When and where Queensland Astrofest is held
Not yet announced. Its usual timing is winter new moon; the darkest weekend that fits is July 2-4, 2027.
Queensland Astrofest is held at Linville, Australia, each year at about the same time (winter new moon). It is organized by Queensland Astrofest.
Dates here are planning estimates from the Moon, not announced dates. Confirm with the organizer before you book.
How dark the sky gets at Queensland Astrofest
Computed for the night of July 3, 2027 at the observing field, in local time.
Astronomical darkness
10.7 hours, 6:32 pm to 5:17 am
Moon
1% lit; 10.7 hours of dark sky with the Moon down
Milky Way core
rises to 88° at best from this latitude
Northern limit
stars to declination +63° clear the horizon
Elevation
about 200 m (660 ft)
At latitude 26.9°S, the whole southern sky is on show: the Magellanic Clouds, the Southern Cross and Omega Centauri. The Milky Way core passes 88° high, close to overhead. Northern objects are the hard part: stars north of declination +63° never rise.
| Twilight | Evening | Morning |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset and sunrise | 5:09 pm | 6:40 am |
| Nautical twilight (Sun 12° down) | 6:03 pm | 5:46 am |
| Astronomical darkness (Sun 18° down) | 6:32 pm | 5:17 am |
What you can see from Linville on the party night
Highest altitude each showpiece reaches between the end of evening twilight and the start of morning twilight that night. Dimmed rows are out of reach from this latitude or this season; that is the case for choosing a party farther north.
| Object | What it is | Highest | Best at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milky Way core | The bright star clouds of Sagittarius | 88° | 10:49 pm |
| Omega Centauri | The biggest globular cluster in the sky | 69° | 6:29 pm |
| Southern Cross | Crux, the smallest constellation | 56° | 6:09 pm |
| Carina Nebula | Eta Carinae and its nebula | 49° | 6:09 pm |
| Large Magellanic Cloud | A satellite galaxy of the Milky Way | 31° | 5:39 am |
| Andromeda Galaxy | M31, the nearest big galaxy | 22° | 5:39 am |
| Hercules Cluster | M13, the showpiece northern globular | 27° | 9:49 pm |
| Orion Nebula | M42, the brightest nebula | 16° | 5:39 am |
| Pleiades | M45, the Seven Sisters | 21° | 5:39 am |
Planets in the night sky
Where Linville is
Linville, near Linville, Queensland. Coordinates 26.850°S, 152.270°E (approximate).
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Open the larger map · Directions. Arrive before dark: headlights on the field ruin everyone's night vision.
Camping and lodging at Queensland Astrofest
Field camping. Book early; on-site spaces at popular parties fill months ahead.
Nights at 200 m
Expect dew; bring heaters or shields for optics
Red light only
White flashlights and phone screens stay off on the field
No telescope needed
Owners share views; binoculars and a chair go a long way
Star parties near Queensland Astrofest
| Star party | Near | Distance | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| OzSky Star Safari | Coonabarabran, New South Wales | 571 km (355 mi) | Autumn new moons, two sessions |
| South Pacific Star Party | Ilford, New South Wales | 718 km (446 mi) | Autumn new moon |
| Golden State Star Party | Adin, California | 11,681 km (7,259 mi) | Summer new moon |
| Nightfall Star Party | Borrego Springs, California | 11,719 km (7,282 mi) | Autumn |
| Joshua Tree Night Sky Festival | Twentynine Palms, California | 11,783 km (7,322 mi) | Autumn |
Queensland Astrofest record
Every value in the star parties dataset for Queensland Astrofest
| ID | 52 |
|---|---|
| Name | Queensland Astrofest |
| Slug | queensland-astrofest |
| PageURL | star-parties/queensland-astrofest.htm |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Queensland |
| NearTown | Linville |
| Site | Linville |
| Lat | -26.85 |
| Lon | 152.27 |
| CoordCheck | approx |
| Elevation_m | 200 |
| Organizer | Queensland Astrofest |
| Founded | |
| TypicalMonths | 7|8 |
| TypicalTiming | Winter new moon |
| NextStart | |
| NextEnd | |
| DateStatus | Not yet announced |
| Lodging | Field camping |
| DarkSkyPlace | |
| Website | https://www.qldastrofest.org.au/ |
| ImageKey | queensland-astrofest |
| Note | |
| Source | Legacy star-parties.htm; organizer website |
From the site's star parties dataset (starparties_q426). Sky conditions computed with Astronomy Engine for the field's coordinates.