A stargazing celebration of the SKA

BY CAROL REDFORD (ASTROTOURISM WA FOUNDER AND CEO)

Starry nights across Western Australia’s Mid-West region came alive during the last half of 2022 with six astronomy events focused on celebrating the SKA.

Six astronomy and stargazing outreach events were held throughout the Mid-West region between July and October 2022 in small towns around the Australian SKA site*. The events celebrated Australia as the host of the SKA-Low telescope now under construction at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory on Wajarri country.

The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) secured funding from the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) to deliver public engagement stargazing events in the region with the aim to promote the SKA, astronomy, Indigenous astronomy, astrotourism and the dark skies of regional Western Australia.

Several of the events featured a special “Welcome to Country” by a local Traditional Land Owner. This was followed by a formal presentation covering introductory astronomy and information about the SKA project. SKAO and CSIRO scientists gave special presentations on the SKA. Visitors were then invited outside to view through large telescopes and see a green laser pointer tour that showed the amazing constellations of the southern hemisphere night sky. One lucky person took home a telescope prize at each event.

The last two events launched the newly released Wajarri planisphere (mentioned elsewhere in this edition) which features the story of the Aboriginal constellation and story of Yalibirri, the Wajarri “Emu in the Sky”.

The events attracted an average of 45 people each time, and up to 70 in the town of Mullewa. Visitors returning feedback surveys described the events as interesting, exciting, informative and fun. Most people attending had not been to an astronomy/stargazing night before, showing how such outreach events can reach beyond traditionally engaged audiences, while two-thirds of the audience planned to tell others about the SKA after the fun and educational night out they enjoyed.

* The nights were held in the towns of Cue, Meekatharra, Mingenew, Morawa, Mullewa and the Murchison Settlement. Each event was delivered jointly by ICRAR and Astrotourism WA, with support from DISR. Also contributing were CSIRO, the SKA Observatory, the Shires of Cue, Meekatharra, Mingenew, Morawa, Murchison and the City of Greater Geraldton.

Astrotourism WA founder and CEO Carol Redford introducing the Wajarri planisphere to audiences at one of the stargazing events in the Mid West.

ICRAR