As we transition from the final weeks of winter into the spring equinox on 22 September, the southern sky offers a rewarding experience for observers. This month provides a variety of planetary movements, lunar events, and the steady presence of our southern...
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A New Eye on the Universe: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Nancy Grace Walton - the Mother of Space Teleacopes The recent launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Centre marks a monumental step forward for the global astronomy community. As I’ve watched this...
The Little Planet That Could: Reflecting on Pluto’s Controversial Demotion
Today marks a significant milestone in the history of modern astronomy: it has been exactly twenty years since the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified Pluto, moving it from its status as the ninth planet to that of a dwarf planet. This decision, made...
From Shakespeare to Science: The Fascinating World of Planetary Satellites
Our solar system is a bustling neighbourhood, home to more than 891 confirmed moons. While we often associate moons with the planets they orbit, the reality is far more diverse. Moons, also known as planetary satellites, orbit planets, dwarf planets, and even some...
Reflections on the Swift Boost Mission: Pushing the Boundaries of Orbital Maintenance
The recent conclusion of the Swift Boost Mission offers a poignant reminder of the challenges inherent in space exploration. This ambitious endeavour aimed to extend the life of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a telescope that has provided twenty-two years of...
Voyager’s Big 24 Hour Cruise: The Little Probe That Keeps Making History
Every now and then, the cosmos throws us a milestone that makes you stop and really appreciate the sheer, mind bending scale of our neighbourhood. As many of you know, Voyager 1 is my absolute favourite spacecraft. It is the mission that truly ignited my passion for...
Cosmic Parallels: Celebrating Solstices in the Southern Hemisphere
As we gather around our winter fires here in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the winter solstice, which occurs on June 21 at 6:24 PM AEST (8:24 AM UTC). This day marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, serving as a wonderful...
Rethinking Our Relationship With the Night
For much of human history, darkness was a natural and familiar part of daily life. The transition from day to night marked a shift in pace, activity, and perception. The night sky was visible, not as a rarity or a spectacle, but as a constant presence. Today, that...
When the Night Sky Holds Culture
In the previous blog, I wrote about the gradual loss of the night sky. Here, I want to explore something more profound. For some cultures, the sky is not simply something you look at. It is something you live within. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...