Although western Queensland is renowned for its dark night skies, plenty of stargazers out west are getting ready to help set a world record in measuring light pollution on Sunday night. The other two are a 40-centimetre computer-controlled lens and, for those of you who prefer gazing at the star closest to us, a telescope that lets you look at the sun. Made with ❤ with Elementor​ by ideaskw.com.au, Main Photo © Ken Wishaw 2019 - Used with Permission. Help protect the night sky with great projects: Globe at Night, Fred Watson, Live Webinars The International Dark Sky Association outlines the process on how to apply for an area of land that must be at least 700 square kilometres on their www.darksky.org website. Whether you want to channel a romantic movie moment or generally intrigued by our sparkly sky, stargazing is an underrated activity. dark skies through quality outdoor lighting." Queensland, Australia 4 connections. Qld Dinosaur park and dark sky sanctuary prepares to open In the middle of the Queensland outback, two colossal creations are edging closer to completion. Australian Dark Sky Locations, Observatory Sites, Astronomer Locations. THE JUMP-UP DARK SKY SANCTUARY, WINTON, QUEENSLAND The sleepy riverside town of Winton in northwest Queensland is perhaps the number one stargazing destination in all of Australia — as of April 2019, the town received Australia's first international certification for a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Wiruna is the Astronomical Society of NSW's best kept secret — if you go to their website, you'll see what we mean. Our tours cater for a Maximum of 15 people and will give you lots of scope time and a personalised in depth experience from our dark sky outback location, 1hr from Cairns City. There are only two other Dark Sky reserves in Australia – Warrumbungle National Park in central western NSW and Winton in Queensland. Here, you can view the spirals of the Milky Way and Orion Arm, as well as the collapse of nebulas and the birth of new stars. Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran (NSW) is Australia’s first Dark-Sky Park, as recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). At DARK SKY ACCOMMODATION/Holiday Homes we pride ourselves in offering unique accommodation choices to suit all tastes and budgets. RELATED GALLERY: AG readers’ night sky photography Warrumbungle National Park is a proper hike (read: a five- or six-hour drive from Sydney), but it's also a proper dark sky site. Located just 1.5 hours drive north of Melbourne, the town of Heathcote boasts some incredibly beautiful skies — and heaps of bush walks, reserves and national parks from which to see it at night. Our Best Home Planetariums & Sega planetarium flux version of Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere star discs provide the ultimate viewing experience Shop the Best Home Planetarium in USA & experience the real beauty of disappearing night skies in your room. For over 30 years, The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), a United States-based non-profit organisation has led the charge in designating dark sky places from all around the world, educating the public on good lighting principles and creating the most successful grassroots movement of its kind. The sanctuary is set within the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum at its Jump-Up facility, which is free and open all year round. You can BYO telescope or binoculars, or just gaze up — there's plenty of beauty to be seen by the naked eye. Horse & Cart rides - Weekends and Public Holidays ​. Located on the outskirts of Wollemi National Park in the Blue Mountains, Wiruna is basically 107 acres of astronomy Christmas. On your next visit, stick around into the night and head to the island's observatory. Inside the centre, there are heaps of tours and events going on each day, plus some seriously impressive equipment to boot. With these measures in place, Warrumbungle joins the likes of Death Valley National Park in the US and Galloway Forest Park in Scotland as an official dark sky park — that is, one of the top places on the planet to revel in galactic goings-on. IDAVic has been formed from a group of like minded Victorians who want to see the quality of the night sky retained for future generations. 19 - 26 April is Dark Sky Week. A dark-sky preserve (DSP), also known as a dark sky reserve, is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts artificial light pollution. There are only ten certified sites worldwide, so it's a particularly impressive win for Aussie shores. So, find the closest stargazing spot (or book a flight ASAP) and take part in this time-honoured tradition. The breathtaking views to be had on any trip along the Great Ocean Road are hard to beat. Beta The Interactive Night Sky Map simulates the sky above Townsville on a date of your choice. At DARK SKY ACCOMMODATION/Holiday Homes we pride ourselves in offering unique accommodation choices to suit all tastes and budgets. Dark Sky Parks are specifically protected for their scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment. As it's a private observatory, bookings are here essential, and it only allows one small group in per night. About Skyline Queenstown - Stargazing Perched high above Queenstown, keen stargazers have the opportunity to access a 'hidden world' not seen by the naked eye. Markets held last Sunday of every month If you take your astronomy very seriously, you can even become a member of the Heathcote's Leon Mow Dark Sky Site. The purpose of a dark sky preserve is generally to promote astronomy. Dark, natural night skies are important to animals, plants and humans who need a regular interval