Dean Davidson’s Skywatch portable planetarium was thrilling children at Leigh Creek Area School and Marree Area School this week, followed by community astronomy night viewings. The famously dark skies of the Flinders Ranges availed excellent views of the Milky Way and the Dark Emu. Saturn and Jupiter were crowd pleasers, as always.
A view of the Copley Quartzite formation that contains Aroona Dam, and in the distance the Brachina siltstone formation of the Bayley Range.
This bug event is a bit of a mystery but the red ones do appear to be nymphs.
This tenacious Melaleuca glomerata is growing in Nantiberry Springs at Warraweena Conservation Park in the Flinders Ranges.
The distinctive herringbone pattern of Cirrocumulus stratiformis, high altitude cloud formation of ice crystals and supercooled water droplets, seen over Leigh Creek.
The distinctive peaks of Arkaroola as seen from the north of the Gammon Ranges.
North of the quartzite pound are precambrian formations of shale and limestone of the Tapley Hill and Aberoona formations.
Although the Pittosporum augustifolium is known as the Native Apricot, it is poisonous to humans. Commonly seen on clay, stony and sandy soils and often around creeks and gullies.
Groundwater coming up through rock layers as springs are essential to life in the Flinders Ranges.
Solanum quadriculatum also known as the Felted Nightshade or Wild Tomato is highly poisonous. Found in clay soils.
