THERE will be starry, starry nights in the Tamar Valley this month, as the Tamar Valley AONB team has planned two events that will take you to infinity and beyond!

Join the team, together with Space Odyssey, for a unique mobile planetarium and outdoor stargazing experience, in one of two locations within the Tamar Valley. Discover more about the quality of the night sky, then take part in a star count near you.

Sam Barnes, Helping Hands for Heritage project officer, said: 'The night skies are an important part of the character of the AONB and contribute to its tranquillity. Genuine starry skies are getting harder to find and only 11 percent of England still has truly dark night skies as the threat of light pollution from our surrounding towns and cities is affecting that tranquillity.'

Over the past years, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has been monitoring and analysing the impact of street lighting, lighting from large supermarkets and housing developments.

One of their surveys suggests that 83% of people have their home view of the night sky blighted by light pollution. It can also affect wildlife by interrupting migration and feeding patterns.

The CPRE has been running community star counts where volunteers count the number of stars that are visible to the naked eye within the Orion constellation. More then 30 stars mean a true dark sky — but only 4% of counts in 2014 revealed this, and 59% could see 10 or less stars, indicating severe light pollution.

The free stargazing events will take place on Friday, November 21 at Buckland Abbey's Great Barn and Saturday, November 22 at Harrowbarrow Village Hall.

Choose from one of two sessions taking place each evening, at 4.45pm and 6.45pm, each lasting around one and a quarter hours.

Enjoy a spectacular 360-degree projected image show in the planetarium, followed by real life stargazing outside (weather permitting).

Places are strictly limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment on 01822 835030 or email [email protected]">[email protected]

Suitable for all ages — please dress warmly. Refreshments will be available.

The events have been made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Our Heritage project.