A DATE with darkness has been set for stargazers with preparations for next years special Dark Skies Festivals already underway across the North York Moor and Yorkshire Dales national parks.

In 2019 it will be held between February15 and March 3 with Starmakers, a group set up this year, set to train more astro-guides from this autumn.

The Moors National Park Centres at Sutton Bank and Danby, plus Dalby Observatories in Dalby Forest have been named as Milky Way class dark skies discovery sites because the galaxy is often visible to the naked eye from those areas. Many events are planned from night zips, wildlife and ghost walks, starlight runs and bike rides alongside games and activities. More information will be available on the parks websites www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/dark-skies .