Upper Nithsdale Dark Sky Experience

UPPER NITHSDALE DARK SKY EXPERIENCE

The Upper Nithsdale Dark Sky Experience will take place in the historic town of Sanquhar, which is located within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, in partnership with Crawick Multiverse and A’ the Airts Community Arts Centre, and is kindly supported by The Open University, The Open University in Scotland and various local contributors as outlined in the programme.

EVENTS PROGRAMME:

Saturday 10th October and Friday 16th October 2026

// AFTERNOON AT THE AIRTS:
Dark Sky Tea and Talks
A’ the Airts Community Arts Centre, Sanquhar
Join us in A’ the Airts Community Arts Centre for a delicious afternoon tea and talks – £13.50 per person per day

10th only: THE NEXT GIANT LEAP: EXPLORING SPACE RESPONSIBLY: a talk from Dr Velislava (Veli) Ilieva, Postdoctoral Research Associate of The MoonRISE Project at The Open University and Dr Emma Johanna Puranen, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Astrobiology Ethics with Astrobiology at The Open University.

16th only: ICY MOONS: HIDDEN OCEANS AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE: a talk from Dr Mark Fox-Powell, Senior Lecturer of Astrobiology at The Open University.

10th & 16th: DARK SKY AT NIGHT, TOURISTS DELIGHT: a talk from Geoffrey Lindop, author of Dark Sky at Night, Tourists Delight followed by a star performance from Molly McTeir.

// EARLY EVENING AT THE MULTIVERSE:
Family Stargazing with Elizabeth Tindal,
A Dark Sky Experience at Crawick Multiverse, Sanquhar

// LATE EVENING AT THE MULTIVERSE:
Astrophotography and UV Landscape Photography with Mike Bolam,
A Dark Sky Experience at Crawick Multiverse, Sanquhar


For full details of timings, costs and contributors please refer to the event link below.

These events are part of the South of Scotland Dark Sky Festival (9th – 18th October 2026), organised by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.