Europe's first Dark Sky conference gets under way in South Ayrshire and Galloway.

Scotland has been described by stargazers as a "mecca" and delegates from across the world have been attending the first of a three day conference at the Cally Palace Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet.

Some of the world's top dark sky experts are attending the event with the aim of promoting stargazing tourism, rural development and tackling light pollution issues.

Land managers, planners, street lighting engineers and astronomy experts hope they can find more opportunities to work together to combat light pollution and encourage more of us to look up at night.

The Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, managed by Forest Enterprise Scotland, was the first to be designated in the UK in 2009.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham will give the keynote speech on Thursday highlighting the benefits gained through the park and how local agencies have worked together to tackle light pollution.