What's On
Cost for Public Astronomy Nights:
$18.00 Adult
$12.00 Child/Concession
$50.00 Family (2 adults + 2 children), children under 3 years of age free.
Important: Parents/Carers are responsible for and must remain with their children at all times.
Current Western Sydney University staff, students and Alumni are entitled to a Concession ticket (remember to bring your staff/student ID or Alumni card with you when you attend).
Cost for Hands On Workshops
$12.00 attendee/parent/carer ticket
$17.00 child ticket (includes workshop kit)
$5.00 additional workshop kit (for parents/carers that wish to participate in the hands on component of the workshop)
Important: Parents/Carers are responsible for and must remain with their children at all times.
All public visits must be booked and prepaid online through OneStop (opens in a new window).
Sorry, we do not accept cash, cheque or eftpos.
YOUR RECEIPT IS YOUR TICKET.
Bring a copy (paper or electronic) with you.
Payment is non refundable, however if you notify us via email penrithobservatory@westernsydney.edu.au, a minimum of 8 hours prior to the start time for the program, we can transfer your booking to another event. Please include the booking reference or receipt number in your email.
Your transfer request email will be responded to within a week to confirm your new booking date.
Refer to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy for more information.
Please note: These event speakers/topics are subject to change without notice.
Wherever possible we will try to keep the website updated and our visitors notified of any significant changes.
Public Events Program 2020
| Date and Time | Event | Description | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 22 February 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | Is anybody out there? The search for extraterrestrial intelligence: A how to guide Dr Ain De Horta If you’ve ever wondered if there are other intelligent beings in the universe that are looking out from their home planet wondering the same, then this is the presentation for you. We will look at how we are currently searching for evidence of other intelligent beings in the universe and how we might search in the future. Includes presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | Book Now |
| Saturday 7 March 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | Our Neighbourhood Ms Raelene Sommer A guided tour of the Solar System, with a brief look at formation and what is happening now, and a close up look at our star, the Sun. Includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | Book Now |
| Saturday 21 March 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | From Darkness to Light: Star Birth in the Milky Way Dr Nick Tothill Stars like our sun are still being formed all around us in our Galaxy, although they're sometimes hard to see. Some of them are going to be like our own Sun, some of them will be smaller, and some will be much, much bigger. I'll talk about new stars and the places we can see them, and what this means for our understanding of our Sun and our place in the Galaxy. Includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | Book Now |
| Saturday 4 April 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | From Dust to Destruction Dr Luke Bozzetto Explore the evolution of the Universe - from the cosmic soup present during the Big Bang, to the formation of the first stars & planets, up until our present day, and then travel into the future and look into the fate of our Sun and Earth, and the possible ends of the Universe. This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Tuesday 14 April 10am – 12pm | Hands On Workshop | Rockets Ms Raelene Sommer A workshop designed for children ages 4 - 12 but lots of fun for all ages. Build and launch paper rockets using compressed air and watch a demonstration of a model rocket launch. Includes presentation, short 3D movie and safe viewing of the Sun through a telescope (weather permitting). PLEASE NOTE: Parents/carers to remain with children at all times. All attendees (parents/carers) require a workshop attendee ticket ($12). There is plenty to enjoy as part of the workshop, a presentation, 3D movie, and a chance to look at the Sun safely through a telescope. We encourage any adults that wish to participate in building and launching a rocket to purchase additional rocket kits ($5) to join in the fun. All children must have a child ticket which includes the rocket kit ($17). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 18 April 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | Dr Tayyaba Zafar This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 9 May 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | Dr Karen Lee-Waddell This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 23 May 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 13 June 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 27 June 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Tuesday 7 July 10am – 12pm | Hands On Workshop | Rockets Ms Raelene Sommer A workshop designed for children ages 4 - 12 but lots of fun for all ages. Build and launch paper rockets using compressed air and watch a demonstration of a model rocket launch. Includes presentation, short 3D movie and safe viewing of the Sun through a telescope (weather permitting). PLEASE NOTE: Parents/carers to remain with children at all times. All attendees (parents/carers) require a workshop attendee ticket ($12). There is plenty to enjoy as part of the workshop, a presentation, 3D movie, and a chance to look at the Sun safely through a telescope. We encourage any adults that wish to participate in building and launching a rocket to purchase additional rocket kits ($5) to join in the fun. All children must have a child ticket which includes the rocket kit ($17). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 11 July 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | Special Event for NAIDOC This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 25 July 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | Dr Chris Matthew This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 8 August 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 22 August 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | Special Event for Science Week Is Quantum Mechanics witchcraft or Science? Dr Peter Rohde Superpositions, spook action at a distance, entanglement, cats that are alive and dead, quantum computing - quantum mechanics has it all. Dr Peter Rohde will give you a complete run-down of all that's bizarre and unbelievable about quantum physics, raising the genuine question as to whether any of it can possibly even be true (it is). This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 12 September 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | Dr Caroline Foster This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 26 September 7pm – 9pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Wednesday 30 September 10am – 12pm | Hands On Workshop | Rockets Ms Raelene Sommer A workshop designed for children ages 4 - 12 but lots of fun for all ages. Build and launch paper rockets using compressed air and watch a demonstration of a model rocket launch. Includes presentation, short 3D movie and safe viewing of the Sun through a telescope (weather permitting). PLEASE NOTE: Parents/carers to remain with children at all times. All attendees (parents/carers) require a workshop attendee ticket ($12). There is plenty to enjoy as part of the workshop, a presentation, 3D movie, and a chance to look at the Sun safely through a telescope. We encourage any adults that wish to participate in building and launching a rocket to purchase additional rocket kits ($5) to join in the fun. All children must have a child ticket which includes the rocket kit ($17). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 10 October 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | Ms Kirsten Banks This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 24 October 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 7 November 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
| Saturday 21 November 8pm – 10pm | Astronomy Night | This public astronomy night includes a presentation, short 3D movie, tour of the dome and viewing of the night sky through a range of telescopes (weather permitting). | tickets available during the month before |
If you have a question about our programs please email penrithobservatory@westernsydney.edu.au or call (02) 4736 0135
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