Night Sky & Telescope Tour



The Night Sky & Telescope Tour is held on most clear evenings.
This is the first show in the evening.

In school holidays we sometimes run a second show, a Late Show after 10pm, and a Dawn Show.

Sessions and times available are listed when you book. For further information, scroll further below.

For information on the Premium Tour and Astrophotography session, select them from the main menu.


The Night Sky & Telescope show includes

An Astronomy Presentation

Point out the Stars, Planets, and Constellations with a laser pointer.

Look through up to 9 telescopes (depending on numbers attending) at the stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Objects we view are chosen from the list at the bottom of this page.

Answer your astronomy questions.

Take one photo of a colourful nebula with your compatible DSLR camera or bring your SD card that fits our Canon RA mirrorless camera.

Duration is an hour and 15 minutes.

Group size is maximum 55 people.
This maybe lower depending on which covid-19 restrictions apply at the time.

If you prefer a smaller group size, consider the Premium session which has a maximum limit of 6 people.

The session is suitable for people 5 years and up.




Late Show



The Late show is equivalent to Night Sky & Telescope Tour but held in the late evening in school holidays on selected dates.




Saturn and Jupiter show



There are no planets visible in the 7pm session until September 2021.

Saturn and Jupiter are visible in the hours before Sunrise in April & May and are the best planets to observe. So we have scheduled a Dawn show to take advantage of these planets.

The Milky Way is also best observed at this time in April & May on moonless nights.

The show is equivalent to the Night Sky & Telescope Viewing described above but with the planets Jupiter and Saturn added as well.

The show is held at 4:30am when the planets Jupiter and Saturn are visible.
Saturn and Jupiter are visible up to 6am so if 4:45pm is too early for you you can arrive at any time up to 6am to view as long as you have a pre-purchased ticket.




1: astronomy Presentation





The astronomy presentation is conducted outdoors during while covid-19 restrictions are imposed.


We teach you some basic astronomy, help explain the objects you will see through the telescopes, and show you some images we have photographed through our telescopes of the objects you will see.​



2: Point out the Stars & planets





We point out the stars, planets, constellations, satellites, and other objects that are visible in the sky.


We show you how to navigate, tell the time, and date using the stars.




3: Telescope Viewing





We have up to 9 telescopes to view through, the number depending on how many guests there are.


We will show any planets that are visible, star clusters, binary stars, nebulae, and galaxies. A list of what is visible for the month is listed at the bottom of this page.


On nights around Full Moon, galaxies and nebulae are usually not visible.


The objects we view vary depending on the time of night and the time of the year due to the Earth's rotation and orbit around the Sun.


The objects we plan to show are from the list below for the current month.


We will explain what you are looking at and answer your questions.




4: Take an Astrophotograph with your DSLR Camera





We can take a photograph of a nebula if you have either a compatible SD card or DSLR camera.


Bring your compatible SD card (not micro) and take a photo of a nebula using our Canon mirrorless Ra camera on the main telescope. This is modified for astronomy to take a truer colour photo.


Or if you own and bring your canon or nikon DSLR camera, we can take a single photo of a colourful nebula through the main telescope. On nights around full moon, nebulae don't photograph well so we take a photo of the Moon.


We use the camera body only and attach our T-ring and T-adapter which will then fit onto the main telescope.


One photo is taken per camera, not per person.

​

Extra photos can be taken if time permits at $10 per photo or consider either the astrophotography tour (12 photos) or Premium tour (4 photos)


Compatible Cameras

Canon DSLRs and mirrorless that fit an EF type lens

Nikon D series DSLR

Pentax K DSLR

Sony including mirrorless (ensure it can take a photo without the lens attached)


Other brands, models, mirrorless cameras may work but I cannot guarantee they are compatible as I may not have the correct T-ring.


We sell photos of the objects I have taken in our gift shop if you don't have a camera.


Please know how to operate your camera, I know some cameras but not all. ISO, exposure time, and setting to manual or bulb setting is required to be known.



