DARK SKIES AT SWAN REACH: GET LOST IN OUR SPACE.
Description
Get Lost In Our Space: A Dark Sky Celebration
Join us for a spectacular evening under some of the world's darkest skies! As part of International Dark Sky Week, the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (RMIDSR) and Mid Murray Landcare SA invite you to the Swan Reach Oval for a free, family-friendly celebration of our nocturnal environment.
What’s On:
🌑 Telescopes: Peer through professional equipment and enjoy green laser sky tours with the experts from Stargazing SA.
🌑 Photography: Learn beginner-friendly smartphone astrophotography tips and capture the stars with the Nightscape Odyssey team.
🌑 Smartscope Imaging: Experience live, automated deep-sky imaging of nebulae and galaxies as it happens with our Innovation Hub technology.
🌑 Dark Sky Dining: Enjoy a sunset picnic on the oval. Grab a local 'Dark Sky' meal from the Swan Reach Hotel or Swan Reach Takeaway to support our regional business partners.
🌑 Win a Scope: Our biggest raffle yet is LIVE, and every ticket sold directly funds our Skycare Projects. Even if you can't join us in person, you can help protect the 3,200 sq km of the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve from anywhere in Australia.
The Digital Pioneer: DWARF mini Smart Telescope Kit. Capture galaxies directly on your phone. (Valued at $849).
The Visual Powerhouse: Sky-Watcher 150P Classic Dobsonian. Professional optics in an easy-to-use setup. (Valued at $599).
Can’t make it on the night? No problem. You don't need to be at the event to win! We are offering these tickets State-wide and Nationally.
🌑 Winners Announced: Saturday, 18 April, at our Public Event.
🌑 Logistics: If you aren't local, we will work with you to arrange collection in SA or courier delivery (DWARF mini) to your door. Note: Due to its size, the Sky-Watcher is best suited for collection or SA-based delivery.
What to Bring:
🌑 BYO Seating: Please bring your own camp chairs or picnic blankets for the oval.
🌑 Warm Layers: Even in April, the river air can get chilly once the stars come out.
🌑 Red Lights Only: To protect our 'Gold Tier' darkness, please use red-light torches or phone apps where possible.
Event Details:
🌑 When: Saturday 18th April 2026, 5:30 PM — 9:30 PM.
🌑 Where: Swan Reach Area School Oval and Gym.
🌑 Cost: Entry is FREE, but registration is essential.
Lineup
Dr Kym Thalassoudis (Stargazing SA)
Kym is a lifelong astronomy advocate and the creator of The Evening Sky Map (skymaps.com), used by tens of thousands of skywatchers worldwide. A Past President of the Astronomical Society of South Australia and a retired rocket propulsion scientist, Kym brings decades of expertise to our professional telescope tours and celestial cartography workshops.
Matt Clarke (Nightscape Odyssey)
Matt is a dedicated astrophotographer from Adelaide with a passion for venturing into the "middle of nowhere" to find the world's best dark skies. Through his adventures, Matt shares practical astrophotography tips and tricks to make the stars accessible to everyone. He will be leading our smartphone photography sessions, showing you how to capture your own adventures under the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve.
DWARF LABS - (Innovation Hub)
Discover the world's smallest smart telescope. Weighing just 840g, the DWARF mini makes professional-grade astrophotography accessible to everyone. Visit the Innovation Hub to see its automated target acquisition and tracking in action as it captures deep-space objects and the Milky Way with one-tap shooting.
Swan Reach Dark Sky Hub
Experience the best of our river town! Our local 'Habitat Leaders' have teamed up to fuel your stargazing adventure with themed menus and premium accommodation. 🌑 Swan Reach Takeaway: Grab a 'Dark Sky Burger' or an 'Orion Milkshake' for a sunset picnic on the oval. 🌑 Swan Reach Hotel: Enjoy a 'Galaxy Crusted Butterfish' or a 'Southern Skies Schnitzel' at the historic hotel. 🌑 Gateway to the Galaxy: Stay the night in newly appointed 1 and 2-bedroom units adjacent to the Hotel.
FAQs
- What happens if it is cloudy or raining?
The event will go ahead regardless of sky conditions. While stargazing depends on clear skies, our 'Innovation Hub' and workshops will move inside the Swan Reach School Gym if needed. We will still celebrate 'Skycare' and the local nocturnal environment together.
- Is there a cost to attend?
Entry to the event and workshops is completely free! However, registration is essential so we can manage capacity on the oval. We also offer optional 'Dwarf Mini Raffle' tickets and donations to support the RMIDSR Sky Quality Network.
- Can I bring my dog?
As the event is held on the Swan Reach Area School grounds, we kindly ask that you leave your pets at home (except for registered assistance animals). This ensures a safe environment for all guests and the sensitive telescope equipment.
- Do I need to bring my own telescope?
You are more than welcome to bring your own gear, but it is not required. Kym from Stargazing SA will have professional telescopes set up for public viewing, and Matt Clarke will be demonstrating smartphone techniques
- Is there disabled access?
Yes, the Swan Reach School Oval and Gym are accessible. Please be mindful that the oval is a grass surface which can be uneven in some areas.
- Why 'Red Lights Only'?
To protect our 'Gold Tier' darkness and help everyone's eyes adjust to the stars, we ask that you avoid white-light torches or camera flashes. Most smartphones have a 'Red Light' filter in accessibility settings, or you can place red cellophane over a standard torch.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
