Devon holidaymakers urged to aim for the stars

Keen astronomers may wish to confirm the booking of a Devon caravan holiday for next month, after details of an upcoming event emerged.

Exmoor National Park Authority is scheduled to host a stargazing night on January 17th at the Dunster Tithe Barn, reported This is the West Country.

Kicking off at 20:30 GMT, the show has been arranged in conjunction with the Stargazing LIVE programme on the BBC, which features the acclaimed professor Brian Cox.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the event is the fact that a full-size planetarium is due to be used, giving guests an unrivalled experience when looking at the night sky.

A spokesman for the national park was keen to play up the significant of the evening.

"There will be plenty to do inside the historic Tithe Barn, where the Space Odyssey Space Dome planetarium will offer an amazing multimedia experience designed to excite and inspire everyone, children and adults alike," the representative stated.

On offer within the space dome will be the very latest graphics and computer technology, which the news source suggested will go some towards creating a top interactive learning centre.

In addition to the glamour of the digital show, there will be a special presentation and several displays, all of which may appeal to those who love the night sky.

The technology on display in the south-west is said to be the same as that found in world-famous spots such as Hayden Planetarium in New York and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.

Martin Hesp, writing for the Western Morning News, put forward his own recommendations for a holiday in Devon recently.

He said Wistman's Wood in Dartmoor National Park is a must-visit for all those who enjoy the feeling of being in the wilderness, naming it as his favourite British woodland.

Posted by Geoff Barnes