The City of Sydney, the Sydney Outdoor Lighting Improvement Society, the Sydney Observatory, and Bintel (a company that sells binoculars and telescopes) are running a competition to encourage people to think more about darkness and what it means in relation to the city.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said one result of the city’s new street lighting would be to lower light pollution allowing people to see the evening sky better. She said:
"This poetry competition is a wonderful reminder for people to look up, take inspiration and write about some of the wondrous things they can see in our sky at night."
The competition is open to anyone aged five and over, including youngsters from Alexandria. There are two age-related categories and an open section for over-18s. The winner of each category will win prizes, including a telescope, to further explore the night sky. Everyone who enters will also receive a double pass for an observatory tour.
A special workshop for 13 to 18-year-olds will take place at Glebe Library today to help budding poets develop their skills. Those inspired to continue writing poetry might like to consider using printing services to compile their work into an anthology to keep.
Entries for the competition close on Friday, March 14.