NIGHT TELESCOPE VIEWING
A night telescope viewing session is the quintessential Sydney Observatory experience. Depending on sky conditions, you could use our historic 1874 large refracting lens telescope, the oldest working telescope in Australia (in the south dome), or our computer-controlled reflecting (mirrored) telescope (in the north dome). On a clear night, our knowledgeable astronomers will show you highlights of the southern night sky which, depending on the time of year, may include stars, double stars, star clusters, the Moon, a planet or nebula.
A night telescope viewing session is part of a program that includes a stunning 3D space movie experience and also time to explore our astronomy and meteorology exhibits. Booked night telescope viewing sessions take place regardless of the weather. In the case of unclear viewing conditions, the telescope viewing session is replaced with a fun session in our beanbag planetarium. Bookings are essential and charges apply. Book a night visit.
Open nightly Monday to Saturday
except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday holidays;
open Sunday nights during school holidays
Night telescope/3D theatre session times
April to September 6.15pm to 8pm and 8.15pm to 10pm
October and November 8.15pm to 10pm
December and January 8.30pm to 10.15pm
February and March 8.15pm to 10pm
Bookings are necessary for night sessions.
Telephone (02) 9921 3485 or book online.
Night charges for telescope/3D space theatre sessions
Adult $18
Child (4 to 16 years) $12
Concession $14
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children;
or 2 adults and up to 2 children) $50
Member (adult) $16
Member (child) $11
Member (family) $43
All night visits must be booked and prepaid prior to arrival at the Observatory. Payment for night tickets is not refundable. However if you notify us by phone on 9921 3485 by noon on the day you are scheduled to attend your night visit, we can either transfer your booking to another available night; or offer you a ‘rain check’ ticket, valid for one year, to the same value as your original booking.
Double-click the following image for information about our Schroeder telescope:
Equatorial refracting telescope made by Hugo Schroeder
H9886 Telescope, 11.4 inch equatorial refracting telescope, brass / glass, made by Hugo Schroeder, Hamburg, Germany, 1874, used at Sydney Observatory, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
DAY TELESCOPE VIEWING
If a telescope viewing session in the daytime suits you better, you can look through our safe solar telescope, through which you can see the Sun, bright stars and maybe the Moon or Venus, depending on the time of day/year. [Please note: It is not safe to look at the Sun through any normal telescope or binoculars or with the naked eye; doing so could seriously damage your eyesight.]
A day telescope viewing session is part of a program that includes a 3D space movie experience. You are also free to explore our exhibits related to astronomy and meteorology. In the case of unclear viewing conditions, the telescope viewing session is replaced with a fun session in our beanbag planetarium. Bookings are not required. Charges apply.
Open 10am–5pm daily
except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday holidays, and open 10am to noon on New Year’s Day
Day telescope/3D theatre session times
Monday to Friday (school term) 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Weekends and school holidays 11am, noon, 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Bookings are not required for day sessions.
Day charges for telescope/3D theatre sessions
Adult $8
Child (4 to 16 years) $6
Concession $6
Family (1 adult and up to 3 children;
or 2 adults and up to 2 children) $22
Member (individual and family) free
Daytime admission for a self-guided visit to the gardens and the Observatory exhibitions is free – but does not include visits to the telescope towers, telescope viewings and 3D theatre sessions.
The Powerhouse Museum is an Affiliate of the NSW Government’s Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care’s Companion Card program. This means that carers who accompany a person with a disability will be eligible for free entry on presentation of their Companion Card.
VISITOR TESTIMONIAL AFTER TELESCOPE VIEWING
This is just to tell you that we had a really marvelous night at the Observatory last Tuesday! There were no clouds at all, so it was not difficult to orient ourselves in the southern sky, including ‘our’ stars upside down. Guided by an enthusiastic presenter, Andrew, who never got tired in answering all the questions our group fired at him. We certainly take home this happening as one of the highlights of our visit to Australia this time, and we will recommend our friends at home strongly to pay a visit to this historic astronomical site.
Thank you again….
Nic. H. Dekkers and family
[Quoted with permission; Nic and his wife are from Castricum, the Netherlands, and their children, Martin and Enza are from Dee Why.]
