A 7000km star journey to the State’s north has opened a new window into our understanding and appreciation of Indigenous astronomy in Australia.

A three-member team of astronomers has just returned to Perth, having spoken to Aboriginal communities in the Murchison, on the Burrup Peninsula and the Kimberley, including Wolfe Creek crater country.

Left to right: Grant Thornett, John Goldsmith and James Athanasou

“We are focused on astronomical knowledge used today as opposed to ancient knowledge used thousands of years ago,” ICRAR researcher John Goldsmith said from Wolfe Creek Crater, about 100km south of Halls Creek.

Mr Goldsmith is collecting this largely forgotten knowledge as part of a PhD project to better understand the night sky through the eyes and beliefs of Indigenous Australians.

The information gathered by the team, including Gingin Observatory head astronomer Grant Thornett and astrophotographer James Athanasou, includes detailed video interviews with elders and members of local Aboriginal communities.

Time-lapse astronomical photography was used to obtain a visual sense of what the night sky is like at Wolfe Creek crater, formed when a meteorite collided with Earth about 300,000 years ago.

The research also includes two surveys designed to gather quantitative data about the general community’s knowledge and experience of the night sky. The first relates to the 2009 International Year of Astronomy and the second how the night sky affects people’s lives.

“We are encouraging Western Australians to participate in these surveys,” he said. “They are designed not just for people with a particular interest in astronomy, anyone can take the surveys.”

In the Kimberley, the trio was fortunate to interview key elders and people with connections to the Wolfe Creek crater area (Kandimalal).

“One of the things we have noticed is that there are some sky stories that are widely known over big geographical areas,” he told ScienceNetwork WA.

“The Seven Sisters and emu star patterns are classic examples. Both are widely known.

“But what we notice is that cultural stories of those patterns are also particular to the area they are found in, so you get more detailed local knowledge.”

Mr Goldsmith said early knowledge of Wolfe Creek crater refers to a giant snake associated with the creation of Wolfe and Sturt Creek craters. Wolfe Creek pre-dates the human occupation of Australia, but it is possible early Aboriginal people witnessed meteorite strikes. 

“Essentially, it is a dreamtime story,” he said.

“One account has a snake emerging from ground to create the crater while more recent knowledge refers to a star that fell from the sky into the land.”

Mr Goldsmith said it was important for science and Indigenous Australians to record this knowledge.

The research project is a collaboration between the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, Gingin Observatory and the CSIRO Scientists in Schools program.

Additional information about Aboriginal beliefs and legends of the night sky can be found in the article Flying emus, canoes and camps in the southern sky.

Star surveys touch on public’s stellar experience

DOES the night sky play a role in your life? Did you buy a telescope or visit an observatory in the past 12 months? Have you ever seen a ‘falling star’?

Members of the public can have a say in two new surveys to better understand community awareness and beliefs about astronomy in Western Australia.

The surveys are part of a PhD research project, Cosmos, Culture and Landscape, that focuses on cultural aspects of astronomy, in particular Aboriginal astronomical knowledge.

WA astronomer John Goldsmith is conducting the survey under the supervision of Professor Steven Tingay, of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research at Curtin University of Technology.

The first survey, International Year of Astronomy 2009 in WA, aims to assess what impact the IYA 2009 had in WA.

The second survey, The Sky in Our Lives, aims to gather information about what role the sky plays in people’s lives?

The online star surveys are available at www.icrar.org/surveys/iya2009 and www.icrar.org/surveys/theskyinourlives. People are encouraged to download and return responses to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information contact Mr Goldsmith at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research on (08)92664678 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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