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.

Bookings:

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

The show is targeted for adults, but is suitable for children ages 8 years and above who have an interest in space and astronomy.

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

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.

Discount tickets are sold by the IWANNATICKET ticketing agency. They are available up to an hour before start time.

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

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

Prices:

Online prices

Adults: $33 + booking fee.

Child 5 to 16 years: $22 + booking fee. Children under 5 not permitted sorry.

A surcharge applies on public holidays and on shows after 10pm (called the Late Show )

At the door prices

Any unsold tickets are sold at the door 15 mins before start time.

If you are purchasing at the door, let us know before 6pm so we can have the right amount of equipment set up, otherwise we may have to turn you away particularly if you have more have 6 or more people in your group.

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 December https://dubboobservatory.iwannaticket.com.au/event/night-sky-telescope-viewing-december-2023-Mjk4MjM

Times & Dates for January https://dubboobservatory.iwannaticket.com.au/event/night-sky-telescope-viewing-january-2023-Mjk4MjM

Times & Dates for February https://dubboobservatory.iwannaticket.com.au/event/night-sky-telescope-viewing-february-2023-Mjk4MjM

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:

More than 7 days notice: A credit is given to attend a different session of the same value within the next 3 years.

If less than 7 days notice is given, a credit to another session is only given if we can resell your ticket.

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.

Highlights for December 9pm session.

Planet Saturn with its rings and moons.

Planet Jupiter with its cloud bands and moons.

Open Clusters; The Pleiades, Southern Beehive Cluster.

Globular Clusters, 47 Tucanae.

Tarantula Nebula, Orion Nebula on moonless nights

Binary Stars: 145 CMa, Regor

When the Moon is visible you can observe craters, mare (seas), shadows in craters (except full moon).

You will usually observe shooting stars (meteors), satellites moving across the sky and occasionally the International space station.

Constellations: Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn

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: 2023 December 6 is best.

Venus: November 2024

Mars: Best in January 2025.

Jupiter: November 2023 to February 2024. Best in December

Saturn: 2023 Mid August to December. Best in October.

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

June to September on moonless nights