POPULATED BY dead-heads and delinquents, city parks in the wee small hours are no place for the sensitive. But that's about to change as Scotland becomes the first country in the world to rebrand its urban green areas, turning them into "dark-sky discovery sites" for stressed-out city dwellers to gaze at the stars.

The initiative coincides with the International Year of Astronomy 2009, which, along with celebrating all things celestial, aims to publicise the need for darker skies.

Organisers hope that ordinary people will become inspired to learn about the universe through the scheme. Scotland's leading astronomer is so evangelical about the benefits of star-gazing that he has claimed it could help people forget about the credit crunch.

Steve Owens, the UK co-ordinator for the International Year of Astronomy, is lobbying for darker skies from his base at the Glasgow Science Centre. He has spoken to every national park in the UK, hoping to persuade one of them to become Britain's first "dark sky park".

Speaking about the importance some people place on getting a "star-fix", he said: "People just don't get that in their day to day life. They drive to work, drive home, go into their back garden and can't see the stars except for a couple poking through. Without wanting to get too spiritual about it, there is a human need for a connection with nature and astronomy is one of them.

"National parks talk about protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the landscape, but up until very recently, landscape meant anything below the horizon. But the sky-scape counts toward the same thing. So as well as providing tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life, national parks are also there to provide darkness. We're hoping that the international year of astronomy can be used to encourage and develop that thought."

Several organisations, including the Forestry Commission and the John Muir Trust, are collaborating to establish inner-city dark sky discovery sites in "small oases of unlit land".

Dan Hillier, manager of the visitors' centre at Edinburgh's Royal Observatory, is leading the project, which he claimed would be the first of its kind in the world.

He said: "What's remarkable is that so many different organisations see that dark skies and astronomy have a value for them. Most of these are not astronomy organisations; some of them aren't even really science organisations. But they come together around the fact there's something special about a dark sky and finding out what's up there."

By the end of next month, he hopes that the first star-gazing sites will be set up around Scotland.

Professor John Brown, astronomer royal for Scotland, welcomed the plans. He has fought for darker skies for many years, even managing to persuade Glasgow City Council to change the street lamps outside his house for models that cast their light downwards.

Star-gazing in the cities is possible, he insisted, so even small patches of darkness could be used by budding astronomers.

"People say that those living in the city can't see the Milky Way. Not true: I can see the Milky Way from my back garden. It's not vivid, but I can make it out."

He added: "Going stargazing gets people out of the house and away from watching gloomy, depressing stuff about banks collapsing. Looking at the sky and seeing meteors shooting across and Saturn's rings is uplifting, and makes you aware of the greater universe around us."