Toowoomba to look up to the night sky

TOOWOOMBA residents will tonight gather at USQ to take part in a nation-wide world record attempt.

Astronomer and PhD student Jake Clark said the world record attempt was for the most people simultaneously observing of an astronomical object through a telescope in the same 10 minutes.

“Basically it’s how many people we can get to observe the moon for ten minutes,” he said.

“There are events in every state and territory, literally all across Australia.

“We have another event happening at USQ Springfield, there is one in Brisbane, Gympie, another a far reaching as Alice Springs, Western Australia.”

The event which is run by the Australian National University in Canberra ties in with the ABC broadcast of Stargazing Live, hosted by Professor Brian Cox and Julia Zemiro.

“We’re looking like we’re not going to have any cloud cover which is super duper awesome,” Mr Clark said.

“Every time there is an astronomical event in Toowoomba there is cloud, so we’re really excited the clouds are going to hold off throughout the whole of Queensland for tomorrow night.”

The event kicks off in the quad at USQ from 6pm.

For more information and to rent binoculars or telescopes for the event visit https://bit.ly/2IC6pRd.

Photo: Kevin Farmer STARGAZERS: USQ astronomy PhD students Jake Clark and Belinda Nicholson prepare a dobsonian 10-inch telescope for the nation-wide Guinness World Record attempt for the most people stargazing.