In the midst of a bright Scilly Summer, what do us island-based astronomers long for? Dark skies! True, it takes a while to get magnificently dark over the summer months, but if you’ve ever experienced the jaw-dropping wonder of a pristine Scilly night sky - the Milky Way arcing above and more stars than you could possibly fathom with the naked eye - you’ll understand why we’re already hankering after the earlier darkness of September and October.

"Scilly Dark Skies Week is perhaps my ‘most look forwards to’ event of the year. I do astrophotography from Cheshire where there is significant light pollution. On St. Martin’s there is none - seriously - so, in comparison, astro-imaging is a real joy. I was able to take some wonderful images of the heavens that I could never have achieved nearer home."

- Prof Ian Morison FRSA of the University of Manchester and Jodrell Bank Observatory

Autumn is a beautiful, relaxed time to visit our islands. If you need more incentive to base yourselves on St. Martin’s, our Scilly Dark Skies Week 2023 runs from 30 September to 6 October. By day, explore at leisure or take part in interactive workshops on practical aspects of astronomy; by night, settle back to hear expert speakers from the world of astronomy open up our island universe to you; plus, of course, looking up through the observatory’s powerful telescopes.

Scilly Dark Skies Week this year centres on stories from our night sky: our innate human connection with the universe and our place within it, from what astrophotography can teach us to how our ancestors took meaning from the night sky we look on today.

We will also be joined by Carolyn Kennett, Cornwall-based astronomer, historian and author; and Mark T Holmes, member of the British Astronomical Association, and the person who kick-started our observatory journey.

“The Isles of Scilly are home to some of the darkest skies in the UK.” 

- Ezzy Pearson, BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Image: Community Observatory St. Martins on Scilly - also known as COSMOS

Scilly Dark Skies Week is for anyone who wants to learn more about our incomparable night sky, from beginners to seasoned observers. Discover why St. Martin’s is one of the best places to observe the night sky in the UK, but, as they say, don’t tell everybody…

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Tickets to Scilly Dark Skies Week (30 Sept - 6 Oct) cost £175 per person, which includes access to the full programme of workshops, talks, walks and stargazing, plus welcome drinks and closing night celebration. Tickets can be booked at cosmosscilly@gmail.com. For full information visit cosmosscilly.co.uk/dark-skies-week

If you'd like to attend the festival, a visitor boat will leave St. Mary's Quay as follows (please book tickets to the festival in advance):

Date:     Monday 2^nd October

Depart:  St. Mary’s 6pm

Return:  St. Martin’s 10pm

Cost per person:  £15 return / £10 one way