Bathurst Observatory Research Facility

Bathurst NSW Australia

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https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/

Bathurst Observatory Research Facility is an observatory site primarily for education, research and study, though we do offer general public viewing nights.

Open Nights Star Tours Available Now (conditions and limits apply)

Open Nights Star Tours

Bookings will be essential for all tours.

(All tours subject to weather)

NEWS: Tours begin at the new site

Tours are underway at the new site. The site is not complete yet, however, are able to offer tours to help complete other facilities.

Tours will be generally be available any clear Friday and Saturday nights, however, we can also offer some tours, mid week for groups of 5 or more. Check to see if I am available.

Any clear Friday and Saturday Nights!!!

Note, Bathurst Observatory has moved and under construction!!!!

The new site, opened during 2020 and offers better sky, better viewing opportunities and a more unique experience.

No tours in the week of Full Moon.

Bookings essential.

Please note that the main telescope is pretty big and requires use of a small stepladder for viewing. Please advise if you would have difficulties with steps and we can set up a different telescope.

* There may be some mid week research nights where tours are not available.

Reduced Tours Prices for groups

Costs :

As the site is not yet complete with all facilities, we are asking for donation towards completion (an amount you think is fair for the tour and my time).

(Note: we have NO credit card facilities)

Tour bookings and Enquiries, phone (0427292214 Please leave a message as we screen out spam calls), or email us. (Email is by far the best way to get us, if you don’t get a reply it means you have us blocked!!! Please change your settings!).

How to find us? See Location!

Why “Open Nights”?

Bathurst Observatory in eveningWe used to do tours in the observatory dome. However, we found that the dome itself blocked out most of the night sky! Our visitors wanted to view through a telescope but be able to see and hear about the wonders of the night sky at the same time. We particularly had many visitors from urban areas wanting to see a nice dark country sky full of stars. The solution, set up the public telescope as nature wanted us to, on cleared ground next to the observatory, under the wonder of the Southern stars.

Our tours are conducted with the only guide with over fifteen years educational astronomy experience and with Bachelor of Education Honours Degree! Our guide is also an internationally recognised expert in the field of meteorites.

Tours require bookings and are weather dependent. (We can’t see stars through clouds!) Tour duration is about 1 hour, depending on time of year.

We cater for all school astronomy and space excursions, as well as general public telescope tours of the night sky. Primarily we offer our open night tours to inspire everyone to look to the night sky.

The Milky Way stretches overhead in this view taken at the Bathurst Observatory Research Facility - 6th July 2013The Milky Way stretches overhead in this view taken at the Bathurst Observatory Research Facility.
The Bathurst Observatory Research Facility (Research and Meteorite Related Enquires and Public Viewing Nights)

The Bathurst Observatory Research Facility, located on the current site on Limekilns Road north east of Bathurst. At the research site, we study, comets, asteroids, variable stars, meteors and meteorites. For research related enquires please email us.

We also welcome any enquires or questions you may have on Astronomy, Space or meteorite related matters.

Our FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/ is regularly updated, so have a look for the latest news and images from the observatory.

Other Tours

Museum

Solar Telescope Tours (Viewing the Sun)

On occasions, we are able to offer daytime telescope views of the sun. We have a special telescope that allows you to SAFELY view the sun. At present the availability of these tours will depend on three factors.

  1. that I’m available on the day.
  2. it is not cloudy.
  3. that the sun has some active features.

The third point is important, as sometimes the sun can be quiet and not as interesting to see.

These tours will be about 15 minutes in duration and by gold coin donation. Bookings for a solar tour would be essential.

Donate to Bathurst Observatory

We would really appreciate your support!

Bathurst Observatory is in the process of moving to a new location. All facilities are currently being rebuilt.
Your Contribution of any amount will go towards:
$1000 for the crane, $5500 for the Observatory Foundations and Telescope Pier, $3500 for the Public Viewing Area.

Keep up to date with our latest News.
Please Subscribe to our Newsletter.

We value your privacy and do not share your information.

