Stargazing

Setting up the telescopes

On Saturday the 21st of August, 60 residents of International House boarded the busbound for the IH Log Cabin out in the Belanglo State Forest. Stargazing was a great chance to get away from the busy life of a university student, enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest while seeing the stars close up through telescopes.

The hour and a half bus journey wasn't short, but residents were filled with anticipation as the scenery transformed from cityscapes to green pastures and forests. There were worries of bad weather when the rain clouds came in and the drops started to fall, but they soon gave way to sunshine, rainbows and a beautifully clear sky.

It was mid-afternoon by the time the bus arrived. People left their bags in the cabin and gathered in front of log cabin for a group photo before heading off for a short walk. Upon our return, barbequed sausages, roles, juice and salads awaited us at the cabin. Cups of hot milo with marshmallows also provided the perfect remedy for those chilled by the cool forest air. Residents relaxed, ate, chatted and waited for the sky to darken, while outside, the large professional telescopes were being set up.

Residents enjoyed a BBQ at the IH Log Cabin

The first and most noticeable feature in the sky that night was the brightness of the moon. Seeing it close up in the large telescopes really left many residents in awe. Throughout the night, there were many "wows" and other exclamations of wonder to be heard as the pinpricks of light in the sky were revealed. Through the expert explanations, residents also had the chance to learn a lot more about astronomy.

Whether you were looking to relax, chill out with friends, enjoy some time away from the bustling city, or admire the stars, stargazing was definitely not an event to be missed!