New South Wales Attractions Directory : Observatories and Planetariums
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The Canberra Planetarium is one of the most modern in Australia and offers a variety of entertaining and educational shows. Featuring a Zeiss star projector, to simulate the night sky, twin banks of special effects projectors, a video projector and a truly awesome digital sound system, it is unlike anything you have ever experienced before. Featuring an 11metre perforated aluminum dome screen, manufactured in the USA by Astro-Tec, the dome is an engineering marvel in its own right.
The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), at the Narrabri Observatory, is an array of six 22 metre dish antennas used for radio astronomy. It is located about 25 km west of the town of Narrabri in rural NSW (about 500 km north-west of Sydney). It is operated by the Australia Telescope National Facility, a division of CSIRO. Visits by the general public are always welcome!
Associated with the Telescope is a Visitors Centre where you can view the telescope. The Visitors Centre is staffed by a...
Set in a shallow valley 20 kilometres north of Parkes in the central west of New South Wales, the giant 64 metre Parkes Radio Telescope is the second oldest and the fourth largest single dish fully steerable radio telescope in the world and star of the hit movie 'The Dish'. Visitors can discover this icon of science at the visitors centre and dish cafe.
The visitors centre in the shadow of the telescope has a range of interactive displays about the telescope...
At the Dubbo Observatory you can zoom into the moon and solar system, discover the Milky Way and beyond with the most high-tech telescopes in the West. Be informed and entertained with the 90 minute program that commences with an audio-visual, then venture out into the night sky and view the stars through the telescopes.
Gilgandra's clear night sky is perfect for stargazing. Spectacular views of day and night sky through 31cm diameter telescope. During the day interesting phenomena on the surface of the sun can be safely seen.
The Southern Cross and Pointers are seen most of the year and the best time to see them is in winter. You will see Stars, Open Clusters and Globular Clusters, also the Moon (when visible)! and we will try and find a magnificent Nebula, the birth places of stars! Throughout the year y...
Koolang is nestled in 4 hectares of Australian natural bushland, under a clear country sky. Koolang has one of the largest public access telescopes in Australia.
Koolang Observatory conducts school presentations, with lesson notes available.
Groups bookings are welcome with advance notice, opening times by arrangement.
3 Hours from Sydney and 100 light years from care.
Located in the rolling hills of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales in Australia, on 120 acres of beautiful countryside. At an elevation of 780 metres and well away from city lights (200 kilometres from Sydney and 70 kilometres from Canberra) the views of the night sky even with the naked eye are spectacular, and through our 46cm diameter telescope.
Daytime attractions are the wide variety of bird and animal life (kangaroos, wombats ...
Situated on Sydney Harbour, adjacent to Circular Quay, The Rocks lies beneath the giant arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and overlooks the famous sails of the Opera House. This historic quarter of Sydney was the site of the first colonial settlement in Australia in 1788. The Rocks is now home to colourful characters, residents and artists. The Sydney Visitor Centre is a good place to start. Pick up a map, chat with the multi-lingual information officers and view the Centre's archaeological e...
The Wollongong Science Centre is not just an educational facility, it is a hands-on science centre that stimulates, educates and entertains with over 120 interactive exhibits. Included in the centre is a state of the art Planetarium and Observatory with daily science shows.
Visit the white domes of one of the world's major optical observatories used by professional astronomers to study our southern skies. Siding Spring Observatory is Australia's largest optical astronomy research facility. Take a lift up to the visitor’s gallery inside the Anglo-Australian Telescope building which allows visitors to view some of the workings of the giant 3.9-metre telescope,
You can gain fascinating insight to the discoveries of outer space and learn about the wonders of the uni...
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout is open to the public daily.
Come and see the fantastic views of the city, the harbour and the world famous icon - the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
There are 200 stairs to the Pylon Lookout, 87 metres above mean sea level, but on the way up there are 3 levels of exhibits where you will discover the history and construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the men who built it, and the vision of JJC Bradfield, chief engineer.
Offering breathtaking views across Sydney Harbour, Sydney Observatory is Australia’s oldest observatory and one of the most significant sites in the nation’s scientific history.
The Observatory was built in 1858 and was essential to ship navigation, meteorology and timekeeping as well as studying the unfamiliar stars of the Southern Hemisphere. In the 1880s Sydney Observatory gained international recognition when Government Astronomer Henry Chamberlain Russell took some of the first astronomic...
Wherever you look there is something to see and discover at Sydney Tower, you’ll be amazed by Sydney’s best views! Sydney Tower takes you to the highest point above Sydney for breathtaking 360° views of our beautiful harbour city. From the golden beaches to the distant blue mountains, you’ll be amazed by Sydney’s best views.
Plus your ticket to the top includes OzTrek, an amazing virtual reality ride across Australia with 3D holographic technology, ...
The Observatory buildings are open to the public by appointment only restored by astronomer John Tebbutt II's great grandson. Tebbutt, who appears on the grey $100 note, he discovered two comets from these observatories and had a crater on the moon named after him.
His great grandson still lives in the 1845 Peninsula House.
The UWS Observatory is open to the public from Monday to Saturday and runs public nights, school programs, holiday programs, and group programs during the day or evening. Bookings essential.
The public astronomy nights run twice a month from 7.00pm to 9.00pm during winter and 7.30pm to 9.30pm during daylight saving.
These sessions typically include a talk/slide show, question time and an opportunity to view the night sky through our telescopes.
