Australian Sky & Telescope — November-December 2017

NIGHT LIFE

NACAA 2018

Australia’s national amateur astronomy gathering.

THE 2018 NATIONAL AUSTRALIAN Convention of Amateur

Astronomers (NACAA) will be held in the Victorian regional

city, Ballarat, over the Easter weekend, March 30–April 2.

NACAA aims to bring together amateur (and not-so-

amateur) astronomers from Australia, New Zealand and

beyond to share in learning, disseminating and planning

cutting-edge astronomical work in the region. As always,

the event will span a full long weekend, Friday to Monday,

encompassing various presentations, workshops, symposia

and posters, covering a great width of astronomical work

including observing, instrumentation, education, research,

history and local activities.

There is truly a vast amount of important astronomical

activity undertaken by amateur astronomers in Australasia.

NACAA is an opportunity for those amateurs to share their

knowledge with the broader community. The standard

of work is such that collaboration also occurs between

professionals and amateurs.

Next year’s event will be hosted by the Ballaarat

Astronomical Society (the Society spells its name slightly

differently to the city name for historical reasons) in

collaboration with the Ballarat Municipal Observatory

and Museum. The Ballarat Observatory is the oldest

operating public observatory in Australia, marking its 132nd

anniversary in 2018.

International Observe the Moon Night

October 28

Annual celebration of our celestial neighbour. Get involved!

observethemoonnight.org

Snake Valley Astrocamp

November 18–21

Dark skies 30 minutes from Ballarat or 90 minutes from Melbourne. Cabins and

camping available.

snakevalleyastrocamps.org

NACAA 2018

March 30–April 2, 2018

National meeting of amateur astronomers to exchange ideas and

foster co-operation.

nacaa.org.au

Yuri’s Night

April 12, 2018

Annual worldwide celebration of space on the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s flight.

yurisnight.net

RASNZ Conference

May 4–6, 2018

New Zealand’s annual astro gathering, this year to be held in Dunedin.

rasnz.org.nz/groups-news-events/conf-next

South Pacific Star Party

May 10–13, 2018

Annual star party of the Astronomical Society of NSW.

asnsw.com/spsp

Asteroid Day

June 30, 2018

A global day of education to help protect Earth from asteroids.

asteroidday.org

National Science Week

August 11–19, 2018

Lots of astro events around the nation. Keep visiting the website for the latest info.

scienceweek.net.au

WHAT’S UP?
Do you have an event or activity coming up?
Email us at [email protected]
ESO/B. TAFRESHI (TWANIGHT.ORG)