Collacutt Travels

Orion2:The Southern Skies

Discover the Southern Skies aboard Orion as she Explores The Kimberley East and West.

Discover the southern skies onboard Orion as she explores the Kimberley East and West

Nothing can fully prepare you for the dramatic contrasts of Australia's northwest, rich in Aboriginal culture and galleries of ancient artwork. Towards the west in the historic pearling town of Broom, the colours of nature are vibrant and intense: rich red earth, azure blue seas and brilliant white sand beaches. North of Broome lays the ragged Kimberley coast, a place you can only comprehend from the sea. Rugged gorges, inlets, waterfalls plunging 100 meters all combine for an awe-inspiring experience you simply can't have by travelling overland.

A Ship at sea is one of the finest places to enjoy the subtle, velvet beauty of the tropical night, and in June in the southern hemisphere the brightest part of the Milky Way is high in the sky. Our guest speakers are Professional astronomers Fred Watson and David Malin, they are both experienced navigators of the stars and never tire of sharing their enthusiasm with anyone with an interest in the night sky.

Beneath the gathering dusk they will describe how the colours of the twilight arise as the sun sets and then introduce the brighter planets, stars and constellations as they appear. As the night deepens, fainter stars fill out the legendary shapes in the sky and the Milky Way emerges from the south. Eventually it comes to dominate the night sky and Fred and David introduce to their audience the features that define our galaxy and our place within it.

In addition to presentations on deck, Fred and David will present a series of profusely illustrated talks about the nature, origins and destinies of the stars, galaxies and starforming regions that dot the sky and how what we can see fits into the modern picture of the wider universe.

As to the biggest question, is there intelligent life out there... you will have to join us to find out...

FRED WATSON : Fred Watson is the Astronomer in change of the Anglo Australian Observatory in Coonabarabran. He is the project manager of 'Rave' - measuring a million stars. A frequent guest on ABC and local radio, with a loyal following of listeners. He is the author of two books: "Why is Uranus Upside Down and Ther Questions" and “Stargazer” - the life and times of the telescope" and several articles in Australia Geographic magazine.

DAVID MALIN: David Malin is a well - known populariser of science, and writes and lectures widely on astronomical and photographic topics. He has produced seven popular science books and several travelling exhibitions of his astronomical pictures. These were made with the telescopes of the Anglo Australian Observatory, where he pioneered new techniques for astronomical colour photography and scientific imaging.

11 Night Kimberley East & West (International)
Guide to the Southern Skies
Departs 21 June 2009

Departure Date	11 Night Itinerary
Sun	Darwin, Northern Territory
Mon	At Sea
Tue	Pulau Ndana, Roti
Wed	Kera Island, Kupang (West Timor)
Thu	At Sea
Fri	Wyndham (For Bungle Bungles, EL Questro)
Sat	King George River & Falls
Sun	Bigge Island
Mon	Hunter River (For Mitchell Falls)
Tue	Montgomery Reef/Raft Point
Wed	Broome
Thu	Broome

	Oceanview B	Oceanview A	Junior Suite	Deluxe Suite	Balcony Suite	Owners Suite
11Night	$8430	$9790	$11625	$12735	$15200	$17655

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