Indigenous Astronomy

THESE EVENTS ARE PART OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF APOLLO 11'S LANDING ON THE MOON. MORE DETAILS ABOUT CANBERRA MOON WEEK AT ANU IN JULY HERE

Indigenous Australians have been reading the skies for thousands of years with a deep understanding of the Universe. To honour these astronomical traditions part of Canberra Moon Week, there will be public lectures and cultural events to enjoy.

Our Indigenous events for Moon Week include:

Indigenous Stargazing - Friday 19 July, 6.30-8pm
Did you know that Aboriginal peoples are considered the world's first astronomers? Come along and hear our Indigenous astronomer, Pete Swanton, chat about Australia's rich and extensive history of stargazing and how it differs from Western methods that we often use today. You'll even have the chance to look through our telescopes and see some of these objects.

Fire-side chats with Indigenous Elder Wally Bell - Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July, 5.30-6.30pm
Join Ngunawal Elder Wally Bell beside the fire-pit and listen to him share stories and enlighten people about Indigenous history.

The Astronomy and Navigation of Aboriginal Australians by Professor Ray Norris - Saturday 20 July, 6.30-7.30pm
Aboriginal people in Australia have a rich astronomical tradition such as the "Emu in the Sky" constellation of dark clouds, and stories about the Sun, Moon, and stars, revealing a great depth and complexity of ancient Aboriginal cultures. Not only did they know the sky intimately, but they were familiar with planetary motions, tides, and eclipses. Their songs and stories show that Aboriginal Australians sought to understand their Universe in a similar way to modern science. They used this knowledge of the sky to construct calendars, songlines, and other navigational tools, enabling them to navigate across the country, trading artefacts and sacred stories.

Dance performances
On Saturday 20 July, come to Kambri and experience dance interpretations of the Moon. Performances will be held at: