Finding a Million-Star Hotel

Bob Mizon, MBE, FRAS  [Bob likes to point out that his name rhymes with ‘horizon’] is a graduate in modern languages, but is much better known as an astronomer. Having taught for 26 years at Poole Grammar School – where he met his wife Pam – he embarked on a rather daring career change in 1996.  Responding to a lifelong love of astronomy, he became a planetarium operator, and now takes a stunning mobile dome into schools, youth groups, and societies all over southern England. Over 130,000 people have experienced a tour of the Universe with Bob at the controls! Bob is best known in the scientific and environmental community as the co-ordinator of the British Astronomical Association’s Campaign for Dark Skies, which aims to turn back the tide of light pollution that has seriously affected our view of the stars over the last fifty years. Glare, light-intrusion and skyglow have become the norm nowadays, a situation hardly compatible with a society that is supposed to be saving energy and protecting the environment.

Introduction.- Chapter 1: Dark-Sky Places.- Chapter 2: Invasion of the townies.- Chapter 3: Night-sky-friendly centres, hotels and campsites in the UK and the USA.- Chapter 4: What's in the sky?.- Chapter 5: The star-hunter's kit.- Chapter 6: Stargazing etiquette.- Chapter 7: Hosting astro-tourism.- Chapter 8: Light pollution.- Appendix 1: List (at July 2015) of International Dark Sky Places and when established.- Appendix 2: Extracts from the conclusions and recommendations of the UK's Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Artificial Light in the Environment, 2009.- Appendix 3: Night Sky Guides.-  Glossary of terms.- Bibliography.- Index.

"The book is written as though the author has visited all the places described, and the style is very readable. The text is peppered with useful web addresses for local campsites, hotels, park opening times, etc. ... If the reader is determined to seek out all the dark places in the UK and the United States, this book will be invaluable ... ." (Malcolm Gough, The Observatory, Vol. 137 (1258), June, 2017)