More than 100 enthusiastic amateur astronomers turned out in atrocious weather conditions last Friday for Monmouthshire’s second stargazing event, staged at Abergavenny Castle.

With contingency plans in place for bad weather, the stargazers were treated to the night sky indoors, courtesy of an inflatable planetarium, plus talks on astronomy by local astronomical societies.

Allan Trow, manager of Dark Skies Wales, the man behind the quest to build a multi-million pound world-leading planetarium in South Wales, gave visitors an insight into observing the night sky with binoculars and telescopes.

Rachael Rogers, curator at Abergavenny Museum, said the evening was part of an attempt to get the location registered as a dark sky site, an area officially recognised for giving the best conditions possible to observe the night sky, away from artificial light and other hindrances.

Nicola Edwards, Tourism Manager for Monmouthshire County Council, was delighted with the turnout - 110 visitors out of a possible 150 - and said that more astronomy-related projects were in the pipeline, including education courses.

Another stargazing event has been arranged for next Thursday (February 11). To find out more and to book your place contact Rachael on 01873 854282.