Like most museums the Powerhouse collection is larger than we could possibly display. The Powerhouse Discovery Centre (PDC) at Castle Hill contains shelves full of historical ‘treasure’ – and this includes clocks & telescopes once used at Sydney Observatory.

On Saturday February 11, the PDC holds its first Open Day for the year and I will be conducting a ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour of H-store to show off some of our most significant clocks and telescopes. Highlights will include Governor Brisbane’s Hardy ‘regulator’ clock of 1808,  George the Speaking Clock and the ultra-precise Rubidium atomic clock that disseminated time from the Observatory until the 1980s. Telescopes include the 13-inch Melbourne astrograph used to make the first photographic map of the sky and the long-lost “horseshoe” style telescope mount, invented by our very own Henry Russell in 1878 and now used for Australia’s largest telescope – the Anglo-Australian Telescope.

There are many other activities to get involved in for young and old: A Chinese Water Dragon, ‘Rocket Science’ and the Peppin Merino amongst others. Find out all the details and how to book on the Open Day flyer.

Please note this event is NOT being held at Sydney Observatory and, while the day is open to all,  you must be 12+ years old to join my ‘Time & Telescopes’ tour.