Sherwood Observatory is delighted to announce it has been awarded a £105,000 grant from the Royal Society for an ambitious new project investigating light pollution in the local area with a focus on Ashfield and Mansfield.

Project LUMINA (Light Usage Mapping in Nighttime Atmosphere) will bring together Sherwood Observatory and at least 25 local schools over the next three years to investigate and measure light pollution as part of a collaborative, real-world science project.

Light pollution is often thought of primarily as an issue for astronomers, but its impacts extend much further. Excessive and inappropriate artificial light at night can disrupt the night-time environment and ecosystems, while also raising wider questions about how we use energy and illuminate our communities.

Through LUMINA, pupils across the area will have the opportunity to participate directly in scientific research with our team of volunteers and staff, collecting and analysing real-world data about the night-time environment around them. The project aims to demonstrate how local observations can contribute to a much broader understanding of an environmental issue.

Steve Wallace MBE, Chairman of Sherwood Observatory said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this £105,000 grant from the Royal Society. LUMINA is an exciting opportunity to put young people at the heart of a genuine scientific investigation, working with us across our area to measure and understand light pollution.

We want the project to go beyond simply collecting data. We hope it will inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers and show the pupils how science can be used positively to investigate real environmental challenges in the communities where they live and be used to drive change for the future generations.”

On completion if the initial three years, Sherwood Observatory has ambitions for the project to expand beyond the local area, creating a nationwide network of observations and measurements of light pollution.

The LUMINA project represents a significant milestone in Sherwood Observatory’s wider ambition to bring astronomy and science into the community, giving young people the opportunity to take part in meaningful scientific research.

Further details about the LUMINA project, including opportunities for schools to get involved, will be shared in due course or you can reach out and express an interest in the project by contacting: [email protected]

Science Community Grants page: https://royalsociety.org/grants/science-community-grant/

Royal Society press release: https://royalsociety.org/news/2026/09/science-community-grants/

Written by Susanna Holt.