PEOPLE living in west Dorset are being urged to take part in an annual Star Count to discover whether the current lockdown has had an impact on light pollution.

The county’s Campaign to Protect Rural England group is working with the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies to find indications of light pollution levels across the country.

By counting the number of stars they see in the Orion constellation between Saturday February 6 and Sunday February 14, citizen scientists will help map the best and worst places in England to enjoy a star-filled night sky.

UK coordinator of the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies Bob Mizon, who lives in Dorset, said: “Turning back the tide of light pollution brings darker night skies and improvements to the well-being of humans, wildlife and the environment.

“In its three decades of working with the CPRE towards these goals, we have seen increased public and Parliamentary awareness of the importance of our view of the universe above.

“The CPRE Star Count is an important part of this work, especially in these abnormal times when we have a chance to see whether changes in our activities are having any positive effect on the atmosphere and our view of the night sky.”

They will also be compared with 2020’s findings, gathered before coronavirus restrictions took hold, to see whether lockdown has had an impact.

Dark night skies are a special quality of the Dorset AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), whilst the Cranborne Chase AONB, overlapping the boundaries of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in October 2019.

By showing where people’s views are most affected by light pollution, CPRE can use this evidence in crucial lobbying efforts to protect and enhance the skies of Dorset.

For more information, visit www.cpre.org.uk/starcount.