Name: The Earth Above & the Sky Below (16-years+ only)
Start: 2025-08-16T19:00:00+09:30
Location: Adelaide Planetarium

The Earth Above & the Sky Below (16-years+ only)

Paul Curnow
Adelaide Planetarium
University of South Australia
Abstract: Join renowned Adelaide Planetarium astronomy lecturer Paul Curnow for a screening of The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s Epic History. This full dome immersive experience will explore Australia's history and share traditional and scientific knowledge to tell Australia’s epic story. Audiences will be transported to four locations across the country: Girraween Lagoon on Larrakia and Wulna Country outside Darwin in the NT; Cloggs Cave on Gunai-Kurnai Country in Victoria’s East Gippsland region; Lake Mungo in NSW on the land of the Barkandji-Paakantyi, Ngiyampaa and Mutthi Mutthi people; and Jiigurru (Lizard Island) on the Great Barrier Reef, which is sacred to many, including the Dingaal community. Moreover, preceding the movie Paul will introduce you to some of the Aboriginal cultures of Australia, and tell you about their cultural view of the night sky.
Bio: Bio: Paul Curnow (B.Ed.) is a world-renowned educator and astronomer, and after 33-years is South Australia’s longest serving planetarium lecturer. In 2002, he served as a southern sky specialist for visiting U.S. and British astronomers who were in Australia for the total solar eclipse. After three decades of research, he is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on Australian Aboriginal night sky knowledge; and in 2004, he worked in conjunction with the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center Planetarium in Ohio, on the creation of a show that features Indigenous Australian stories of the night sky. Moreover, from 2018-2025, he has served as a consultant on Indigenous Astronomy for the Australian Space Agency.
In addition, Paul runs several popular courses for the public that focus on the constellations, planetary astronomy, meteoritics, historical astronomy and ethnoastronomy, which primarily deals with how the night sky is seen by non-western cultures. He appeared as the keynote speaker at the inaugural 2010 Lake Tyrrell Star Party in Sea Lake, Victoria and in 2011 was a special guest speaker at the Carter Observatory in Wellington, New Zealand. Since 2012 Paul has taken the role of Lecturer for the ‘Astronomy & the Universe’ course (EDUC2066); and between 2019-2021 for ‘Science’ (EDUC 2030) for the School of Education at the University of South Australia. He has been a member of the Field Geology Club of South Australia since 1992.
Moreover, from 2021-2024 was an advisor for the Andy Thomas Space Foundation Education Advisory Committee; and in 2023 completed a U.S. lecture tour, where he was a special invited guest speaker at several planetariums, colleges, and universities. Paul appears regularly in the media and has authored over 50 articles on astronomy.
To be held at the Adelaide Planetarium (upstairs), Building P, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus. Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes SA 5095. *BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL*. Cost $26.00 per person. Contact the Adelaide Planetarium at 8302 3138 or email the planetarium at [email protected] for general enquiries.
BOOK ONLINE HERE
This event is aimed for audiences 16 and above.
REGISTRATION CANCELLATIONS
*Please note tickets are non-refundable*
ENQUIRIES OR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact Name: Allison Price
Company Name: University of South Australia
Telephone: (08) 8302 3138
Email: [email protected]