As the longer nights draw in and winter looms ahead, the dark clear skies of the North Pennines provide an excellent place for star gazers and astro-photography. In Upper Weardale, Burnhope Reservoir and Kielder Forest are ideal places to watch the vast expanse of space.
Photo: James Little
If you want to learn more from the professionals, you can book a visit to the Kielder Observatory for a guided tour of the skies. Then there is the Grassholme Observatory near Barnard Castle, with lots of family activities throughout the year.
If you want to DIY some star gazing then there are Apps for phones and tablets that might help you get started. Some forget that theNorthern Lights are quite often visible at this time of year, and a great app to download is AuroraWatch or check the AuroraWatch website which will alert you when it is most likely to see the Northern Lights.
Photo: James Little
More generally, the Sky Walk App gives you a map of the night sky and provides information star constellations and lots more. Some forget that from time to time some of the brightest lights in the sky are planets; for example, this year we have had Jupiter closest to earth than it has been for over 150 years (still very visible).
To celebrate the opportunities to see the stars so clearly the North Pennines AONB promoted a Stargazing Festival during the final week of October, and recommended lots of activities for members of the public, from fine dining at the Raby Estate to day time themed walks at the Brownlee Visitors Centre.Worth keeping in mind for next year, but also to check some of the links where events offer contact points for year round activities.