Photographers have been urged to capture glimmers in the night sky for an annual competition.
As the nights draw in and nocturnal wildlife emerges earlier in the evening, the South Downs National Park wants people to embrace the darkness for this year’s dark skies photography competition.
This year’s theme is “glimmers” with the park looking for entries that capture the “micro-moments of joy” that make people feel happy and inspired such as walking under a blanket of stars, under the glow of the moon or admiring nature.
Winners of the astrophotography competition could win £100 for their breathtaking images of the night sky.
The dark skies season will begin with a guided night walk and star party at Alice Holt Forest on October 30.
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A series of podcasts are also being produced with a focus on how being in touch with the dark skies can boost health and wellbeing, discussing people’s connections to the dark skies and how to get the most out of a night-time visit to the national park.
To tie-in with Halloween, the national park will also share “the not-so spooky species of the South Downs”, highlighting creatures of the night like bats, owls and moths.
The bioluminescence of glowworms and biofluorescence of other life will also be celebrated as part of the season, with the flagship event being the ever-popular Dark Skies Festival, taking place from February 13 to 23 next year. There will be a bumper line-up of events and activities for all the family to enjoy.
Elinor Newman, organiser of the Dark Skies Festival, said: “While there’s lots of darkness, there are also glimmers of sparkling light, whether that be the twinkle of stars or the glow of the moon. As part of this year’s dark skies season, we want to celebrate those glimmers that are small, positive moments in our lives that can encourage feelings of happiness and awe.
“Standing beneath a night sky in the National Park that is packed with stars and constellations – so many visible to the naked eye – is a moment that brings joy and wonder to people of all ages and we’re looking forward to more people being able to enjoy this incredible experience this dark skies season.”
The full programme for the festival will be unveiled in January.
People will be able to enter the astrophotography competition from November 4.
This year photographers have the chance of winning up to £100 in one of the following categories:
South Downs dark skyscapes – Pictures could include the aurora borealis as we are currently near the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, with high solar activity giving an increased chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The current peak is expected to last until mid-2025, according to the Royal Astronomical Society.
South Downs life at night – Can you capture an amazing shot of life at night in the national park? This could include wildlife, heritage, towns, villages, people stargazing, trees, plants or fungi.
Magnificent moon – images of the moon should be alongside the landscape, buildings, towns, villages, cultural heritage or people in the South Downs.
Mobile phone category – the national park wants people’s best shot of the dark skies captured on a mobile.
The runner-up prize in each category will be £50 and all submitted images must be taken within the South Downs National Park.
The deadline for entries to the competition is midnight on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
For more details about the dark skies season and to enter the astrophotography competition head to www.southdowns.gov.uk/dark-night-skies/dark-skies-festival/
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