Apr 143 minWho Needs Brown SignsFor the Virtual Solar System Drive? For years, the first thing that people reported back to me about the Virtual Solar System was “We...
Apr 14 minDead-Lock HolidayEthical travel in the times of Covid. On the very last night of a 10-day tour around Tasmania, Fred tested positive. A bold red line was...
Feb 241 minSuper-sized STEM for students!SIDING SPRING IS OPEN FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES Astronomy, like almost no other science, has the potential to significantly improve public...
Feb 191 minWhere would Dark Sky Traveller travel.... if there were no dark skies? Federal Government efforts to mitigate the impacts of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife are being...
Jan 21 minSkyscraper-sized asteroid discovered at Siding Spring set to zoom past EarthThe large body was discovered on Aug. 9, 1994 – hence its designation – by Robert McNaught at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia,...
Dec 2, 20211 minAustralia's Largest Telescope - Australia's new AttractionIn 1974 Siding Spring Observatory, perched on top of Mount Worrut in the Warrumbungle Ranges, became Australia's National Optical...
Nov 12, 20211 min2021 - Allison-Levick LectureHosted by Fred Watson Wednesday 24 November 2021, 6:30pm – 8:00pm AEDT Online Join Macquarie University and Astralis online at the...
Oct 7, 20211 minEscorted Tour - 'Territory' Fancy a few nights stargazing in Arnhem Land? .... Now's your chance. We're delighted to announce a 10 day tour of some of the most...
Sep 28, 20212 minDark Sky MotivesMy love for the nighttime environment is well documented. For the past 6 years I have become increasingly driven to leave this natural...
Sep 23, 20211 minProposed Sydney Urban Night Sky Place may need to find a new homeDo you like looking at the night sky? For over two years the Northern Beaches Council has been investigating the opportunity to designate...
Sep 20, 20211 minSiding Spring Observatory Readies itself to ReopenAre you burning to get out of Sydney? Looking for an adventure? We're here and waiting for you! Once NSW opens the Road to Recovery, and...
Jul 7, 20211 minJoe Hockey Once Said about Siding Spring Observatory"Everyone should visit at least once in their life!" Now that Siding Spring is Open to Tourism, what are our guests saying!? Dark Sky...
Feb 16, 20211 minVirtual Solar System DriveSince I started visiting Coonabarabran, I've been aware of the Virtual Solar System Drive. A, to scale model of the real Solar System,...
Aug 1, 20192 minThe South American Chilean EclipseAsk an astronomer what they saw after experiencing a total solar eclipse, and you’ll get words like “diamond ring”, “Bailey’s Beads” and...
Jul 8, 20192 minMind - The GapMindless travel offends me deeply . When guides march ahead with a sign to follow; it frustrates me no end when they dictate what time...
Jul 8, 20192 minWater, Water everywhere - 20 years in the making20 years ago, almost to the day, I visited Niagara Falls. In doing so, I was fulfilling one of my goals from when I joined the ‘red and...
Jun 24, 20191 minLast Five - Commending those who are making a difference“72% of the birds in this park are rescued from being trafficked.” The information sign in Spanish, Portuguese and English stands for all...
Jun 7, 20194 min5 Things to consider when you’re Aurora ChasingWhilst the silent dancing clouds of a aurora are spectacular at night, the northern lights are not the only thing you should keep your eyes
Jun 3, 20192 minYou notice the stars before anything else...I mean really notice them – like there are millions up there and you can’t believe that they’ve been there all this time. Welcome to Austral
May 8, 20192 minIn the beginningAs a dark-sky savvy audience, you probably expect me to say: There was light. But no, there wasn’t. Rather, it began because of a shadow. A