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.

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