Manx National Heritage is holding an event at the Sound Cafe tonight (Friday) for budding stargazers.

The event will give participants the chance to stargaze at one of the island’s accredited Dark Skies location, with guidance from Howard Parkin.

Mr Parkin is chairman of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society and recently released his book ’Space for Dark Skies’.

The book is part memorial of Mr Parkin’s fascination for all things space, and part guide for studying the stars and the night sky from the island and beyond.

Participants can explore the wonders of the October night sky following a two-course hot buffet supper.

If the sky is too cloudy on the night, Mr Parkin will instead lead an illustrated multi-media lecture, with further chances to see the stars at a similar event in November.

For those eager to delve into the art of stargazing, the Isle of Man is home to 26 of the British Isles Dark Sky sites.

These are: Sulby Reservoir car park, Ballaugh Beach, Cregneash, Rushen Abbey, Poulsom Park, Mooragh Promenade, The Sloc, West Baldwin Reservoir, Ballure Reservoir, Glen Wyllin, Tynwald Mills car park, Ballanette Country Park, Port Lewaigue car park, Conrhenny car park, Glen Mooar Beach, Peel Castle, Mount Murray, Clypse and Kerrowdhoo Reservoirs, Tholty y Will Reservoir, Smeale Coast, Axnfell Plantation, Port Soderick Brooghs, Port Soderick Little Ness car park, Niarbyl, The Sound and The Fort in Castletown.

This particular event starts at 8pm tonight (Friday), tickets cost £35 and can be booked on the Manx National Heritage website.