From stargazing tours to DIY adventures and amateur astronomy clubs, the Blue Mountains has many options for exploring the night sky. (Photo: Liam Foster)
By Linda Moon
Taken for granted, the night sky is integral to the health of the whole natural world, including our own health and wellbeing. Local Blue Mountains astronomy groups are helping us rediscover and protect it from light pollution.
Key Points:
- The Blue Mountains is one of the best locations for stargazing and astronomy close to Sydney.
- Darkness is critical to environmental and human health but dark skies are diminishing due to human activities. There are things you can do to make a difference.
- Local astronomy groups with support from Blue Mountains City Council are working to establish a Dark Sky Park in Linden.
I’m standing in a dark field in the country. My eyeball, pressed to a telescope, is focused on a shining orb with a dazzling halo suspended in the vast velvety blackness of space.
“Whoah!” It’s one of those moments when the English language fails.
Blue Mountains Astronomical Club
Behind me, voices crawl out of the darkness. The shadowy shapes of the Blue Mountains Astronomical Club (it’s their first public open night) shift from one big telescope to another.
In astronomy – as in photography – it’s all about the gear and epic subject matter. Tonight, the club members are freely sharing it with my family. The Tarantula Nebula. Close-ups of craters of the moon. Jupiter. Sirius. Distant galaxies. Better than Netflix, there’s something deeply connected and palpably real about a bunch of humans sharing the dark and the wonders of creation.
“It makes you wonder what the point of all this [outer space] is,” muses Jason, owner of the scope I’ve been peering through. I can’t see his face. At 9.30pm, Hampton is a dark place.
In a moment reminiscent of Star Trek, Alexander Massey (the club’s founder and a natural educator) shoots a laser beam at the heavens. For our benefit, he traces out the shapes of the constellations. The beam darts over to cloudy clusters of stars. The nearest to Earth is the Andromeda Galaxy. Even so, it’s around 160,000 light years away, Alexander says. Using the analogy of jumping in your car and hitting the hyperdrive button, he says “it will take 160,000 years to get there.”
Blue Mountains Astronomical Club enjoying a night out with the stars. (Photo: Alexander Massey)
Magic and mystery of the night sky
Clustered around Nick’s telescope, the group is thrilled about the Great Red Spot. The most famous feature of Jupiter, it’s a persistent gigantic storm (the biggest in the solar system) that’s been raging over the surface of the planet for centuries, Alexander says.
Another boon of the night is the shadow transit of an eclipse on Jupiter. “Seeing the Great Red Spot during an open night, and then to see a shadow transit of an eclipse, that’s like winning the lottery,” Alexander enthuses.
Peering through the telescope, I’m besotted by two moons hovering around the planet. Over 146 moons have been identified in Jupiter’s orbit. Multiple planetary moons are common in outer space, Alexander reveals: one of many tantalising astro tidbits.
Dark skies of the Blue Mountains
Ironically, Alexander lives in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. “The best skies are away from the city,” he explains. “You’re forever fighting conditions.” This includes air and light pollution, mist and dew (which fogs up optics).
Researching micro-climates years ago led the club to a site in Katoomba.
But suitable dark, accessible sites are literally shrinking, he says. Growing light pollution and unavailability of the Katoomba site, have meant the club have moved their activities to Hampton.
“On nights when there is no mist, the prevailing conditions are bone dry, extremely transparent sky and outstandingly good for astronomy.” – Alexander Massey.
Linden Observatory is the biggest publicly accessible telescope in NSW. (Photo: Linden Observatory)
Linden Observatory
Also concerned about preserving the Blue Mountains night sky is Ian Bridges, a trustee of Linden Observatory. The observatory, established in the 1940s, is a heritage and educational site. Crucially, it has the largest publicly accessible telescope in NSW, he says.
Historically a dark place – it’s located on a plateau bound by national park on 40 hectares of land – light from Sydney is a growing problem for the observatory. It’s additionally been affected by flight paths.
