Ancient Skies Meet Modern Telescopes

For millennia, the Yamaji-Wajarri people of Australia's north-west coastline have gazed at the stars, their ancestors relying on celestial bodies for guidance and navigation. This profound connection to the night sky is now a central theme in the global exhibition "Cosmic Echoes: A shared sky." The exhibition features Indigenous artists from Australia and South Africa, exploring how diverse cultures perceive the cosmos.

Carlleen Dingo, a Yamaji-Wajarri artist, shares how her paintings, inspired by her people's star lore, have traveled internationally, underscoring a shared human experience across continents. This artistic endeavor highlights the astronomical knowledge held by Indigenous communities, knowledge that predates and now complements advanced scientific endeavors.

Notably, one of the world's largest radio telescopes, the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory, is situated on Wajarri country. This facility, a result of a long-standing collaboration between CSIRO and the Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation, probes distant galaxies and cosmic phenomena.

South African artist Junior Oliphant draws parallels between his Khoisan heritage and the Wajarri people's celestial observations, noting how stars served as ancient compasses and seasonal indicators for both cultures. The exhibition emphasizes these cross-cultural connections, revealing how Indigenous astronomical understanding, such as knowledge of the Seven Sisters (Pleiades), was centuries ahead of Western scientific confirmation.

The project also involves the development of a mid-frequency telescope in South Africa's Karoo region, further expanding the international collaboration. This initiative celebrates the deep-seated astronomical wisdom of Indigenous peoples and their rightful place as hosts of ambitious scientific projects.