Mondays 11th January-15th of February 2027 (held over 6-weeks)
2027 – 7.00pm-9.00pm
(Don’t miss the 2027 enrolment!)
Adelaide Planetarium,
Mawson Lakes Campus,
Adelaide University.
Paul Curnow
Adelaide Planetarium
School of Physics,
Chemistry and Earth Sciences,
College of Science, Adelaide University.
Abstract: Have you ever wondered about the origins of the constellations in the night sky? Who first named them and where do they come from? Do all cultures see the sky the same way? In this six-week course on ‘ethnoastronomy’, you will learn about the stories and mythologies behind the constellations and how to identify some of them in the night sky. Moreover, this course will focus on how Aboriginal Australians, the Norse cultures, Native Americans (First Nations) and others view the sky in addition to examining their cosmogonies, stories, legends and myths relating to their patterns in the sky. This is the only ethnoastronomy course in the world that uses a planetarium to teach you more about the world’s cultural astronomy. Join award winning astronomer Paul Curnow for a ‘6-week (once a week) ethnoastronomy course’ at the Adelaide Planetarium (11th of January-15th of February 2027; 7:00pm-9.00pm).
Bio: Paul Curnow (B.Ed.) is a world-renowned educator and astronomer, and after 34-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, Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes Campus. Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes SA 5095. *BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL*. Cost $210.00 per person (+$5.75 booking fee). Contact the Adelaide Planetarium at 8302 3138 or email the planetarium at adelaide.planetarium@unisa.edu.au for general enquiries.
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: Adelaide University.
Telephone: (08) 8302 3138
Email: planetarium@adelaide.edu.au