3rd April 2024

Sean Dooley the “Birdman” at the Observatory for two sessions

plus activities for Children in the afternoon and viewing at the telescopes at the evening session.

We are thrilled to have Sean Dooley come to speak for our IDSW events, National Public Affairs Manager, BirdLife Australia.

Sean will speak about importance of a dark night for wildlife including migratory birds. Sean Dooley has written for TV comedies like Full Frontal, Hamish and Andy and Spicks and Specks, is author of books such as The Big Twitch. He was also the national birdwatching champion, holding the record for seeing the most birds seen in one year. Sean Dooley is the Birdman.

Sean’s writing about birds is “driven by the desire to connect people with nature. Conservation can’t happen without people and people won’t bother to care unless they have some connection to it”. Articles by Sean can be found here.

We want to share our important IDSW message with as many people around Australia and indeed from anywhere on our beautiful planet, on ZOOM, link below to book.

                 BOOK  1.30pm -4.00pm Wednesday 3rd  April Student Session  in person      

1.30-2.30pm Sean Dooley

 2.30pm – 4.00pm

IDSW Activities for children afternoon session only  –  safe viewing of the Sun, Camera Obscura, making a Bush Clock which can  help you to navigate the night sky and find the Southern Cross, enter into our competition to count the stars in the Southern Cross at night and  win a prize from our Science Shop.

                      BOOK  Afternoon Session 1.30-4.00pm In Person

           Register for Zoom Afternoon Session with Sean 

       BOOK  7.00pm – 9.00pm Wednesday 3rd April  Session in person 

Includes viewing at the telescopes and enter our IDSW competition.

Register for Zoom Evening Session       

IDSW

• We acknowledge the importance of preserving our heritage, the rich biodiversity of the environment and the starry night sky.
• The aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a heritage shared by all humankind.
• The experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires wonder and awe and encourages a growing interest in science and nature, especially among young people in Victoria.
• The opportunity to view star-filled skies over our country creates educational and personal benefits of far reaching economic value to all and impossible to accurately quantify.
• Globally, artificial light at night (ALAN) has increased by at least 49 % over the past generation, according to researchers at the Universities of Madrid and Exeter.
• Excessive ALAN, defined as light produced by humans for any purpose, contributes to light pollution of the night-time environment.
• Light pollution, defined as the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light, can have serious environmental consequences for humans, wildlife, and our climate. It lights up the night sky denying Indigenous Australians a dark night sky that is a crucial part of their heritage, representing their stories, their culture and their calendar. For them ALAN has particularly negative impacts.
• Light pollution represents a waste of natural resources. In Australia, it is estimated that 30 % of all exterior lighting is energy wasted by directing light upwards instead of down, where it is intended to go.
• Light pollution diminishes the day/night cycle for all life. It diminishes animal habitats, puts nocturnal animals at risk and affects vegetation. For humans it has been linked to increased risks of some common cancers, obesity and many other ailments.
• Science has established that light pollution has significant economic and environmental consequences, impacting on the health of humans and the natural environment wherever it is present.
• Light pollution impact birds that migrate to and through Victoria, it also impacts on the endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum and its main food source, the Bogong Moth, so contributing to the decline in the biodiversity in Victoria.
• Solving the problem of light pollution requires educating governments, communities, and citizens on environmentally-friendly outdoor lighting practices. This includes responsible decision-making in selecting the appropriate colours of light sources, using only the minimum amount of light for the purpose and that it is directed only where it is needed.
• DarkSky international has designated the week leading up to the New Moon as International Dark Sky Week and the Observatory hosts an annual event. We continue to draw awareness to the far-reaching impacts of light pollution on all communities and promote solutions to minimise it, each April with IDSW.
• Protecting the night sky helps the all of us to improve our community and maintain its unique sense of place, neighbourhood liveability, safety, and quality of life.

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