A virtual party with astronomers for lovers of space and stars

Lead by renowned astronomers Professor Alan Duffy and Dr Rebecca Allen, Goulburnians will be able to take a guided live streamed tour of the universe on Friday and Saturday, August 21 and 22.

Hosted by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Gravitational Wave Discovery, their media manager Tania Ewing said this would be a fun and highly interactive event.

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"It's a chance for adults and children to ask questions to one of Australia's most noted astronomers," Ms Ewing said.

"It's a really enjoyable and educational tour of the universe.

"It's a fun ride."

Professor Duffy said this was a rare opportunity.

"You will have access to a personal guide to the universe as you fly past planets, collide with black holes and get to ask questions along the way," Mr Duffy said.

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To take part, participants will need to download a free virtual reality application onto their smartphones called SciVR and also head to www.scivr.com.au

Virtual reality headsets will add to the experience and is available from Goulburn Mulwaree Library.

The event will be tailored to adults on August 21 at 7:45 pm and a more kid-friendly talk for families will be on August 22 at 11:15 am.

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The event is run in conjunction with National Science Week which is a celebration of science.

The week is an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge, aims to encourage a wider interest in science pursuits, and also encourages young people to be fascinated by the world.

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