On Saturday 26th of February - weather permitting, will see a return visit to the Danby Moors Centre for their Dark Skies Festival event during half term. Set in the heart of the North York Moors Dark Sky Reserve, this will be a great opportunity to explore the late winter night sky under dark skies enjoyed at the site. Held twice a year (this may increase) these popular ‘Dark Sky’ evenings are widely publicised in the local media and further afield are usually booked out. Normally the capacity is around 70 people.

Although events held outside will be OK with regard to Covid measures, the centre may still impose restrictions on numbers present in a single room. If indoor itineraries are in order due to poor conditions, there may be split presentations similar to Octobers' event. We shall see. If skies are forecast to be clear, assistance from members who can make it along, especially if you have a scope, would be most definitely welcome. Transportation of equipment is always an issue. The event for the public runs from 18:45hrs-20:45hrs, but society members will need to be on site by 18:20hrs to allow for equipment preparation, setting up etc. We would therefore be looking to set off from Whitby around 17:45hrs. We would expect to be off site by 21:00hrs.

Really wintry conditions have so far been fleeting, but that's not to say Mother Nature will continue in a similar vein. Suffice to say if conditions are obviously hazardous on the date, it will be called-off. More details will be given at the February monthly meeting.