Night Sky and Telescope Viewing
Alternative program on cloudy and rainy nights
Got a question? Refer to FAQ page or call /text 0488 425 940 or email [email protected]
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WHAT THE SHOW ENTAILS
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 (indoors if it is raining).
Stargazing where we point out the stars & constellations with a laser.
View the stars and other objects through our telescopes.
There will be between 2 and 9 telescopes to view through depending on the number of people booked (6 people per telescope on average).
Ask questions about the night sky and the universe.
If you bring a compatible DSLR camera body, we can take an image of a colourful nebula or through our telescope. Alternatively bring an SD card that fits our canon camera. If it is near or on Full Moon, we take an image f the Moon instead.
Or you can purchase an SD card from us and use our camera and get 2 photos.
What is visible varies through the night and time of year. There is a list of what we plan to see if you scroll to the bottom of the page.
What we see also depends on how dark the sky is. The darker the sky the more we see. The best nights are when the Moon is not visible during the session, or at least before First Qtr Moon. Galaxies and nebulae are not visible after first quarter (> 50% illuminated to 2 days after Full Moon). This is updated daily on our home page.
How much we see depends on the amount of cloud cover. The clearer the sky, the more objects we see. Check the weather forecast before you book. We recommend you book on or close to the day. This is shown on our home page.
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. It can extend an extra 15 minutes sometimes if it is busy.
The show is outdoors, please dress to the weather conditions. It is very cold in winter, please wear lots of warm clothes, a beanie, scarf and gloves. No heating is provided as it affects the viewing.
You need to be able to stand at least briefly to view through the telescopes.
Group size is 1 to 50 people. If you prefer a small group, consider the Premium Session limited to 6 people or booking a private session.
The show is suitable for people 8 years and above that are interested in astronomy or the night sky.
Children under 5 years are not permitted to attend the observatory. If you bring a child under 5, you won’t be permitted entry and there is no refund.
You won’t be permitted entry if you arrive late. Once the session has started, you may be unable to reach us by phone or text as we will be busy entertaining the group. There are no refunds if you miss the session. Please plan your travel and dinner accordingly. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start time. Doors open 15 mins before start time.
Bookings:
Before booking, please read our alternative program below on cloudy and rainy nights when we cannot view through the telescopes. Read our cancellation policy.
The clearer the sky is the more objects we observe through the telescopes. The more cloud cover the less you see. As a guide, if it is 50% cloud cover, expect to see 50% of the number of objects we plan to show. We give a forecast for the day on the homepage.
If you prefer a clear night, we recommend you book on or close to the day when you know what the weather is doing.
If you are not worried if it is clear or cloudy and are happy with the astronomy talk only, feel free to book in advance.
50 tickets are available per session. If you prefer a smaller group size, consider the Premium or Private sessions.
Children 5 to 16 yrs must be accompanied by a paying parent or guardian.
Children under 5 years of age are not permitted.
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 with your credit code.
If you are purchasing using a gift certificate call Peter on 0488 425 940 to book with your gift certificate number.
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Tickets for tonight
Tickets for tonight’s show are purchased by calling the observatory on 0488 425 940 before 6PM.
If there is no answer please send a text with your name, number of adult tickets, number of child tickets and the ages of each child and a contact phone number I will reply to confirm.
Tickets for October
are sold by the IWANNATICKET ticketing agency. Click on the Book now button below.
Any unsold tickets are sold at the door 15 mins before start time at $5 extra per person.
Check the weather forecast before you book if you only prefer a clear sky. There is a forecast for 10 days on the home page.
Tickets for November onwards
If you are wishing to book further in advance, email Dubbo Observatory at [email protected] with your name, date to attend, number of adults and children, ages of children, and a contact number for the day. Also acknowledge you have read what happens on cloudy & Rainy nights (see below). Payment is made by direct deposit.
Cloudy & Rainy Nights:
If it is overcast or raining at start time of the show there are 2 options for full price tickets;
These options do not apply to half price tickets advertised as Astronomy Talk Only
Option A: We issue you a credit to a future session of the same value within the next 3 years. This is non-refundable in the future. We will send you an email with a code with instructions how to book a future ticket directly with the observatory. If the future session is a cloudy night, a new credit for another is issued.
Option B: 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. If you do view through the telescope, there is no refund. The 50% refund does not apply to tickets purchased with a credit or gift certificate.
Prices:
For Today’s show, Call 0488 425 940 before 6pm, Adult $34, Child 5 to 16yrs $23. Pay on arrival.
Online from iwannaticket ticketing agency for current month. Adults$34.78, Child $23.61. includes the booking fee.
Any unsold tickets are sold at the door at 6:45pm Adults: $38, Child $27
Public holidays: Adults: $38, Child: $27 + booking fee.
Direct with the observatory for November and future months: Adult $33, Child $22 paid by direct deposit.
Times & Dates:
We are normally open most nights. We may not open on some Full Moon nights.
Dates for October 9pm on the 16th and 20th. 8:30pm on the 17th and 21st to the 31st
The following dates are not available: Oct 14th, 15th, 19th
Dates for November: 9pm 1st to the 5th, 11th to the 30th. Not available 6th to the 10th.
Dates For December: 9pm 1st the 24th, 26th to the 31st.
Dates for January: 9pm 1st to 16th. Not available 17th to the 19th. Later dates to be confirmed.
Dates for February: 9pm 1st to the 28th
What to Wear:
We are outdoors so dress to the weather conditions.
In the colder months it can be extremely cold. A beanie, scarf and gloves can really make a difference and or bring a blanket. We dont provide heating outside as it affects the quality of the telescope viewing.
In the warmer months we can get some mosquitoes at dusk. Please apply insect repellant before you arrive on any uncovered areas.
Please wear enclosed shoes. No shoes with flashing lights please as they affect the viewing experience for others.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
We recommend you book on the day when you know you can definitely come and know what the weather is doing.
Canceling with more than 7 days notice:
Ticket purchased with a direct deposit: You have the choice of a refund or a credit to a future session of the same value.
Ticket purchased online from a ticketing agency: You have the choice of a refund excluding the booking fee or a credit to a future session of the same value.
Ticket purchased with a credit or gift certificate: If your ticket was purchased with a credit or a gift card
If less than 7 days notice is given;
Ticket purchased with a direct deposit: a credit or refund is only given if we can resell your ticket.
Ticket purchased online from a ticketing agency: a credit or refund excluding the booking fee is only given if we can resell your ticket.
Ticket purchased with a credit or gift card: a credit is only issued 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 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 ($25). 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. If the list is blank press the download button.
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 21st 2024, too low to view through a telescope.
Venus: October 2024 to January 2025
Mars: Best in January 2025.
Jupiter: December 2024 to March 2025. Best in December 2023, Best in January 2025
Saturn: September 2024 to January 2025, best in November 2024
When is the Milky Way Visible? (First session):
June to September on moonless nights