Night Sky and Telescope Viewing

Join astronomer Peter Starr (Yes, that is his real name) to experience the Night Sky & Wonders of the Universe.

Listen & watch a 30 minute informative Astronomy & Night Sky Presentation under the stars.

Stargazing where we point out the stars & constellations with a laser.

View the stars & planets through telescopes. There is a list of what we plan to see if you scroll to the bottom of the page.

There will be between 2 and 9 telescopes to view through depending on the number of people booked (6 people per telescope).

Ask questions about the night sky and universe.

If you bring a compatible DSLR camera, we can take an image of a colourful nebula or the Moon through the telescope.

Or you can purchase an SD card from us and use our camera and get 2 pictures.

If it is overcast or raining at start time, you have the choice of moving to another session of the same value within the next 3 years, or stay for an extended informative indoor astronomy presentation with a 50% refund issued (excluding the booking fee) if we cannot see anything through a telescope.

Available on most nights 90 minutes after sunset. Show lasts for a minimum of 1 hour.

The show is outdoors, please dress to the weather conditions.

You need to be able to stand at least briefly to view through the telescopes.

Maximum group size is 50 people. If you prefer a smaller group size, consider the Premium or Private stargazing sessions.

Children under 5 years are no longer permitted to attend the observatory due to repeated damage to our telescopes and disruption to the show

Bookings:

We recommend you book on the day when you know what the weather is doing and know that you can definitely attend as there are no refunds if you cannot attend for any reason.

If we cannot show you anything through a telescope due to overcast skies, we do our astronomy presentation and a 50% refund is given excluding the booking fee or you can receive a credit to attend a future available session of the same value.

Any unsold tickets are sold at the door 15 mins before start time at $5 extra per ticket.

If you are using a credit from a previously cancelled session, please call Peter at the Observatory on 0488 425 940 to book a ticket.

For other dates, tickets are sold by the IWANNATICKET ticketing agency. Select the Book Now Button below.

Prices:

Adults $34

Children 5 to 16 years, $23

Children under 5 years of age are not permitted to attend sorry.

A surcharge applies on public holidays.

Prices include the ticketing fee.

Adults: $34.78

Child 5 to 16 years: $23.61

A surcharge applies on public holidays and on shows after 10pm.

Any unsold tickets are sold at the door at 8pm

Adults: $38

Child 5 to 16 years: $27

A surcharge applies on public holidays and shows after 10pm.

Cloudy & Rainy Nights:

If it is overcast or raining at start time of the show you have there are 2 options;

Option 1: Continue with the session doing an extended presentation instead. If we cannot show you anything through a telescope by the end of the session due to cloud cover or rain we issue you a 50% refund excluding the booking fee EXCEPT IF YOUR TICKET IS LABELED “ADULT / CHILD ENTRY (ASTRONOMY TALK ONLY DUE TO RAIN) AS IT ALREADY HAS THE 50% REFUND APPLIED.

Option 2: We can move your ticket to a different session in the next 3 years where there is availability and is of equal monetary value. This is non-refundable in the future. This is transferable to other people if you cannot attend in the future. If the session you are moving to is in the same month we issue a credit note which you use to buy another ticket with the ticketing agency. Otherwise we will send you an email with a code with instructions how to book a future ticket directly with the observatory.

Note you must attend for these options unless we contact you beforehand. Ensure you leave an Australian mobile number and check this . If it is raining an hour before start time and looks like it will continue to rain during the session we may text you asking which option you want to save you a trip if you want option 2.

Times & Dates:

Times & Dates for March https://dubboobservatory.iwannaticket.com.au/event/night-sky-telescope-viewing-march-2024-Mjk4MjU

What to Wear:

We are outdoors so dress to the weather conditions.

Please wear enclosed shoes. No shoes with flashing lights please as they affect the viewing experience for others.

In the warmer months we can get some mosquitoes at dusk. Please apply insect repellant before you arrive on any uncovered areas.

In the colder months it can be very cold. A beanie, scarf and gloves can really make a difference and or bring a blanket.

Cancellation by the Customer:

We recommend you book on the day when you know you can definitely come as tickets are not refundable.

However if you do take the risk and book in advance;

More than 7 days notice: You have the choice of a refund excluding the ticketing fee or a credit to a future session of the same value.

If less than 7 days notice is given, a credit to another session is only given if we can resell your ticket. No refund is issued.

To cancel, please email [email protected]. Do not email the booking agency (iwannaticket) as it may take a few business days for them to respond and will be too late to cancel.

Cancellation by the Observatory:

If we cancel the show a full refund is issued back to your card.

Astrophotography Camera Requirements:

If you bring a Canon, Nikon, Pentax DSLR Camera that has a removeable lens, we can take a photo of a colourful nebula on moonless nights if it is a clear night. On bright Moon nights we photograph the Moon.

We can also take Canon or Nikon mirrorless cameras if you have the dslr lens adapter connected. We can also attach Sony mirrorless cameras.

We attach your camera body with our adapter to fix to the telescope.

Alternatively, if you bring a standard size SD card we can use our camera.

We sell standard size SD cards as well. You can have 2 photos taken if you purchase one of our SD cards.

You will need to know your camera settings before you come. e.g. manual setting, ISO, exposure time, live view, live view can be magnified, a photo can be taken with the lens removed. If you don’t know your settings we may not be able to take a photo for you as I do not know all camera models.

The live view must be able to be magnified otherwise the photo taken will be out of focus. Try this before you come as there will be no time to work this out.

Wheelchair Access:

There is wheelchair access to the main building and the outside telescope areas.

There is no wheelchair access to the observatory where the largest telescope is.

You will only be able to view through a telescope if you can briefly stand.

If you are confined to the wheelchair and can’t view through the telescopes, you can use a pair of binoculars we have and we can show you objects to view. This would be a similar view you would see through our smallest telescope.

We have a toilet that is accessible.

What we plan to observe

We show you as many objects as we can through the telescopes. This number will depend on how clear the sky is. If the sky is 100% clear we see all the planned objects. If it is a 50% clear sky we should see 50% of the planned objects. We aim for 6 people per telescope on average to try and avoid long queues.

When are the planets visible (First session):

Planets are not visible all of the time. They are visible at certain times of the year and is different every year.

Mercury: July 2024 is best.

Venus: November 2024 to January 2025

Mars: Best in January 2025.

Jupiter: December 2024 to March 2025. Best in December 2023, Best in January 2025

Saturn: October 2024 to January 2025, best in November 2024

When is the Milky Way Visible? (First session):

June to September on moonless nights