The current world record for the most people stargazing across multiple venues was set in 2015 by the Australian National University after 7960 people across 37 locations participated in the event.

Executive Assistant to Site Manager NAO, Lucia Dionysius said it was a fun event especially since we have an observatory.

“Around 2004 our Monument Association was seeking ideas for recreation beyond the usual mine site activities revolving around the gym, sport and wet mess. The suggestion of an observatory was put forward and after approval, it was built,” Ms Dionysius said.

Although the weather hindered the skyline the crowd had a great night sky-watching.

“The band of cloud across North West Queensland last night thwarted our skygazing – with the moon, Jupiter and alpha and beta Centauri visible only as fuzzy glows rather than in their usual brightness.”

Ms Dionysius said the spectacular winter night sky at Phosphate Hill had enthralled many visitors at their observatory in the past. 

“This stargazing event might encourage more people to be a part of the Observatory Team. In fact, interest has been shown already by some people.”

Many employees who live in urban environments don’t often get the chance to take a close look at the night sky from their home-bases due to the usual light pollution surrounding the area.

“Working where we do, the sky takes on a personality – in fact last night, she was quite the coquette, and showed us that nature runs to no man’s agenda,” she said.

However through their Meade LX200 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope the enthusiastic stargazers were able to observe and photograph the partly illuminated moon.

“The Stargazing event gave our amateur astronomers the opportunity, in remote North West Queensland, to simultaneously share our night sky with thousands of Australians.”

An announcement on the Stargazing World Record attempt will be made tonight regarding whether the record was broken – or not.