ABOUT 175 people have booked their spot to do Tamworth’s part in a world record attempt tomorrow night.
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It’s hoped that more than 30,000 people across Australia will observe the moon during the same 10-minute window, smashing the record of 7960 people simultaneously stargazing in 2015.
Tamworth Regional Astronomy Club spokesman Grant Quinn said the conditions for the attempt were looking good and the club was “quite happy” with the number of people keen to take part.
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“This time of year is pretty good viewing in Tamworth; we’ve usually got pretty clear skies during the autumn and winter months,” Mr Quinn said.
“We very rarely have any trouble at this time of year – cross our fingers.
“If we got rain, we wouldn’t complain, but if it could hold off for one more night and then bucket down the next day, that would be ideal.”
Australian National University, in collaboration with ABC-TV, is organising the new Guinness World Record for Most People Stargazing Across Multiple Venues.
Their aim is to “set a record so large that it will be nearly impossible to break again”.
On the ground
In Tamworth, the night will be held for ticketholders at the botanic gardens, starting with a barbecue and a guided tour of the nighttime sky.
The record attempt will be at 8.35pm.
The forecast for Tamworth by 9pm is for clear skies and 11 degrees Celsius, so Mr Quinn said binoculars or a telescope was not the only thing ticketholders should bring.
“One of the essential pieces of equipment for astronomers is a decent jacket and a beanie,” he said.
“We’re recommending people should rug up fairly well.”
Mr Quinn said the committee was negotiating with Tamworth Regional Council on the requirements for the new $1.8 million science centre and observatory slated for the Victoria Park precinct.
“We’re on track for construction to start towards the end of the year, is my understanding,” he said.
“The complete build and fit-out will probably take 12 to 18 months, I’m led to believe, so within two years we should have the whole thing up and ready …
“This sort of event would be a perfect fit for this sort of facility.”