Stargazing at Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest is an outstanding Dark Skies site to see the stars, planets, nebulae and galaxies!

In January 2013 our dark sky status was confirmed by UK Dark Sky Discovery with the award of “Milky Way” class Dark Sky Discovery Status, making Dalby Forest officially one of the darkest skies and one of the best places in the country for stargazing.

The North York Moors National Park applied for and was granted International Dark Sky Reserve in December 2020 by DarkSky with Dalby Forest located at the centre with the lowest level of light pollution from nearby towns.

Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society (SARAS) occasionally hold public stargazing events at the John Harper Observatories (Domes) in front of the Visitor Centre.