most common example of a moth repeatedly and helplessly colliding with security or street lighting. Moths have evolved to use the Moon for navigation, now there are millions of artificial Moons which they are drawn to this inevitably results in their premature demise.

There are many other examples such as emerging baby sea turtles which navigate their way to the sea using the horizon light, being lured away from the sea towards city lights.

Find out More at darksky.org Wildlife and Eco-Systems

Human Health

Along with the animal and plant kingdoms, humans have evolved with a circadian rhythm. The human body relies on darkness to encourage the production of melatonin.

As well as inducing sleep, melatonin also has antioxidant properties and helps boost the immune system as well as other benefits.

Exposure to light towards the blue spectrum such as electronic screen devices and some LED lighting is detrimental to our natural circadian rhythm. When switching from legacy lighting products to LED lighting, it is recommended that luminaires below 3000 Kelvin are sourced.

Find out more at darksky.org Human Health