of light and dark to know … Amateur astronomy in Warrumbungle is best performed the old-fashioned way, with the humble eyeball (and optional pince-nez). Save and share your favourite picks and make plans to go out with friends. Mid Murray Council (SA) has supported the creation of the Dark Sky Reserve there. Australasian Dark Sky Alliance CEO and founder Marnie Ogg said they were expected thousands of people on Sunday, June 21, help researchers create a map of Australia's darkest skies. To show Australian light pollution, simply click on "Earth" on the top right of the map, and drag to your location. Use it to locate a planet, the Moon, or the Sun and track their movements across the sky. Designated 2019 Category International Dark Sky Sanctuary Address Lot 1 Dinosaur Drive PO Box 408 Winton Qld 4735 Australia Contact Grant Salmond Website Land Area 14 km2 Documents Application Press Release Annual Reports About Australian […] 1986 - Present. UNSW. Dark sky places offer rural communities sustainable tourism opportunities during out-of-season periods and are sanctuaries of tranquillity for the public to enjoy the benefits of a natural night sky. Bring along a telescope, binoculars and a picnic — you'll want to stick around for a while. Published on July 12, 2019 by To magnify or zoom to your location, scroll with your mouse on the map. Tips for night photography From beginners to advanced trail walks there's something for everyone. Poppies on the Hill CafeThe Bunyas Coffee Shop & TavernShackleton's Whisky Bar, Tennis available each day “Warrumbungle National Park has long been recognised not only for its beauty at ground level, but also for the wonder it holds in the night sky above,” Mr Stokes said. Queensland Becomes a Leading Light with Dark Sky Sanctuary on May 23, 2019 The stars are shining bright at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton with confirmation the museum has received Australia’s first international certification for a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Get involved, get outside and look up! Humans have made a pastime of staring up at the night sky for as long as history can tell us. The 50th anniversary of the moon landing is coming up on Saturday, July 20, too — with major exhibitions happening in Sydney and Melbourne, and a film festival in Brisbane. Interest in Light Pollution, Visual physiology. The ASNSW holds a number of stargazing sessions on weekends throughout the year, and encourages amateurs and old hands alike to come and use the incredible array of equipment they've got stashed up there — from 'The Ashtray', a telescope that survived a fire, to the Mike Kerr Observatory, housing the aptly named Obsession Telescope. On a clear night, the stargazing is truly awe inspiring. So, take a look around and book your next getaway with us! Report this profile ... , International Dark Sky Association, Australasian Dark Sky Alliance Founding Board Member. Stargazing, that is — not trying to peek at what your neighbours keep behind their curtains. Unfortunately, the amount of excess light that our big cities leak into the sky makes for pretty poor stargazing conditions on an average night in the inner city. Specialising in private and small group astronomy tours, we cater for the curious, through to the experienced Astronomer seeking to see the delights of our Australian skies. The Observatory runs night and day tours, workshops exploring early Indigenous astronomy and a range of short courses. Working with the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance, our scientists are urging Australians to support the initiative to better understand light pollution – the excessive and misdirected emission of artificial light – that has invaded our night skies, stopping us from seeing many of our stars. LOCATIONS OF RECOGNISED DARK SKY SITES ON THE DARK SKY REGISTER MAP ... QUEENSLAND. Warrumbungle does have its own observatory, but scientists and astronomers have the run of the place after sundown. The sleepy riverside town of Winton in northwest Queensland is perhaps the number one stargazing destination in all of Australia — as of April 2019, the town received Australia's first international certification for a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Registration is fast and free. Without good design, planning and policy for reducing light pollution, there is a real risk of losing these natural heritage sites across the country. Despite a pandemic, staff at the Australian age of dinosaurs are charging ahead with a dual development that is truly unique. Walks range from a quick 10mins to 3-4 hours. The ASNSW prefers newbies to be accompanied by accredited members, so be sure to get in touch with them beforehand. Check out clusters, planets, nebulae and, on a good night, the Milky Way. Look up, listen to the lapping waves and enjoy the rare peace and quiet here. Despite the pandemic, staff … In the last few years, the State Government has dedicated funds to limiting light pollution in and around the park. A pristine, untapped and tranquil getaway location in the Queensland hinterland. 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Instead of being on a separate page, the dark site placemarks are now integrated into the map as a layer (turned off by default). An easy day-trip from Melbourne, Philip Island is home to more than just white sand beaches and ocean views. Copyright 2020 © All rights Reserved. ← Layers/Dark Site Placemarks Button ← Geolocate Button ← Open Information Panel. Skyline Stargazing will take visitors to a specially-constructed area high above the Gondola, where there is no trespassing light, allowing for an unbelievably clear view of the night sky.