School holiday program - summer 2007/8
3-D guided tours
Enjoy a viewing of a virtual reality movie in our 3-D theatre, then explore the skies through our telescopes (weather permitting). Be the first in the world to see our brand new solar system interactive tour and owners manual to the Moon. These exciting new programs will allow you, through our guide, to see space like never before. All new material in stunning detail.
Weekdays
Solar System Spectacular — 11am
Pure Lunacy — 12noon
Detective Lunacy — 2:30pm
The Little Things — 3:30pm
Cost: $7 adult, $5 child/concession, $20 family.
No bookings required.
Saturdays and Sundays
11–4pm
3-D Space Marathon
Come along anytime and sit back to enjoy a Space Marathon. Watch one 3-D program or all of them. You choose how long you stay. Then go up to the telescopes at 2:30 or 3:30pm.
Cost: $7 adult, $5 child/concession, $20 family.
No bookings required.
Australian zodiac
Friday 18 and Saturday 19 January 10:30–2:30pm
The Zodiac or 'Path of the Animals' is the line followed in the sky by the Sun, Moon, and Planets. Not one uniquely Australian animal has had a spot in the Zodiac — until now! Come face to face with real animals thanks to Taronga Zoo’s Zoomobile. Meet and learn about these animals, then make your own Aussie animal star maps to take home. Face painting, storytelling in our planetarium and more. Celebrate the animals, stories, and stars above the oldest land on the planet!
Cost: $10 per child, accompanying adults $5.
No need to book; just come along.
Star puzzles and colouring for under 5s
Daily 11am–4pm
Test your jigsaw skills with our space puzzles. Colouring posters for every child under 5.
Free! and no bookings required.
Bubble-ology
Monday 14 January 10:30am & 2pm
Tuesday 22 January 10:30am
Discover the awesome science behind bubbles — afterall, the universe may well be a giant bubble! See how the weather affects bubble making. Learn the secret of perfect home-brew bubble mix!
Cost: $2 per person.
No need to book; just come along.
Deep freeze
Tuesday 22 January 2pm
Thursday 24 January 10:30am & 2pm
Our atmosphere is 78% nitrogen. Experience what happens when it is cooled to -196°C. Watch as a whole bunch of inflated balloons seem to disappear into a bottomless pit. Can water break steel? You may even get to taste our own space ice cream.
Cost: $2 per person.
No need to book; just come along.
Australia Day
Saturday 26 January 10am–4pm
Solar viewing, glider challenges, frozen space science show, 3-D space theatre. A coffee cart and gelato van will provide the necessary cooling refreshments for the hot summer action.
Cost: $7 adult, $5 child/concession, $20 family.
No need to book; just come along.
Birthday parties
Available every Saturday and Sunday at 10am or 7pm. A one-hour tour for your birthday group making use of the 3-D space theatre and telescopes. Bring your own cake and enjoy it in our beautiful grounds.
Vacation daycare
Daycare groups can book 1-hour sessions for up to 40 people at 1pm on select days. Sessions consist of screenings in the 3-D space theatre and discovering the universe through our telescopes.
Cost: $5 child (2 free adults per 20 children; additional adults $7 each).
Bookings & prepayments essential on 9921 3485; conditions apply.
NIGHT PROGRAMS
Jeepers creepers ghost tours*
Saturdays 5, 12, and 19 January 8:30–10:30pm
With our friends at The Rocks Ghost Tours, explore the oldest part of the Observatory site — The Signal Masters Cottage from 1847. Learn of the 1877 assassination plot of our most famous astronomer. Then enjoy a view through our telescopes (weather permitting).
Cost: $20 adult, $15 child/concession.
Check our website for details.
* Subject to heritage works
Twilight pizza and the giant’s armpit
Sundays 13 and 20 January 6:30pm–9pm
Be a celestial navigator — learn about Orion, the giant in the sky, more commonly known as The Saucepan, then create your own planisphere and use it to explore the night sky. Afterwards enjoy a pizza supper.
Cost: $25 adult, $20 children, $70 family (2 adults + 2 children).
Bookings and prepayments essential on 9921 3485.
By the light of the southern stars
Saturday 26 January 7:30–10pm
Begin 2008, the International Year of Planet Earth (and also of the potato), by attending the annual 'By the light of the southern stars' lecture (7:30-8:30pm) and viewing with special guest cosmologist (until 10pm).
Cost: $15 adult, $10 child/concession.
Bookings & prepayments essential on 9921 3485.
Coming up in February
Focus on physics — Einstein for years 11 and 12
Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 February 6–8pm
It's been over 100 years since Einstein released his special theory of relativity. Although a century old, this theory is our best description of the way space and time work together. Dr Paul Payne will demonstrate the concepts through entertaining multimedia animations and demonstrations suitable for all those interested, especially years 11/12 Physics. A short break with viewing of stars, Saturn, and Jupiter (if weather permits), and light refreshment complete the evening.
Cost: $15 students/adult, $12 Powerhouse Museum members/students/adults;
teachers accompanying a minimum of 2 students are free
Bookings & prepayments essential on 9921 3485.
