Dark Skies
Discovering the night sky
by Brian Radcliffe
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To encourage us to consider the benefits of exploring darkness.
Preparation and materials
- Optional: you may wish to display a map that shows the network of Dark Sky Discovery Sites around the UK, in which case you will also need the means to do so. The map is available at: https://tinyurl.com/237a5ckm
You may also wish to research upcoming events on Dark Sky Discovery Sites in your local area.
Assembly
- Ask the students, ‘Are you afraid of the dark?’
Point out that most, if not all, of us find darkness a little scary.
Ask the students, ‘Why do you think that is?’
Pause to allow time for thought and then listen to a range of responses.
Suggestions could include a wide range of reasons such as:
- not being able to see
- falling over things
- feeling lonely
- our imagination running riot
- remembering horror stories
- being able to hear more clearly
Accept all reasons without judgement. - Throughout the world, there are areas that have been designated as International Dark Sky Reserves. These reserves have been assessed to be naturally dark at night and free of light pollution. This makes them some of the best places in the world to view the beauty of the night sky.
In the UK, six national parks have been awarded International Dark Sky Reserve status. There are also many Dark Sky Discovery Sites dotted around all four nations of the UK.
Optional: show the map of Dark Sky Discovery Sites around the UK, if using. - Tell the students that this is a good time of year to visit a Dark Sky Reserve and experience the other side of darkness. The reserves in Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumberland and the South Downs all have special events this month. People can enjoy walking, kayaking and eating during the day at these locations, as well as stargazing at night.
Time for reflection
Ask the students, ‘What are the benefits of opening up ourselves to a full experience of the dark?’
Listen to a range of responses.
The most obvious benefit of experiencing darkness is that by limiting our sense of sight, we heighten our remaining senses. Our hearing becomes attuned to rustlings, wildlife calls, the sound of the wind and our companions’ breathing. We begin to smell the countryside, both its pleasant and unpleasant odours. Some people feel like they can almost touch the darkness, it’s so impenetrable.
Another benefit of immersing ourselves in darkness is that we improve our chances of meeting nocturnal wildlife. Owls and bats may swoop across our path. Deer may be disturbed, often pausing for a moment to stare at us before plunging into the undergrowth. Glow-worms may be seen, like tiny fairy lights. None of these would be seen in bright daylight.
Darkness stimulates the imagination too. Writers such as Thomas Hardy and William Wordsworth were regular dark walkers, often out of necessity. Famously, Bram Stoker is reputed to have imagined the plot for Dracula during his late-night wanderings. If you let your mind wander while walking in the dark, you might get your very best BIG IDEA!
There are also health benefits to experiencing full darkness. Our body’s sleep-wake cycle can be disrupted easily by artificial light, whether from a screen or a lightbulb. Staying up too late and lying in bed too long in the morning are not good for us. Our bodies are made to be awake from dawn until dusk, then to relax and sleep in the dark. If we find ourselves out of sync, night-walking - in company, of course - can help to restore the sleep-wake balance and fend off some of the effects of depression.
Another benefit of total darkness is that it enables us to see more. Only from a dark location can we begin to get a sense of the vast expanse of space. There are the individual stars that form groups that we call constellations. There is the huge blanket of stars that we call the Milky Way. We may see a meteorite, even a meteorite shower. If we’re very fortunate, we may catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights.
Only by placing ourselves in darkness can we get some sense of how vast space is and, by implication, how tiny Earth is. That’s why the Bible says, ‘When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and stars that you have set in their places, what is humanity, that you think of him and her, human beings, that you care for them?’ (Psalm 8.3-4)
This is where our sight and our imagination work together, creating a sense of awe that is simultaneously both uplifting and humbling.
Yes, we may be apprehensive about being outside in total darkness, but it’s an experience that’s worth a bit of courage to follow through.
Song/music
‘Dark sky island’ by Enya, available at: https://youtu.be/mk54sNjedCo (play from 24.45 to 29.42 minutes)
