Built in 1858, Sydney Observatory is Australia's oldest observatory, and one of the most significant sites in the nation's scientific history. It is recognised as an item of 'state significance' by the New South Wales Government and is heritage listed. It is located near Sydney's historic Rocks district and the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, and is easily accessed by bus, train, ferry or car.
The Observatory comprises a virtual reality 3-D space theatre, a shop, a lecture theatre, a historic
29cm lens telescope built in 1874, a 42cm computer controlled telescope and hydrogen-alpha solar telescope, beautiful gardens and the beanbag planetarium. Inside the Observatory main building there are currently two exhibitions titled By the light of the southern stars and Transit of Venus: the event that lead Captain Cook to Australia.
A visit to Sydney Observatory can include fascinating lectures, daily or nightly viewing through telescopes, a virtual reality 3-D space theatre show or launching a rocket at a school holiday workshop. At night time visitors can get fine views of the moon, the planets and some of the best-loved features of the southern sky.
During the New South Wales school terms, education programmes for schools are run daily.
Historically the Observatory was essential to shipping, navigation, meteorology and timekeeping as well as to the study of the stars seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Astronomers worked and lived in the building until 1982 when Sydney Observatory became part of the Powerhouse Museum. Today the Observatory is a museum and public observatory with an important role in astronomy education and public telescope viewing.
