Schools and courses

SCHOOLS AND COURSES

Use the links at left to plan a school visit, apply for an internship or work experience, book an adult astronomy course, or to access our solar system guide.

For handy information about Sydney Observatory day and night astronomy and meteorology school programs, you can download the following:

Education program overview (single page)
Teachers notes for school visits (17 pages)

ASTRONOMY CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

HSC relativity
6pm, Tuesday 21 or Thursday 23 February 2012
Stage 6
These one-night courses at Sydney Observatory are designed for Year 11 or 12 students accompanied by teachers. Alternatively groups of 20 or 40 can book a special session any time of the year.
$15 student/adult, $12 member student/adult. Teachers accompanying a minimum of two students are free.
Bookings and prepayment essential on (02) 9921 3485 or book online.

ADULT ASTRONOMY COURSES

Our adult education astronomy programs (some suitable for younger people as well – check course details) range from single sessions to courses run over several weeks. Many are produced and presented by Dr Paul Payne who is well known for his extensive astronomical experience and also for his highly interactive and involving audiovisuals.

As one happy customer emailed:
Hi Paul – My wife and I attended your HSC Relativity course last night. I want to thank you for providing a very interesting and well presented course on a complex subject, we both enjoyed it immensely…. Your 3D graphic presentation made it much easier to understand for both of us…. I look forward to attending some of your other related courses. – Craig Lavender (quoted with permission)

The Rocks Education Network Open Day
10am to 4pm
Sunday 26 February 2012
Venues that normally charge for admission or tours will be FREE FOR TEACHERS with discount rates offered for accompanying friends and family. The Rocks Education Network 2012 Open day (pdf).

Special invitation

2012 Teacher’s preview
Tuesday 6 March 2012,
Arrive at 6pm for 6:30 start, concludes at 9pm
Wine and pizza under the stars
Start the New Year with a special teacher’s only event at Sydney Observatory.

Aimed at primary school and secondary science and history teachers this is an opportunity to come along and see for your self just how wonderful a Sydney Observatory experience can be for you and your students. There will be a sneak preview of Fort Phillip, the archaeology and heritage area of the site, for those that arrive at 6pm.

The focus in 2012 is preparing for the transit of Venus and this is an opportunity to get useful tips on how to safely view the transit from your school in Sydney. Geoff Wyatt will outline the year ahead in astronomy, the ‘Shared Sky: Indigenous Astronomy’, and meteorology curriculum-based programs. View ‘Extreme Places’ in our 3-D Space Theatre. Developed by Swinburne University Centre for Supercomputing the 3D Theatre is one of the most powerful teaching aids and a must see for all astronomy students from year 3 to year 12, your students will see the Earth, Sun, our galaxy and the Universe as never before.

Wine and light refreshments will be served on the night and Pizzas will be ordered to suit every taste. As numbers are limited please call now to reserve your place. Places are limited to a maximum of 5 teachers per school.

When: Tuesday 6 March 2012, 6pm for 6:30 to 9pm
Where: Sydney Observatory, Watson Rd, Millers Point
RSVP: by email to observatory@phm.gov.au
Phone: 9921 3485 by Friday 24th February, 2011
Please note that this is teachers only (no partners or children)

Videos for school students

Sydney Observatory has produced three video playlets – imagined conversations between Galileo Galilei and Caroline Herschel, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton – which are ideal for school students.