Keen astronomer Mary McIntyre from Tackley, who is taking part in Star Count, captured the Northern Lights last summer. Picture: Simon Williams
Nothing beats dark and starry skies, velvety black with twinkling constellations as far as the eye can see.
Unfortunately light pollution from buildings and streetlights means that starlit nights are becoming a thing of the past.
That’s why CPRE, the countryside charity, supported by the British Astronomical Association, is asking us to look heavenwards on any clear night from tomorrow until February 14 and record the number of stars within the constellation of Orion we can see.
The results of Star Count, which is held annually, will help measure what effect light is having on our view of the galaxy – and particularly whether lockdown has helped cut light pollution.