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It was busy weekend, observatory maintenance and the local Astronomy Club (Bathurst and District Astronomical Society, BADAS) booking out Saturday. While the club chatted, I just popped the camera and 50mm lens on a tripod and imaged the Southern Cross and Eta Carina region of the Milky Way.

I am just waiting on a few things before posting tours in advance. There is a much needed hazard reduction burn(s) taking place in the area over coming weeks. The smoke from burning will impact upon tours, so I am just waiting on details of the dates of these. As it turns out the ideal conditions for burning are generally those ideal for astronomy! It may end up I have only a day or twos notice that a tour will be ok to run without smoke. I will keep everyone posted.

In other news, we will soon get an upgrade to facilities here after a friendly plumber looks like they will install the much awaited toilet in a month or so!
... See MoreSee Less

It was busy weekend, observatory maintenance and the local Astronomy Club (Bathurst and District Astronomical Society, BADAS) booking out Saturday. While the club chatted, I just popped the camera and 50mm lens on a tripod and imaged the Southern Cross and Eta Carina region of the Milky Way. 

I am just waiting on a few things before posting tours in advance. There is a much needed hazard reduction burn(s) taking place in the area over coming weeks. The smoke from burning will impact upon tours, so I am just waiting on details of the dates of these. As it turns out the ideal conditions for burning are generally those ideal for astronomy! It may end up I have only a day or twos notice that a tour will be ok to run without smoke. I will keep everyone posted. 

In other news, we will soon get an upgrade to facilities here after a friendly plumber looks like they will install the much awaited toilet in a month or so!

Comment on Facebook

Such a great news, thank you for keeping us posted! Can’t wait to bring the kids along 🙌

When will the next tour be?

If it is clear on Friday the 1st of March, there is a nice pass of the International Space Station. Head outside just before 8:54pm and look towards the SW. You will see the space station appear as a bright, moving star like object. It will continue to brighten and rise higher before passing almost overhead at 8:57pm. It will then fade into Earth's shadow at 8:58pm in the NE. (The weather forecast though isn't looking good!) ... See MoreSee Less

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Are you going to photograph it Ray?

Paul Marnoch

Steven Emanuel

Mikayla Chadwick

Fingers crossed on the weather, app is saying overhead for us in Cudal 😀

Jess Selmes

Logan Spice

Michael Griffiths

Kylie Christie

Not clear in Mudgee unfortunately

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Some nights after a tour, I am too tired to connect the camera to the telescope, so I pop the camera on a spare tracking mount with just a 50mm lens. A few nights ago, I imaged the larger Magellanic galaxy. This is one of the stunning highlights of the southern skies!

I'll post March tour dates during the coming week, however, I do know March 1st is one of them!
... See MoreSee Less

Some nights after a tour, I am too tired to connect the camera to the telescope, so I pop the camera on a spare tracking mount with just a 50mm lens. A few nights ago, I imaged the larger Magellanic galaxy. This is one of the stunning highlights of the southern skies!

Ill post March tour dates during the coming week, however, I do know March 1st is one of them!

Stephen Holland asked if I could image the International Space Station (as it passed on the evening of the 10th of Feb). I have not imaged the ISS for sometime as the telescope I use for it is large and heavy. After injuring my back a year ago, I haven't been able to lift it. With things much better, I decided that yes, I would set it up again for this pass. It was very windy, but the result is ok. ... See MoreSee Less

Stephen Holland asked if I could image the International Space Station (as it passed on the evening of the 10th of Feb). I have not imaged the ISS for sometime as the telescope I use for it is large and heavy. After injuring my back a year ago, I havent been able to lift it. With things much better, I decided that yes, I would set it up again for this pass. It was very windy, but the result is ok.

Comment on Facebook

Brilliant capture. Mine was a dot in the sky but to see it is amazing

Don't forget I only have tours for the 16th and 17th this month (busy month!). The local astronomy club met at the observatory on the evening of the 9th. I kind of left the telescope to image on its own while we all talked astro stuff. The focus drifted a bit, but the telescope did manage to capture this image of nebula NGC 2174 during this time. ... See MoreSee Less

Dont forget I only have tours for the 16th and 17th this month (busy month!). The local astronomy club met at the observatory on the evening of the 9th. I kind of left the telescope to image on its own while we all talked astro stuff. The focus drifted a bit, but the telescope did manage to capture this image of nebula NGC 2174 during this time.