Times and Dates






Note that start times can vary on certain nights but time confirmed upon booking.​​​​


Night Sky & Telescope Tour Times


January .............................9:00pm


February 1- 13...................9:00pm

February 16 - 28...............8:45pm


March 1 - 5.........................8:45pm

March 6 - 14.......................8:30pm

March 15- 24..................... 8:15pm

​March 25 - 31.....................8:00pm


April 1..................................8:00pm

April 2 - 3...........................8:00pm, 9:30pm

April 4- 17..........................7:00pm, 8:30pm

April 18 - 30...................... 7:00pm


May.......................................7:00pm

May 26 - Lunar Eclipse Show 7:45pm to 9:15pm


June......................................7:00pm

June 11 - 13.........................6:15pm, 7:30pm, 9pm

June 14 - 25........................7:00pm

June 26 - 30.......................6:15pm, 7:30pm


July 1- 12..............................6:15pm, 7:30pm

July 13 - 31...........................7:00pm


August..................................7:00pm

September...........................7:00pm


October 1-2..........................7:00pm, 8:30pm

October 3-4.........................8:00pm, 9:30pm

October 5 - 10 ....................8:15pm

October 11 - 31....................8:30pm


November............................9:00pm

December............................9:00pm

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LATE SHOW


​May - None scheduled


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Saturn & Jupiter Show

May 4:45am


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Best Months to view the planets for the first session.


All objects are at their best when they are overhead in the sky as we are observing through less atmosphere. When objects are low they can be blurry as we look through much more atmosphere.


Mercury..............................Always too low for good viewing in session 1

Venus..................................Oct to Nov 2021

Mars.....................................Dec 2022

Jupiter................................Sept to Nov 2021

Saturn ..............................Sept to Nov 2021

Uranus...............................Dec 2020 to Jan 2021

Neptune..............................Oct to Dec 2021



Best Months to view the Milky Way


July to September on moonless nights



Prices






Prepaid ticket prices from the ticketing agency


Online Prices


Night Sky & Telescope Viewing Session:

$28 per adult, $20 per child U/16 yrs.

Sundays: $30 per adult, $22 per child.

Public Holidays: $40 per adult, $30 per child

​

Late Show $40 per person


​Dawn Saturn & Jupiter Session $50


A small ticketing fee also applies.

Every person regardless of age attending requires a ticket.

Carers also require a ticket

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Prices at the Door

Any unsold online tickets are available at the door.

Adult $32, Child $22


Public Hols, $44 per adult, $33 per child



School holidays and long weekends are usually booked out in advance so dont expect any available tickets at the door on those dates.


Tickets at the door are not available for the Late Show and Saturn & Jupiter show.


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Great Big Adventure Pass

10% off Door Price only

Present pass when purchasing ticket at the door

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Enquiries


Call Peter on 0488 425 940

Email: peter@dubboobservatory.com



tickets






You must have a pre-purchased ticket with your name on it to attend.


To purchase tickets, go to the booking page and click on the link at the top of the page.


Night Sky & Telescope Tickets, late Show tickets, and Saturn & Jupiter tickets are all under the banner "Night Sky & Telescope Tour"


Select the month .

Then select the date and session time.

Show tickets on your phone on arrival.

All people regardless of age require a pre-paid ticket to attend.

You wont be permitted to bring extra people along regardless of age unless they have a ticket.
The show is not suitable for children under 5 years of age. If you decide to bring them, they will need a pre-paid ticket.


Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive an email with the tickets attached. Check them immediately that you have selected the correct date and session. If in error, contact me immediately peter@dubboobservatory.com within the hour. late than that, refer to the changes and cancellations section on this page.

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Note this is entirely an outdoor activity.


It can get very cold in winter. You will need to bring as many warm clothes as possible.

In the summer months there can be some mozzies just on dusk so wear shoes, long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Apply insect repellant before you arrive.
​
Note the State Government can change covid-19 restrictions at any time with short notice. This may impact us if we are forced to reduce our number limit. If this happens we may have to cancel some customer bookings.

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Changes, cancellations, refunds for online tickets





Customer Cancels with more than 7 days notice

A refund is given if more than 7 days notice of cancellation is given by the customer unless we can resell your tickets. You will lose your booking and credit card fee.



Customer cancels with less than 7 days notice or does not arrive.

No refund is given unless we can resell your tickets


If you cancel with less than 72 hours notice due to a government health order such as you a from or have visited a covid-19 lockdown area, been asked to quarantine or self isolate, a credit is given of equal monetary value to a future session within the next 12 months. This also applies if you are cancelling due to bushfires.


Changing the date or session on your ticket

7 days notice is required to change the tickets to another session.


A credit note is issued and you use that credit note number to purchase a new ticket.


Note that if the future session is cancelled by us a refund is not issued but a new credit note is issued to purchase tickets at another future date.


If this is not acceptable for you, it is best to cancel your booking and purchase a new ticket if you wish. A refund is issued then if we cancel the show.


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Changing numbers after you have purchased tickets



7 days notice is required to change the number of people in your group. You lose your booking fee.​


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Show Cancellation

The show is cancelled in the event of rain or it is completely overcast and it appears not to clear during the show.


We make a decision at start time.


If you are planning to drive from a distance like Mudgee, or Orange and then drive back that night we recommend you purchase a ticket on the day when the weather forecast is certain and definitely not prior.


