Telescopes Through The Ages

Cardiff University, 4 February, 7.30pm

The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Park Authorities host a week-long Dark Skies Festival this month, inviting visitors to get stargazing away from the light pollution of big cities.

Events include observing sessions, a Solar System scavenger hunt, telescope making, craft activities and storytelling sessions for children.

There will also be a star party on the evening of 20 February in the North York Moors, with experts on hand to give advice to experienced and amateur astronomers alike. The main events will be held in and around the National Park Centres in Reeth, Aysgarth Falls and Danby, as well as Sutton Bank, Hawes and Dalby Forest, the latter three of which are ‘Milky Way’ class Dark Sky Discovery Sites.

Both national parks are working with the Reeth Informal Astronomy Group and Whitby & District Astronomical Society to stage the festival. Prices for the events range from free to £6. For more information visit www.northyorkmoors. org.uk/darkskies and www. yorkshiredales.org.uk/stargazing Dr Chris North of Cardiff University’s School of Physics and Astronomy looks at the history of telescopes, from Galileo’s first to the largest specimens on Earth. The lecture will discuss how they can help us to see beyond the spectrum of visible light and how astronomers can harness the combined power of multiple scopes. Admission is free. www.cardiff-astronomical-society.co.uk

Various locations, 18-28 February