Comment on Facebook

Can you photograph the ISS with your gear? It came over Cudal like car lights last night and will be brighter tonight -4.4. From Cudal it will pass close to Orion and Pleiades . Would make a great photo 🙂

I finally had a night in the observatory to do some imaging well beyond our solar system. On Friday 2nd Feb I imaged the rather eerie nebula M78 in Orion. After some time not needing the software that does all this, I found there were some issues I'll work on today, but luckily I have work arounds! (I hate when everything normally is just a click and and talks to each other. Last night one of the programs was like, "nup, I hate that telescope, I am not talking to it!")

I am not as available as I had thought this month!!! Tours in mid Feb (16th and 17th).
... See MoreSee Less

I finally had a night in the observatory to do some imaging well beyond our solar system. On Friday 2nd Feb I imaged the rather eerie nebula M78 in Orion. After some time not needing the software that does all this, I found there were some issues Ill work on today, but luckily I have work arounds! (I hate when everything normally is just a click and and talks to each other. Last night one of the programs was like, nup, I hate that telescope, I am not talking to it!)

I am not as available as I had thought this month!!! Tours in mid Feb (16th and 17th).

Comment on Facebook

Headlights in the mist!

Beautiful

Overcoming problems is half the satisfaction....

Great when something has worked fine for years and then it goes haywire because of an update in O/S. I use my phone to control my HEQ5Pro mount via Wifi using Synscan Pro and it looks like an update in the Android o/s is Again! 😑 causing problems as Android12 did some years (5-6) ago. I'm now using an Android emulator called Nox to run an older Android o/s and Synscan on a Windows Notebook, works fine. If i remember correctly it wasn't until Android 13 came out before i could go back to using the phone last time, that time i went back to the hand controller. Maybe your problem is simlar if not the same ?

78 is my lucky number, and this picture is Beautiful.

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There will be a gathering of the Bathurst and District Astronomical Society (BADAS) on Friday the 9th February. Find the group on Facebook if interested and local!!! ... See MoreSee Less

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Love the name 🤣

My husband may be interested in this but does not have social media. Is there a way to see what being a member means, fees etc

Not overly happy with tonight's image of Jupiter, but it has been a long time since I have been at the big scope. At present, Jupiter is low in the northern sky and that means a lot more turbulent atmosphere to image through (the lower something is, the more atmosphere to have to deal with!). Not the Io to the lower right. Calisto is also very faintly visible. ... See MoreSee Less

Not overly happy with tonights image of Jupiter, but it has been a long time since I have been at the big scope. At present, Jupiter is low in the northern sky and that means a lot more turbulent  atmosphere to image through (the lower something is, the more atmosphere to have to deal with!). Not the Io to the lower right. Calisto is also very faintly visible.

Comment on Facebook

Nice shot! Love Jupiter views through the 16" dob. Check out the Moon next to the Pleiades tonight too!

Great jupiter. I just finished packing up and now the light clouds have moved to the east. Been chasing a tilt issue for some time now.

My first clear night since just before Christmas!!! No deep sky imaging with a bright Moon in the sky. So.... turn the telescope to the Moon instead.!!! 18th January ... See MoreSee Less

My first clear night since just before Christmas!!! No deep sky imaging with a bright Moon in the sky. So.... turn the telescope to the Moon instead.!!! 18th January

Comment on Facebook

Fantastic

Nice shot 👍 Hopefully the forecast is correct for a change 🌤️☀️🌞 over the next week. Time to get the scoop out 🙂 Just had a look outside, quite a bit of cloud to the east of Cudal - your way 😐

hubby wanted to head out into the backyard tonight but the ground is saturated from all the rain we have received over the last few days. he is hoping for the weekend

Was nice to have clear skies last night. X and V were very visible on the moon

Brilliant shot!!!

Matthew Goodwin

Beautiful

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