<p dir="ltr"><strong>Straddling a star-filled sky, a sycamore tree stands alone in Sycamore Gap, guarding the newly designated "dark sky" park near Scotland's border with England. </strong></p><p>The area will be Europe's largest dark sky park, offering a refuge for star-gazing visitors trying to get away from the obscuring nature of light pollution.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p dir="ltr">Announced by the <a href="http://www.darksky.org/">International Dark Skies Association</a>, the 580-square-mile (1,500-square-kilometer) park combines areas of <a href="http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/">Northumberland National Park</a> and <a href="http://www.visitkielder.com/">Kielder Water and Forest Park</a> in the United Kingdom, a mix of hilly forests and moors in northern England.</p><p dir="ltr"><em>—Dan Vergano </em></p>

Dark Skies

Straddling a star-filled sky, a sycamore tree stands alone in Sycamore Gap, guarding the newly designated "dark sky" park near Scotland's border with England.

The area will be Europe's largest dark sky park, offering a refuge for star-gazing visitors trying to get away from the obscuring nature of light pollution.

Announced by the International Dark Skies Association, the 580-square-mile (1,500-square-kilometer) park combines areas of Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park in the United Kingdom, a mix of hilly forests and moors in northern England.

—Dan Vergano

Photograph by David Taylor, Alamy

Pictures: Europe's Biggest Dark Sky Park

Europe's largest "dark sky" park will allow tourists to admire the stars from the border of Scotland.

Read This Next

Explosive images of the sun may help unravel mysteries
Something in our galaxy is flashing every 20 minutes—but what?
The brightest blast of all time continues to surprise scientists

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet