Our island is well known for having some amazing spots for stargazing.

With some of the best skies in the British Isles, often all that you need to do is step out of the front door to be met with a mesmerising starscape.

To get the best views however you sometimes have to leave the comfort of your own home and venture out a little bit further.

In 2013, 26 sites across the Isle of Man were awarded Dark Skies Discovery status, meaning that our island has the highest concentration of Dark Skies sites in the British Isles.

From the Ayres to Poulsom Park on a clear night, each site offers a spectacular view of the cosmos.

In January 2018, Year of Our Island launched a Dark Skies booklet which is packed full of information to help amateur stargazers understand a little bit more about the stars and find the best places to view the night sky.

March will see the introduction of the first two of our special Dark Skies ’stargazer’ benches which will be located in the Mooragh Park and Poulsom Park. The benches have been designed to help you relax in your surroundings and encourage you to look up at the wonders of the night sky.

We are very grateful to both Ramsey Town Commissioners and Castletown Commissioners for their support with this project and also to the DEFA Saw Mill for producing the new benches.

Our special ’stargazer’ seating will aim to improve facilities at a number of our Dark Skies locations and make viewing of the majestic Milky Way an experience for the whole family.

Our Island political board member, Tanya August Hanson MLC, said: ’We are very excited to have been able to work with our partners to develop this initiative.

’We hope that this project will enable people of all ages to make the most of our wonderful dark skies and discover more about our island.’

To download the Dark Skies booklet and for more information about what Our Island has planned for the closing Festival of Light during March go online to ourisland.im, call 687007

Alternatively send an email to [email protected].

by the Year of Our Island Project Team

www.ourisland.imk