Being in the middle of nowhere has its advantages. Whilst I like the home comforts just as much as the next person, there is something to be said about getting away from it all. And by everything I mean everything....well everything except a power source for my mobile device obviously. And as that is a solar charging power cell and we're in Australia that's not a huge proble.
Anyway I've digressed: where was I? Ah yes, well speaking of solar power, I'm currently looking up and staring at a large chunk of our solar system. (Nice segue huh?) and there is more stuff out there than I've ever seen before.
One of the advantages of being in the Outback is there is little-to-no light pollution, and with that a whole lot more detail. The usual suspects are there, Orion's Belt, and the Southern Cross to name but two, but inbetween there are thousands upon thousands of tiny stars. And sweeping across the centre, in a translucent arc made up of millions of stars is the Milky Way. Our home. Other than in an observatory I've never seen such detail*. It's awe inspiring stuff.
And then, just as I start to wonder exactly how far, and by extension how old, the stars I can see are I'm suddenly stricken with a feeling of guilt, then inadequacy. How can I be so ignorant of something that has been there all my life? Where's Professor Brian Cox when you need him? Is it too much to ask for to have him pop down and give me a quick summary of what I'm looking at?
I could, for a few moments anyway, dream up an excuse and suggest that my unfamiliarity is just because I'm in a different hemisphere to the one I grew up in and that, once I'd found the North Star at least, I'd be fine. But that's a total lie. In fact I'm not even sure I'd be able to find the North Star. My guess is that it'd be towards the North, but that's just a hunch and totally useless for navigation if I need to find the direction I want to find before being able to determine the course....
Anyway, the sky looks amazing and one of the unexpected perks of being in the Outback. I was given the option of sleeping under the stars in a Swag but I politely declined despite being reassured that the sleeping bag and mattress combination was warmer than a tent. I remained unmoved in my decision. I didn't dare admit that it wasn't the cold that was putting me off but the far-too-close-for-my-liking interaction with the wildlife. You can, after all, only take this star gazing so far.....
* Simce writing this blog I've been reminded that we saw fantastic stars from Wanaka on New Year's Eve in 2015. How could I forget? Well I had had a few drinks and was lying on picnic table at the time....