The British Astronomical Association (BAA) has thrown its support behind campaigners fighting against a "superquarry" on the Lizard peninsula due to concerns over light pollution at a remote coastal spot.

Bob Mizon MBE, a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, speaking on behalf of the association's commission for dark skies, expressed concern "at the possibility of the threat to the dark skies of the Lizard peninsula from this proposed quarry development."

Mr Mizon said: "The loss of rural dark skies is as damaging to the rural quality of life and tranquillity as are more conventional and less measurable issues of visual intrusion, and this fact is too often not taken into account when assessing environmental impacts.

"The number of sites in the UK where dark night skies, free from excessive light pollution, may be found is shrinking, and, in the words of the recent report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution: 'we seem to tolerate the daily destruction of arguably the most culturally universal and historically pristine of natural vistas – the night sky, filled with constellations of stars, and planets and galaxies.'"

He said that with the quarry site environmental concerns should over-ride arguments for industrial expansion, and "our heritage of starry skies above should be a priority in this matter."

Campaign group Cornwall Against Dean Superquarry (CADS) welcomed the BAA's support and said light pollution "could not help but occur" if plans go ahead to enable loading and launching of barges throughout the night from a 535 metre jetty.

The quarry is one of several sites being considered as a supplier of stone for a new tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, now set to be delayed one year until March 2017, although CADS is asking the lagoon builders to consider other suitable quarries.

On November 13 there will be a High Court judicial review of the initial planning application for work at Dean Quarry, which was stopped after Cornwall Council granted permission, as it lacked an Environmental Impact Assessment.

CADS continue to fundraise for legal costs, so far collecting £18,000 with £7,000 more needed to cover the cost of the review, and more expected to be needed as quarry owner Shire Oak Quarries seeks permission to build its breakwater.

Donations can be made on the CADS website: www.cads2015.com.