- Cook Government welcomes return of Astrofest nation's largest astronomy festival
- More than 5,000-star gazers are expected to attend the event at Curtin Stadium
- Free festival offers attendees hands-on learning experiences throughout the night
Star gazers and astronomy enthusiasts are over the moon with the return to Perth next weekend of the biggest astronomy festival in Australia Astrofest.
Science Minister Stephen Dawson said the festival was expected to draw around 5,000 people who want to learn more about the cosmos.
The free astronomy festival is one of the biggest science events in Perth and star gazers will be able to search the heavens through advanced telescopes.
Astrofest offers a unique opportunity for attendees to learn more about astronomy, space exploration and scientific discovery.
One attraction includes seeing radio telescopes working in real time and there are many hands-on space activities. Avid astronomers can get an update on one of Western Australia's key science projects, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), which is being built in the Murchison.
The Cook Government continues to invest in WA becoming a global hub for radio astronomy research, training and translation. Since 2009 the State Government has contributed more than $75 million to support the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) which is a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia.
Astrofest is run by Astronomy WA, a collective comprising more than 30 of WA's astronomy and STEM outreach organisations, including Curtin University, ICRAR, and the CSIRO.
In addition to ICRAR, there are several other organisations supported by the State Government, such as Scitech Gravity Discovery Centre and the Perth Observatory which are Astronomy WA members and will be involved in Astrofest.
Astrofest will be held at Curtin Stadium and Edinburgh Oval on 9 November from 5:30pm-9:30pm.
For more information see Astrofest - Astronomy WA
As stated by Science Minister Stephen Dawson:
"WA is the place for space and the Cook Government continues to invest in turning WA into a global hub for radio astronomy, robotics, research and training.
"Astrofest is a chance for everyone to get involved in learning more about the heavens, to better understand our cosmos and getting the chance to experience firsthand some of best space technology in the world.
"Events such as Astrofest strongly align with our Government's STEM skills strategy with a dedication to building people's interest in the space industry and cultivating future STEM career pathways."
