In this multi-exposure picture, the London Millennium Footbridge is illuminated under the stars on a clear night on April 21, 2020 in London. The clear skies created by the new moon coincide with the Lyrid meteor shower, an annual display caused by the Earth passing through a cloud of debris from a comet called C/186 Thatcher. (Photo: Simon Robling, Getty Images)
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How to Take Part The event which runs until Sunday February 14 asks partakers to use just their eyes, (no binoculars or telescope), to try and see how many stars they can see in the constellation of Orion, currently on view in the southern to south-western portion of the sky in the evenings. While under lockdown restrictions, the count can only take place from home, either from your doorstep or back garden. For more information on how to take part and an online form to send in your results, visit takeaction.cpre.org.uk/page/73246/data/1?ea.tracking.id=cpre-web Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, the countryside charity, said: A starry night sky is one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer, connecting us to the nature we all love and the wonders of the wider universe.
Star Count: a lockdown-friendly stargazing activity for the whole family droitwichstandard.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from droitwichstandard.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.