Dubbo observatory

Your tour guide Peter Starr has a Masters Degree in Astronomy and was the former manager at Siding Spring Observatory.

The tour is the same as the night sky and telescope tour except it is limit to a maximum of 6 people.

Plus see more objects through telescopes.
Take more photos with your DSLR (Canon or Nikon) through the telescope

Have use of a pair of binoculars during your stay.

No queueing behind telescopes.

Free 6 x 4" photo of a nebula or galaxy taken through our telescope
More personalised experience answering your questions.

The night involves
A detailed presentation in the theatrette teaching the night sky and astronomy, showing images taken at the observatory of the objects you will see.

Point out the stars, planets, and constellations with a laser pointer.

View through the main 17"telescope of the planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae, etc

Detailed explanations of what you are viewing.

Answer all your questions about the universe.

If you bring your own a DSLR camera you can take photos of spectacular nebulae, galaxies, and globular star clusters through the telescope. We take 4 photos per camera. The objects we take photos of are listed below as are the compatible cameras. If you do not have a camera, my Canon DSLR can be used if you have a memory card that fits.

The show is limited to 6 people maximum. So you can book 1 spot or up to 6. Other people can book the remaining spots until the maximum 6 has been reached.

Note the tour is mainly outdoors so please wear appropriate clothing to suit the weather conditions.

$80 per person

10% surcharge applies on Sundays & Public Holidays

Tickets

On the day of the session

Tickets are purchased through 123tix. www.123tix.com.au/events/dubboobservatory

If not listed call the observatory on 0488 425 940 or email peter@dubboobservatory.com

If booking more than a day in advance

Contact peter@dubboobservatory.com

or call/text 0488 425 940.

Payment made by direct deposit

paypal, fee applies

credit card on the day, card fee applies

Cancellations

More than 72 hours notice is required to receive a refund. Please contact me by emailing me at peter@dubboobservatory.com to request a refund.

Bad Weather

If the sky is overcast we cancel the show and give you a refund. We will notify you 45 minutes prior by text message if this occurs.

AUGUST

Times may vary but are confirmed when booking

1st 9:30pm

2nd Not available

3rd not available

4th 8pm

5th 8pm

6th to be confirmed

7th 9:30pm

8th 9:30pm

9th not available

10th not available

11th 8pm

12th 8:30pm

13th 8pm

14th 9:30pm

15th 9:45pm

16th not available

17th not available

18th 8pm

19th 8:30pm

20th 8:30pm

21st 10pm

22nd 10pm

23rd Not available

24th 8:30pm

25th 8:30pm

26th 8:30pm

27th 8:30pm

28th 10pm

29th 10pm

30th 8pm

31st Not Available

Cancellations

More than 72 hours notice is required to receive a refund. Please contact me by emailing me at peter@dubboobservatory.com to request a refund.

Bad Weather

If the sky is overcast we cancel the show and give you a refund. We will notify you 45 minutes prior by text message if this occurs.

Tickets

In July tickets are purchased through 123tix. Click on bookings on the menu column to the left

From August, contact peter@dubboobservatory.com or call/text 0488 425 940. Payment made by direct deposit or paypal.

This is for sessions starting at 8pm in August.

Will be similar for a show at 9:30pm

Darkest Skies 8th to 23rd

Planets Jupiter & Saturn

Moon* Visible during show 1st to 7th, 22nd to 31st

Full Moon 4th New Moon 19th, First quarter 26th

Asteroids: Ceres

Nebulae Eta Carina Nebula, Lagoon Nebula, Swan Nebula (nebulae are not visible on the days around full moon)

Open Star Clusters Jewel Box, Butterfly Cluster, Ptolemys Cluster, Southern Pleiades, Southern Pleiades, Pin Cushion Cluster, Gem Cluster, NGC 6231

Globular Clusters: Omega Centauri, 47 Tucanae, M4

Galaxies: (Moonless nights only) Centaurus A, Magellanic Clouds

Planetary Nebulae (Stellar remnants): Ring Nebula, Dumbbell Nebula

Multiple Star Systems Albireo, Acrux, Alpha Centauri

Comets (Moonless Nights Only) nil

Constellations Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Crux, Centaurus, corvus, corona australis, corona borealis, Delphinus

Asterisms Southern Cross, False Cross, Diamond Cross, Southern Triangle, Southern Crown, Hook, Teapot, Northern Crown, Coathanger Cluster

Photography: We can take 4 photographs with your Canon, Nikon, DSLR camera excludes mirrorless cameras.

Eta Carina Nebula, Trifid Nebula, Lagoon Nebula, Swan Nebula

Mercury: Never in this session

Venus : Never in this session

Mars: Sept Oct Nov Dec 2020

Jupiter June 2020 - Oct 2020

Saturn June 2020 - Oct 2020

Uranus Nov 2019- Jan 2020

Neptune Sept 2019 - Dec 2019

Compatible DSR Cameras

Canon EOS DSLR

Canon Mirrorless with an adapter to fit an EF Lens

Nikon D DSLR

Pentax K DSLR

Sony alpha E mount (ensure it can take a photo with the lens not attached before booking)

We cannot guarantee our camera adapters will be compatible, but bring the camera along and we can try.

You will need to bring a remote shutter release to get the best photos. We have some that fit some camera models.

You will also need to know how your camera operates and in particular change settings such as

ISO sensitivity

Manual Setting

Exposure time

Mirror lock

Bulb Setting

Live view

enabling the remote shutter release for Nikon cameras.

Ensure I can take a photo without the lens attached.

more

Bookings

Premium Tour

Prices

Session Dates and Times

Objects for August Exclusive Session 8:00pm session

Best time to view planets

Enquiries: 0488 425 940
Email: peter@dubboobservatory.com