Hundreds gather for stargazing world record attempt
ALMOST 200 people gathered at USQ’s Toowoomba campus on Wednesday night to take part in a stargazing world record attempt.
Organised by the Australian National University, in partnership with the ABC’s Stargazing Live program, thousands of people gathered at locations in every Australian state and territory to break the record of most people simultaneously observing of an astronomical object through a telescope in the same 10 minutes.
The Belmain family was one of many sitting with their telescope in the grove at the university.
“It’s inspiring to see the sky,” Sophie Belmain said.
Stirling Belmain said he had looked at Jupiter, Saturn, as well as the moon throughout the night.
“It makes me want to do astronomy,” he said.
USQ astronomer and event organiser Jake Clark said it was exciting to see the number of young people out looking up to the stars. “It’s energising,” Mr Clark said. “Events like this are the spark that further drives that curiosity and wonder.
“The next astronomers to find Earth-like planets, to find things we haven’t discovered, may be sitting on this lawn tonight and this was the spark that would get them on that journey. I’m excited by that.”
The results of the world record attempt were announced last night, but were not known at time of print.