The Jump-Up is Australia's first International Dark-Sky Sanctuary.
Outback Queensland draws visitors from all over the world to admire the natural environment, from the flat plains of the Channel Country to the mesa formations of the Vindex Ranges. As the Museum's position atop The Jump-Up is bereft of population and light pollution it is the perfect spot to stargaze.
Our galaxy has hundreds of billions of stars and stretches 100,000 light years across. When viewing the Milky Way from The Jump-Up what you are actually seeing is the breadth of our spiral galaxy. Earth is located about two-thirds of the way out from the centre of the galaxy in one of the spiral arms known as the Orion Arm.
When on The Jump-Up take time to find the parts of the Milky Way which are dark, areas where stars have been blocked out by dark nebulae. These nebulae are accumulations of gas and dust so thick that we can’t see through them. These regions are important because, eventually, the dust will collapse in on itself and become a stellar nursery where new stars are born. Come and see the beauty of the southern night sky, on show in the dark skies above The Jump-Up.
Go stargazing and love astronomy at the Museum’s Star Gallery!
The Star Gallery is the perfect place to enjoy some of the darkest skies in the world. The viewing area is free, open year-round and located at the base of The Jump-Up. Bring your telescope, binoculars, picnic and enjoy our spectacular southern skies!
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On 27 April 2019 The Jump-Up was designated Australia's first International Dark-Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark-Sky Association. For more information, download the Museum's annual reports.