Aircraft have bright navigation lights, but a bigger problem is turbulence, Ian says. Astronomy relies on what’s known as good ‘seeing’ conditions. Essentially, this is about a stable atmosphere: “When things don’t move you can see more detail.”
Aircraft form turbulence and also contrails which can disrupt seeing conditions and visibility over very large areas, he says. The effects of a plane flying past can last for hours afterwards.
On the upside, the local community is taking action.
Advocacy for the skies
“Blue Mountains City Council is supporting efforts to have Linden recognised as Australia’s first Dark Sky Community” – Ian Bridges.
Certification through the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA) would involve reducing lighting in the village.
“More efficient lighting would start to give the stars back to people,” Ian says. He’s met school kids from Sydney who’ve never seen the Milky Way before.
The night sky is something we take for granted until it’s taken away. “It’s part of our long-term heritage as humans on the planet,” Ian says. “It’s tied up with our creation stories. There are so many stories about the constellations and mythology around it, the zodiac and the gods, and in indigenous astronomy; the Dark Emu.
“To be losing that in modern times because of technology, it’s just another way that people get out of touch with nature.”
Linden Observatory, an advocate for the Dark Sky Movement. (Photo: Linden Observatory)
Growing light pollution
Local astronomer and co-founder of Blue Mountains Stargazing, Dimitri Douchin, is another Dark Sky advocate.
“Darkness is essential to the circadian rhythms of humans and other life forms, biodiversity and ecology.” – Dimitri Douchin.
Light pollution can disrupt migratory patterns, reproduction, plant cycles and more. Dimitri cites the example of the native Bogong Moth whose migration has been impacted by light pollution.
A growing body of research shows light exposure at night is linked to human health risks including poorer sleep and cancer. Lighting at night also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
“Light pollution is the fastest growing pollutant in the world, and increasing by almost 10 per cent each year.” – Australasian Dark Sky Alliance.
Which means a dark night sky could be a thing of the past for much of the world.
“We’re losing the fainter stars and we’re losing some of the star patterns,” Dimitri says. Satellites contribute to the problem as well and create new phenomena that may be puzzling or even frightening to remote communities, he says.
“The sky is an integral part of the culture, as is the landscape. If you dig out a mountain, then you’ve lost that landscape. If you do the same with the sky, if you send too many satellites, the sky is brightening and you lose some of the culture.”
Astronomer Dimitri Douchin showing off the stars in the Blue Mountains. (Photo: Tourism Australia)
Blue Mountains Stargazing scores award
Dimitri, an adjunct researcher in cultural astronomy at Western Sydney University, reminds us that the night sky is the basis of meaning and calendars in all cultures. “The sky is a mirror to our identity. Every culture in the world has put meaning or stories into the sky.”
As dark skies are becoming more rare, more people are curious to see them, he says. His awarded tours (Blue Mountains Stargazing won Bronze for the NSW Tourism Award in the Tour Operator Category 2023) showcase the wonders of the heavens to many. This includes people from Asia who’ve never seen a starry sky.
“For me, it’s about feeling alive,” he says.
“When we see a starry night we become children again. We’re in awe; we have that sense of connectedness and togetherness where the focus point is not a TV.” – Dimitri Douchin
“Everybody has a personal relationship with the sky. And that’s what makes it so global to everybody.” added Dimitri.
Saturn is currently on show. The magical world of astronomy and stargazing:– a thing in the Blue Mountains. (Photo: Alexander Massey)
Where to go stargazing in the Blue Mountains
“You don’t need a telescope. Binoculars are fantastic astro-tools. I also recommend an app called Skysafari.” – Alexander Massey
Blue Mountains Stargazing
Astronomer led tours including storytelling, the use of lasers to identify constellations, and the chance to peer into a telescope, run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Wentworth Falls picnic area. Gift vouchers and high-end tours are also available.
https://www.bluemountainsstargazing.com.au
Linden Observatory
Monthly public viewing nights (soon to expand to more often) run by Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group for a small contribution of $10 towards upkeep of the site.
