Gazing at the stars in Australia

THE southern hemisphere’s first and only Dark Sky Park is in the Warrumbungle region of NSW, #Australia renowned for its breathtaking starry nights. What is a dark sky park? #DarkSkyParks are recognised internationally for their outstanding nocturnal environment and clear, dark skies, says Dr James Gilbert, astronomer and engineer, Australian National University. “These are unspoilt places where anyone can marvel at the universe just by looking up, even without a telescope,” says Dr Gilbert. The Warrumbungle National Park is currently the only Dark Sky Park in the Southern Hemisphere.

For breathtaking views of the galaxy, you can camp under the stars in Warrumbungle National Park at various camping grounds and heritage huts. You can pitch a tent in Balor Hut campground or stay in a historic walkers’ hut. For a more rustic experience, Burbie Camp is a remote bush camping area neighbouring a natural spring with stunning views, while Camp Blackman is a popular base to explore the park and star gaze, well-equipped with hot showers, barbeques and picnic tables. www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au 

Warrumbungle Observatory, 9km from Coonabarabran at the foothills of the Warrumbungle Mountains, holds nightly viewing sessions and astro-photography sessions. www.tenbyobservatory.com 

Milroy Observatory has a popular Night Sky Show and also offers customised tours of all kinds for school groups, universities, senior citizens – even events such as birthdays and wedding proposals. www.milroyobservatory.com.au 

Siding Spring on the edge of the Warrumbungle National Park is a working research observatory with no public stargazing facilities, but they do offer daytime bookable experiences. www.sidingspringobservatory.com.au

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To Mars and back

SINCE 1958, the Museum of Science's Charles Hayden Planetarium has dazzled and immersed visitors in the wonders of the night sky and the universe. The Planetarium has utilized three projectors since its opening. The current projector, the Zeiss Starmaster, projects over 9,000 stars as naturally as they appear to twinkle in the cosmos. The projector, coupled with the Planetarium's state-of-the-art digital system, which can access the latest astronomical databases from researchers around the world, make the Planetarium the most technologically advanced digital dome in New England.

Premiering on October 20th and created in-house by the award-winning Planetarium staff of producers and artists, the newest Planetarium show, Destination Mars: The New Frontier celebrates the persistent curiosity that drives us to explore the future of human spaceflight to Mars. The Planetarium, which has impressed visitors since its installation, has welcomed more than 13 million visitors to more than 400 original show titles over its sixty-year history.

Destination Mars: The New Frontier will examine the human desire to travel to Mars and give audiences an up-close look at this epic endeavor.



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Get captivated by the magic

THE magnetic fields of sun twist and turn when it rotates on its axis and when these fields become intertwined they burst and generate sunspots that occur in pairs. When the temperature on the surface of sun fluctuates the sun starts boiling and generates bubbles. The particles escaping from the sunspot regions when clash with the plasma called solar wind, it takes around 40 hours to reach Earth and when it occurs that causes the fascinating displays called the aurora borealis.

Wild About Lapland, offer tailor made Aurora Borealis #Lapland tours depending upon the abilities of their clients, weather conditions and the Northern Light forecasts. Their expert guides teach their clients about #AuroraBorealis and also show how the natives make a fire and cook over it. To make the experience of watching the mesmerizing lights they drive away from the city to find the perfect spot that provides the highest chances of seeing the lights on the destined night.

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Aurora Adventure

THE enchanting aurora borealis conjures images of dancing night skies, sub-zero temperatures and mountainous landscapes blanketed in snow, like glistening vanilla ice-cream. In Canada’s north-west #Yukon Territory, you don’t need to wait until winter to experience this light show spectacular. As one of the few locations on Earth where the northern lights are visible from late summer all the way through to spring, you may not even need a jacket as you gaze up at Mother Nature’s best artwork. 

Head to Yukon’s scenic Southern Lakes Region during the autumn months of late August and September, and combine two of nature’s most colourful marvels. With autumn in full swing, the Southern Lakes Region transforms from lush green to rich crimson, orange, and sparkling gold, the ultimate backdrop for wildlife viewing. Keep the camera poised for grizzly bears, elk and mountain sheep along the way, stroll the shores of Bennett Lake, following the footsteps of the Klondike gold stampeders who blazed a torturous trail on their way to Dawson more than 120 years ago. 

As night falls, the autumnal glory makes way for spellbinding auroras splashed across the sky in a mind-blowing kaleidoscope of vibrant jades, reds, yellows, and purples. Check into a wilderness lodge, such as the luxurious Inn on the Lake, the Boreale Ranch at the base of the Seven Sisters mountain range, or Southern Lakes Resort overlooking placid Tagish Lake. Autumn evenings in the Southern Lakes Region are relatively mild, allowing for active night time adventures. Meander along the hiking trails to a secluded spot to capture the very best aurora photographs. 