A refund is given. To claim your refund please reply email me your booking details and bank details. Do not send a text.​​



Wheelchair access





There is wheelchair access to the main building, a disabled toilet, the theatrette, and to the outside viewing platform where the outside telescopes are.
There is no wheelchair access to the observatory where the main 17"telescope is.
There is wheelchair access to the presentation and pointing out the stars and planets in the night sky with the laser pointer at the outside viewing platform.
There is an issue with looking through telescopes for customers confined to a wheel chair unless they can stand up briefly. The reason is
The height above ground level of the eyepiece of the telescope varies depending on how high above the horizon the star to view is located, If the star is overhead the eyepiece is at its lowest point and is more accessible. If the star is lower in the sky the eyepiece is much higher.. So it depends on how high the disabled customers eye is up from the ground and would be too low to view most objects through a telescope.
An alternative would be to hire a pair of our binoculars for that part of the tour.


Carers Card





There is no discount for Carers card holders at present.



Objects visible
May session 1





We plan to show you approx 12 objects from the following list.

What we show will depend on the location of the Moon which can hinder the visibility of galaxies and nebulae. The objects will be different for the Late Show.


The following is for session 1 only at 7pm


Darkest Nights 1st to the 16th


Planets: nil


Asteroids: nil


Moon:

Lunar Eclipse - Blood Moon.... 26th

3rd Qtr .............4th

New Moon ....12th

First Qtr .........20th

Full Moon......26th

Visible for night show tba



Comets: (moonless nights) nil


Nebulae: Tarantula Nebula, Eta Carina Nebula (except on the nights around full moon)


Globular Clusters: 47 Tucanae , Omega Centauri


Open Clusters: Southern Beehive Cluster, Pincushion Cluster, Gem Cluster. NGC 2362. Beehive Cluster


Binary Stars: HD 56578, Acrux, Alpha Centauri


Galaxies: (Moonless nights) Magellanic Clouds, Sombrero Galaxy, Centaurus A


Supernova Remnants: nil


Planetary Nebulae: Ghost of Jupiter


Constellations: Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Orion, Canis, Major, Canis Minor, Hydra, Corvus


Asterisms: Diamond Cross, Saucepan, False Cross, Southern Cross, Southern Triangle


Astrophotograph with your compatible DSLR camera: Orion Nebula. On bright Moon nights we image the Moon.



Corona virus restrictions information



Restrictions can change and at short notice depending on NSW Govt Health Orders.

The corona virus is highly infectious and is transmitted by inhaling or ingesting water droplets from that the infected person has exhaled (exhaling, talking, coughing, sneezing). This could be direct by getting to close to an infected person and breathing the air close to them or by touching a surface they have coughed or sneezed on.

You must have a pre-purchased ticket to attend. This applies to all people regardless of age including babies. Do not bring extra people as they will be turned away without a ticket.

This ticket must have your correct full name on it and you must enter the contact details for each person attending phone number, email address, and postcode.

The show is mainly conducted outdoors, including the astronomy talk
A limit of the number of visitors attending applies. This number depends on what restrictions are imposed.
e.g.
2 Square Metre Rule - Max 50 people
4 Square Metre Rule - Max 30 people

In the observatory, only one family can be in there at one time.


A flat charge per person regardless of age is applied depending on which restrictions are in place and for advance bookings where we dont know what restrictions are in place. Prices will be listed when you purchase a ticket from the ticketing agency website.

In order to keep everyone safe please: Do not come if
..................Have tested positive for covid-19.
.................You are feeling unwell or have any covid 19 symptoms.
.................You are supposed to be in quarantine.
.................You are waiting for your corona virus test results.​
.................You have been to any locations on the dates specified listed under headings
..................................................Self Isolate and get tested immediately.
..................................................Monitor for symptoms.
..................................................at https:www.nsw.gov.au/latest-news-and-updates.
.................................................You are not prepared to follow the following safety precautions

You must check in using the QR Code displayed.

You must wash or sanitise your hands on arrival. Please use as often as needed through the evening.

If you do need to sneeze or cough, please do so into your elbow

Social distancing of 1.5m is to be followed at all times.

If you are bringing children, they must stay with you at all times and not run around breaking the 1.5m rule.

Extremely important not to touch the eyepieces or telescopes though of course you can look through them

We recommend you wear a mask onsite. This may change to mandatory depending on health orders at the time.

With large groups we will be moving around the telescopes in a certain order to prevent mingling and accidental contact with other people. So please follow the directions of the Tour Guide in the directions to follow.





Dubbo Observatory






17L Camp Rd, Dubbo, NSW, 2830


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