Join us for First Lights: Nyinggulu on Town Beach in Exmouth – a spectacle of light and sound that illuminates the night sky to share ancient stories of place. Guided by Baiyungu custodian Hazel Walgar of the Nyinggulu coast and Yingarrda-Wadjarri artist Sonya Edney, the spectacular Dreaming story of the great eclipse will resound across the night sky. This is the story born from silence, of Jirndarl and Willarda, the sun, the moon and their first encounter. Produced by the Fremantle Biennale, this is an epic-scale aerial choreography consisting of a fleet of 160 light drones.
Before the Drone Show, come down earlier to Town Beach to enjoy an Indigenous cultural event, with a selection of music and dance. From the Baiyungu Aboriginal Corporation’s Jamba Nyinayi Festival, this event will feature innovative performances from community dance projects with the Coral Spawn Dancers, The Jundaru Bulgarbi Crew and the Pundarra Guntharri Dancers showcasing both contemporary and traditional dance. Original music performances with Olive Knight and John Bennet compositions that centre around the traditional Baiyungu story of the eclipse – the meeting of Willara and Jirndarl – and the Jamba Nyinayi Band performing, featuring Raymond Edney, Wesley Mongoo and Jenaya Lawrence. Proudly presented by the State Government of Western Australia in conjunction with Lotterywest and the Shire of Exmouth, tickets are not required for this event.
Catch one of the courtesy bus shuttles down to Town Beach to secure your viewing spot.
First Lights: Nyinggulu is on from 5pm – 8:15pm on Thursday the 20th of April.
You can find out more about the Fremantle Biennale’s First Light Drone Show here
Image credit: First Lights — Moombaki (2021). Courtesy of Fremantle Biennale. Photo: Duncan Wright
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Scitech will inspire audiences when they deliver a selection of their awesomely educational STEM-based shows and activities for kids at the Ningaloo Centre. Scitech’s events include:
Start Here, Go Anywhere
A hands-on experience that allows visitors to explore, investigate and discover the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Packed with interactive exhibits, brain-bending challenges and awesome tech, it’s guaranteed to ignite curiosity in kids and adults alike. Open from 9am – 4pm daily. Free! Just drop on by!
Science shows
These free shows are 30 minutes each and there’s no need to book.
Under Pressure (10am and 2pm daily)
Explore just how much pressure we’re really under as we use nothing but the ocean of air around us – and a little bit of science – to turn your world inside out and upside down. Although we can’t see it, air pressure is responsible for loads of everyday phenomena – everything from how to open jars, to how our lungs work, to what happens to humans when they go into space. Join our Science Presenters to investigate, ask questions, make predictions, and test our ideas to understand some of the more surprising and unusual effects it has on the world around us
Hot vs Cold (11am and 3pm daily – please note there will be no 11am show on the day of the eclipse, Thursday 20th of April)
Two temperatures enter, one temperature leaves – and the results are sure to surprise! Our science presenters explore how the hidden properties of materials affect how heat forms, flows and feels with this astonishing demonstration of thermodynamics. Audiences will make predictions and test ideas in this ultimate showdown between hot and cold.
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
What’s up in the night sky? The spectacular stars in the Milky Way Galaxy are waiting for you to see in these incredible stargazing sessions on our telescope fields at Koobooroo Oval.
Explore the night sky with Astrotourism WA Astronomy Guides and volunteers. See an amazing green laser pointer tour of the southern hemisphere night sky constellations. Everything you need will be supplied for you to view the incredible stellar objects, including Venus, the Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds, star clusters, nebulae and much more.
This is a rare opportunity for this kind of stargazing in the glow of a solar eclipse – so don’t miss out! Bookings are not necessary. Sessions run from 6.45 pm to 9.15pm with the Green Laser Pointer Tours repeated at 7 pm, 7.45 pm and 8.30 pm nightly in Koobooroo Oval – just next to Federation Park.
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Emeritus Professor David Blair, Australian physicist and professor at the University of Western Australia and Director of the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre, will host a fun and exciting talk about the Wallal Experiment and Einsteinian Physics at the Ningaloo Centre.
The Wallal Experiment was a momentous event that proved Einstein’s theory of relativity – right here in WA! A family-friendly show, these talks delight everyone from primary school kids to grandparents, science enthusiasts to those starting out on their scientific understanding. Everyone is encouraged to bring friends – and questions!