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Picture Credit: By Anthony DeLorenzo from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada - Aurora Borealis, CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org

VisitScotland : To boldly glow..

SCOTTISH tourism is boldly going where few destinations have gone before, with its designated Dark Sky Communities proving a hit with stargazers. Now, VisitScotland hopes that Moffat’s designation as Europe’s first Dark Sky Town will add to the country’s astronomical allure.

In February, the Dumfries and Galloway town joined Coll, the first Dark Sky Island in Europe, and Galloway Forest Park, one of only four Dark Sky Parks in the western world, as one of the best places on earth to study the sky at night.

Another place to study the night sky is at the edge of Galloway Forest Park, where the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory in East Ayrshire is a four-star VisitScotland attraction.

A recent report estimates that the Dark Sky Park is taking in an additional £500,000 over the winter months purely related to dark sky tourism with the expectation for that to rise to around £1 million.

Keith Muir, head of Tourism & Communication at Forestry Commission Scotland, which owns the park, said: ‘The Dark Sky Rangers are now in place and beginning to get some trade, and more local accommodation providers are being affected by the increase in astro-tourism.’

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Where to see the stars

BEACON HILL FARM in rural #Northumberland has its own night sky observatory for the exclusive use of self-catering guests. 

The observatory has a powerful Celestron CPC 1100 telescope, giving detailed views of stars and planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, and two additional telescopes.

A large swathe of Northumberland has been designated as one of the best places in Europe to see the stars due to its unpolluted night skies. 

Self-catering rates range from £345 per cottage per week.

www.beaconhill.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Dunstanburgh Castle</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com

NZ by night …

FROM a vast Dark Sky Reserve above the Southern Alps to immense limestone cave systems lit by millions of glow worms, Tourism #NewZealand has rounded up some of the best night activities the country has to offer. 

Aurora Australis … The Aurora Australis or Southern Lights are particularly spectacular in New Zealand.  It’s not unusual to see this natural phenomenon in New Zealand’s deep south, and this year has seen some of the most vivid displays on record. The Aurora Australis is best viewed between March and September, but it can be viewed in all its glory – any day of the year – from the Otago Museum’s new planetarium in Dunedin. Cutting-edge technology is used to give visitors a close-up view of Aurora Australis without having to brave the midnight temperatures.  www.otagomuseum.nz

Stargaze at Aoraki Mackenzie dark sky reserve … New Zealand is home to one of just five international Dark Sky Reserves, a protected area of land possessing an exceptional quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment while also preserving the visibility of the night skies. Head to Aoraki Mackenzie, a dark sky reserve almost completely free of light pollution in the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island. Stargazing opportunities include guided tours of the solar system and visits to world-class observatories.  www.earthandskynz.com   

Spot the Kiwi … New Zealand’s most famous native bird, the kiwi, is nocturnal, so to catch a glimpse of these elusive birds, visitors are going to need a torch – and some guidance on where to find them. Try a night tour at Wellington’s Zealandia Sanctuary. The 555-acre valley provides routes suitable for everyone from wheelchair-users to regular hikers. The guided night tour allows visitors to explore the valley by torchlight while searching out some of the more distinctive sights and sounds of New Zealand’s bush.  www.visitzealandia.com

Paddle to the glow worms … Ten minutes from Tauranga city in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty region is Waimarino Adventure Park on the banks of the Wairoa river. Focused on the recreational activity of kayaking, Waimarino takes guests on guided night kayak tours to see the ethereal shine of thousands of glow worms.  www.waimarino.com

Creatures of the night in Rotorua … Canopy Tours in Rotorua has launched a unique night adventure. Creatures of the Night departs at dusk and takes explorers on a guided zip lining tour through a forest, where they discover a world of insects unique to New Zealand.  www.canopytours.co.nz

www.newzealand.com

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/127665714@N08/23004468385">Aurora Australis</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/119551085@N06/15354931168">One Starry Night</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)

Where to see the stars

FUERTEVENTURA'S night sky has been designated the third Starlight Reserve in the #CanaryIslands, recognized as one of the best places to view stars without the interference of light pollution.

The Starlight Reserve concept was created in 2007, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre through its #Astronomy and World Heritage initiative. The designation underlines a commitment to preserve the quality of the night sky and its associate values, whether they are cultural, scientific, astronomical, natural, or landscape-related.

Holidaymakers on #Fuerteventura can also enjoy more than 90 miles of sandy beaches and turquoise waters, vast natural landscapes, and year-round tropical temperatures.

http://visitfuerteventura.es/en

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74465763@N00/8059176156">DSC_8202</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)