Book at https://www.wsaag.org/index.php/club/linden-observing-site
Blue Mountains Astronomical Club
Monthly meet-ups for members, possible future public events. You can also contact the club to organise paid private, group or school tours.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1927690317312646
DIY Stargazing
Ian and Alexander recommend the following hot spots:
- Hargraves Lookout, Mount Blackheath Lookout (and other lookouts in Blackheath)
- Katoomba Falls Reserve
- Narrowneck, Katoomba
- Govetts Leap and other lookouts in Katoomba
“Even close to a big city, we can still do something that’s meaningful to preserve the night sky.” – Dimitri Douchin.
Take Action:
- Learn more about environmentally sensitive lighting from ADSA (the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance.)
- Light only the area you need, using the lowest intensity you can, and avoiding light spill by shielding with curtains, etc. Choose downward facing light and (if you need outdoor lighting): sensor lighting. Use warmer red-spectrum lighting over blue-spectrum light. The latter has a worse impact on wildlife and human health at night.
- Get your home or business certified as Dark Sky Sensitive.
Share this article:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
More from around the region
We are thrilled to announce that award-winning health writer and author Sophie Cousins will be leading the workshop: Our Community, Our Stories: Writing for Change from 2-5pm on Saturday 25 May at the Planetary Health Precinct. Sophie`s work has been published in the New York Times, London Review of Books, the Guardian, the Lancet, Meanjin and others. She also works as a public health consultant for the World Health Organisation. The workshop will be followed at 7pm by the launch of the Planetary Health Writers Network. Places are limited so bookings essential (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/our-community-our-stories-writing-for-change-tickets-895548458547
#writingforchange #impactfulstories #solutionsjournalism #writingworkshop #planetaryhealth #changethestory #thenewsweneed #writersnetwork #bluemountains #katoomba
We`re thrilled to welcome Tamsyn McGrouther to our growing team of volunteer storytellers. She`s reporting on how the Springwood Lot Party transformed an underused space, the car park at Springwood Train Station, into a vibrant community space with food stalls, art opportunities and live music. Read more in Springwood Area Local News (link in profile) : https://springwoodlocalnews.com/springwood-lot-party-2024/
#changethestory #hyperlocalmedia #solutionsmedia #springwood #inspiringstories #planetaryhealth #bluemountains #localnewsmatters
What do tea, samurai clans, William McArthur, Benjamin Franklin, Vietnam and the Botanic Gardens at Mount Tomah have in common? Read our story in Blackheath Area Local News to explore the way camellias and cultures are woven together and why it’s important we think about conserving biodiversity as a global project implemented at a local level. (link in profile) https://blackheathnews.com/camellias-at-blue-mountains-botanical-garden/
@botanicsydney #botanicgardens #mountomahbotanicgardens #camellias #camelliasinensis #tea #samurai #bluemountains #themounts #biodiversity #planetaryhealth
Mushrooms are a hot topic at the moment with more and more research illuminating the essential role these organisms play in the health of the planet as well as the significant health and medicinal benefits they hold for humans. Belle Butler visited local mushroom grower, Alex Felix, at his farm in Lawson to talk about the mighty mushroom. Read more in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile)
https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/earthrising-mushroom-farm/
#mushroomgrowkit #mushrooms #fungi #growyourown #lawson #bluemountains
Mushrooms are a hot topic at the moment with more and more research illuminating the essential role these organisms play in the health of the planet as well as the significant health and medicinal benefits they hold for humans. Belle Butler visited local mushroom grower, Alex Felix, at his farm in Lawson to talk about the mighty mushroom. Read more in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile):
https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/earthrising-mushroom-farm/
#lawson #mushroomfarming #fungi #mushroomcompost #oystermushrooms #mushroomgrowkit #bluemountains
Maligned through the ages for their association with witchcraft, disease, drug use and poisonings, the fungus kingdom is gaining due credit thanks to ecologists, photographers and foragers. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News (link in profile):
https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/fungi-of-the-upper-blue-mountains/
#fungi #fungus #mycelium #fantasticfungi #bluemountains #planetaryhealth #katoomba #foraging #fungiforaging #fungiphotography #ecology
Yesterday we interviewed physicist Emeritus Professor Hans Coster at Middle Earth in Lithgow. He was in charge of the Sydney Chapter of the Club of Rome and we can`t wait to share with you everything we learnt when we visited him in the home he`s built into a hill in Lithgow. Subscribe to our newsletter via any of our news sites to make sure you get this story! Link in profile.