Einsteinian Physics is an exhibition and a series of engaging, mind-bending, and intriguing STEM activities for children and families. See first-hand the Einstein First Team do live eclipse simulations and show you earth-moon orbital dynamics on the spacetime simulator!
No need to book – just come along!
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Astronomy and Art – it’s all on at the Ningaloo Centre.
Visitors are invited to see an exhibition of Western Australian astrophotography at The Ningaloo Centre Tantabiddi Travelling Gallery, curated by Roger Groom. The exhibition will be on every day of the festival – and for the entire month of April. Roger has been the curator of Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibition for the last 3 years.
This is a wonderful opportunity to see incredible astrophotography produced here in WA and gain a deeper understanding of the works and astrophotography through discussion with esteemed astrophotographer Roger Groom
Free talks by Roger Groom:
He will be holding free talks at the gallery on
Sunday the 16th of April at 11am
Tuesday the 18th of April at 2pm
Then on Friday 9 am-12:00 pm join Roger for the BYO “Best of your eclipse” Event. This is designed to help enthusiasts get more from their own eclipse photography, in this workshop guests will learn from others, from Roger, and build up their astrophotography knowledge. Guests are welcome to arrive from 9 am to mingle with other astrophotographers. Roger will arrive at 10 am, encouraging all photographers to talk about their photographs, while offering his experience and suggestions on image processing and astrophotography tips. Enthusiasts can come and go at any time but Roger will be on hand until 12 pm
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Please be advised this event at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse has now sold out. There are free talks by Roger Groom at the Tantabiddi Gallery on Sunday the 16th of April at 11am and Tuesday the 18th of April at 2pm. Also, on Friday 9 am-12:00 pm you can join Roger and fellow astrophotographers for the BYO “Best of your eclipse photo” gathering. In addition, free stargazing will be available in our telescope fields on Koobooroo Oval with Astrotourism WA. Sessions run from 6.45 pm to 9.15pm, with the Green Laser Pointer Tours repeated at 7 pm, 7.45 pm and 8.30 pm nightly.
Shoot (for) the stars!
Roger Groom of Astro Photography Australia has been capturing astrophotography for over 20 years and will be leading workshops to help you enjoy astrophotography and achieve the best you can with your photography equipment. The workshops Roger will provide at Exmouth will include Astro Photography info sessions together with practical field workshops, and facilitating group discussion and sharing of your solar eclipse photography to inspire and improve your results.
Not only has Roger been active in the WA astronomy community with roles including Chairperson of the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group, but Roger has been curator of the Astrofest Astrophotography Exhibition from 2020 to 2022 inclusive. His astrophotography workshops enable others to enjoy the night sky through photography while offering fantastic hints and hacks in this incredible art form. Enjoy mentoring on your astrophotography techniques and methods and bring your equipment and questions for a fun star-filled night.
Bookings essential and tickets are for the heavily subsidised cost of $45 + booking fee
Must bring your own camera, tripod and head torch/torch
Join him at the Dark Sky Festival for one of his workshops:
*SOLD OUT* Sunday 16th of April, 1-3pm (Theoretical workshop – Tantabiddi Gallery, Ningaloo Centre)
*SOLD OUT* Sunday 16th of April, 7-9pm (Practical field workshop – Vlamingh Head Lighthouse)
*SOLD OUT* Tuesday 18th April, 7-9 pm (Practical field workshop – Vlamingh Head Lighthouse)
Roger’s practical field workshops will be held at VLAMINGH HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change
Beloved public figure and author, Broome astronomer Greg Quicke, lovingly known as Space Gandalf, will present a public talk and book signing on Friday 21st of April from 11am – 12pm in the Ningaloo Centre.
Paying particular attention to the power of the Total Solar Eclipse, Space Gandalf, will present an hour-long presentation of our home planet’s position in space. He’ll explore the very real relationships within our planetary, stellar and galactic neighbourhoods.
Based on his books, ‘Earth Turning Consciousness – an Exercise in Planetary Awareness’ and ‘Is The Moon Upside Down?, and translated to television through the ABC’s multi-award winning documentary, ‘A Stargazer’s Guide to the Cosmos’, Greg’s guided journey under the magnificent Exmouth night sky will inspire all curious minds.
*Please note the Dark Sky Festival program is subject to change