Opal prospector Conan Fahey has turned to crowdfunding to raise money to design and build an astronomy observatory, education centre and viewing platform in the mining outpost of Andamooka, 600km north of Adelaide. The tiny outback town is best known for its opals, but now Fahey and his family want to show off the sparkling night sky to visitors. “We want to attract more tourists and work with our community to build an amazing tourist attraction with heaps of educational and employment opportunities for our locals,” Fahey says. The goal is to build a centre where children can discover science through the night skies as well as develop and partner with the Aboriginal bushfood and cottage art industries. “The Andamooka Observatory will provide tools and infrastructure for Aboriginal rangers and tour guides, and host a local group of astro-holics who love to promote the night skies of the South Australian outback,” Fahey says.
Read the full article at: https://indaily.com.au/eat-drink-explore/2018/05/01/stargazers-look-build-outback-observation-post/
Images by Travis Hague