#nickelironbatteries #middleearth #planetaryhealth #hanscoster
Inspiring reading and a video of Harry Laing`s mesmerising performance of `Time of Fire` in the Blue Mountains Planetary Health newsletter (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3UyytbE
Subscribe to receive this fortnightly via any of our news sites:
Katoomba Area Local News: Fungi of the Upper Blue Mountains
Mid Mountains Local News: The Fun Guy: Earth Rising Mushroom Farm in Lawson
Blackheath Area Local News: A Carnival of Camellias: Beauty and Biodiversity at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
Springwood Area Local News: Springwood Lot Party: Transforming an Underused Space Into a Vibrant Community Event
Lower Mountains Local News: Women Helping Women to Survive and Thrive
Lithgow Local News: Fabulous Fungi in Lithgow & the Blue Mountains
@botanicsydney @zontaclubbluemountains
#fungi #fantasticfungi #camellias #zonta #camelliasinensis #springwood #harrylaing #timeoffire
With a bit of tweaking we can reduce how much we need to spend on water and energy. Blue Mountains libraries now stock free-to-borrow ‘My Energy and Water Saver’ kits that Blue Mountains residents can use to assess their homes for energy and water efficiency. Belle Butler borrowed one of the kits and discovered some room for improvement in her Lawson home. Read more in Mid Mountains Local News (link in profile) https://www.midmtnslocalnews.com/saving-power-with-take-home-kits/
@bluemountainscitycouncil
#energyefficiency #waterefficiency #savemoney #savetheearth #freeresource #librariesrock #takeaction #planetaryhealth
Blackheath Public School is providing hands-in-the-dirt lessons on how students can make their school more sustainable. From Crunch & Sip to Cluckingham Palace – literally! – organic waste makes the sunflowers shine and worms frolic in the fertile compost. Students will soon be eating spinach and cheese scrolls made by the canteen using garden produce, while parents report their children want to eat more vegetables. Read more in Blackheath Area Local News (link in profile): https://blackheathnews.com/sustainability-at-school/
blackheathpublic_pandc #blackheathpublicschool #blackeath #bluemountains #sustainableschools #schoolgardens #schoolgardensmatter #planetaryhealth
A fun day yesterday for @bluemountainsplanetaryhealth! In the morning we interviewed and filmed the young people in our Upcycling Fashion Skillshare program. They`re helping create the circular economy we need. In the afternoon we ran a workshop on media skills to help another group of young people learn how to create the news we need, and the news they want to see! They learnt how to use green screen and teleprompter technology as well as skills for interviewing and presenting the news. We`re looking forward to sharing the outcomes! Thank you @heli.jones @kalanigacon @kfmmedia #solutionsmedia #thenewsweneed #upcyclingfashion #planetaryhealth #skillshare #katoomba #bluemountains #pluriversity
Such a fabulous day working with a great bunch of young people to learn how news is made, how green screens work and how to create the news we all need to hear. We can`t wait to see the end result!
#solutionsmedia #thefixingnews #thenewsweneedtohear #greenscreens #mediaproduction #planetaryhealth #skillshare
