The Isle of Man's star-studded skies: Amazing time-lapse video reveals stellar displays on the British island



The isle awarded 26 designated Dark Sky Discovery Sites

Its head of tourism says accolade is an 'unbelieveable' honour

It is thought more than 85 per cent of Britons haven't seen a truly dark sky

The Isle of Man might be known for its famous TT motorbike race, but it is also a haven for stargazers.

Despite being just 32 miles long and 14 miles wide, the island has been named as one of Britain's best places to see the night sky.

And now one photographer has released a d azzling time-lapse video that he created by filming the sky at different local landmarks around the island over a period of 10 months.

Scroll down for video

Despite being just 32 miles long and 14 miles wide, the island has been named as one of Britain's best places to see the night sky. Shooting stars twinkle above Laxey Wheel. It was built in 1854 to pump water from the mine shafts

Astronomers from the Dark Sky Discovery Network awarded the Isle of Man a total of 26 designated Dark Sky Discovery Sites earlier this month, putting it up there in terms of status with Death Valley in the U.S.

It is thought that more than 85 per cent of the UK population have never seen a truly dark sky due to light pollution, the quiet Isle of Man provides the perfect sky for those keen to stargaze.

Glenn Whorral, who was worn on the island, shot the footage on Canon DSLR cameras with different lenses.

' Over the course of the whole project I shot around 18,000 stills and the best compositions made it into the final edit,' he said.



He took the photographs April to October last year and set the cameras up to capture the skies over night, sometimes sleeping in his car.

Angela Byrne, head of tourism on the Isle of Man said: 'To have one site given Dark Sky Discovery status is an honour, but to have 26 in total is quite unbelievable.

Astronomers from the Dark Sky Discovery Network awarded the Isle of Man a total of 26 designated Dark Sky Discovery Sites earlier this month. Fort Island, which is known for its ruins, is pictured. Measuring about 440 yds (400metres) long from west to east, it is connected to the Langness Peninsula by a narrow causeway

Sulby Reservoir is the largest reservoir or lake in the Isle of Man. It is located in Sulby Glen near the source of the Sulby River, the longest river on the island

'Our little Island is a world away from the bright lights of the mainland's big cities, and we really hope that this accolade inspires people to visit us and experience our incredible surroundings, which of course includes the night sky.'

Howard Parkin, who runs his own astronomy consultancy and is chairman of the Isle of Man Astronomical Society, added: 'It's great news that the Isle of Man now has so many Dark Sky Discovery Sites because they are so rare around the rest of Britain.

'With light levels so low, the night sky on the Isle of Man really will amaze anyone who takes the time to look up, from the novice to the seasoned professional.'

Mr Whorral waited for the perfect dry and clear weather conditions to take his photographs.

' It was often very cold though,' he said.

'The shoot up at Smeale in the north of the Island was very windy and as I walked back to the car I could see a number of fishing boats had come right in close to the shore to shelter from the wind - quite an unexpected and amazing sight.'

Despite the cold, he said: 'My favourite shot is from Smeale beach with the grass silhouetted in the foreground because you can see the milky way almost perfectly.

'And my favourite shoot was at Maughold Head as it was a perfectly still and peaceful night and I remember being sat at the foot of the lighthouse waiting for the sequence to finish and I could hear the seals talking to each other from the cliffs below,' he added.



It is thought that more that 85 per cent of the UK population have never seen a truly dark sky due to light pollution, the quiet Isle of Man provides the perfect sky for those keen to stargaze. The clear sky at Peel castle, which was constructed by the Vikings, is pictured

Among the other sites in England mentioned by the discovery channel are Kielder Forest Observatory in Northumberland , the Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire and the WaterWorks Nature Reserve in Lee Valley Regional Park .

In Wales the Mountain Centre a t Libanus near Brecon in Powys is mentioned and there are 12 in Scotland, nine of which are on Skye and Lochalsh.

Niarbyl, which means 'the tail' in Manx for the way it extends into the Irish Sea, is a settlement along the southwest coast of Isle of Man between Port Erin and Peel. It is best known for its spectacular sea views - and now its clear skies

THE 26 DARK SKY DISCOVERY SITES ON THE ISLE OF MAN

Port Soderick Brooghs Axnfell Plantation Smeale Nature Reserve Niarbyl The Sound Fort Island Sulby Reservoir Car Park Ballaugh Beach Mooragh Promenade Ballure Reservoir Port Lewaigue Car Park Glen Wyllin Glen Mooar Beach West Baldwin Reservoir Peel Castle Tywald Mills Car Park Clypse Kerrowdhoo Ballanette Country Park Conrhenny Car Park Mt Murray Port Soderick Car Park Port Soderick Brooghs Rushen Abbey Poulsom Park The Sloc Cregneash







