Orkney will hold a midwinter astronomy festival in December 2011. Talks and stargazing will take place in various parts of the island over the twelve days from Saturday 10 to Wednesday 21 December. This iPad Magazine offers an insight into the event, including a full programme and a specially commissioned interview with Dr Marek Kukula.

After the event the magazine will be updated with a record of the event.

There are activities in Kirkwall and Stromness, Birsay and Deerness, Sanday and Stronsay and North Ronaldsay. There will be talks and workshops on astronomy in various contexts – tourist guiding, cutting down light pollution, and night-time travel. Other events will include an astronomy dinner and an evening tour in the West Mainland with a hearty Orkney supper to follow.

Dark Skies Orkney comes about through funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Orkney Islands Council. The STFC funding has provided the services of astronomer Steve Owens for talks and workshops for schools, the tourism sector, and the community, along with telescopes for six Orkney schools.