Stargazing brings community together for ‘Sky Stories 2024’ in Orange

Sky Stories 2024 community event held at Charles Sturt’s Orange campus bought together approximately 200 people in a meeting of First Nations and Western Sciences, to create a night of stargazing fun and education.

Dr Sid Parissi, lecturer in problem-based learning, helped organise this year’s annual event which saw ‘everyone enjoying and learning about First Nations culture and Wiradjuri Sky Lore from award-winning Wiradjuri knowledge holder Ian Sutherland, and by the Wagga - l - bhaan Dance Group.

Seven telescopes were provided by the Central West Astronomical Society, enabling everyone to gaze at the stars and planets while listening to the sky stories told by Ian Sutherland. The annual event is initiated by, and hosted by Charles Sturt as a Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based learning for students, but bringing students, family and community together in this way was at the heart of the evening.