Bathurst Observatory – Photo Albums
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Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
A place where you can learn about sky law, view through the telescopes, or just admire the sky.
Contact Us
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
(Open Night Tours, Research and Meteorite related inquires)
6 Priors Lane,
Billywillinga NSW 2795. Australia
Mobile: 0427 292 214
International: +61 427 292 214
Email Enquires:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/
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Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Effective date: August 01, 2018
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility (“us”, “we”, or “our”) operates the https://bathurstobservatory.com.au/ website (the “Service”).
This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our Service and the choices you have associated with that data.
We use your data to provide and improve the Service. By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy, terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms and Conditions, accessible from https://bathurstobservatory.com.au/
Information Collection And Use
We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you.
Types of Data Collected
Personal Data
While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Data”). Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to:
- Email address
- First name and last name
- Phone number
- Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
- Cookies and Usage Data
Usage Data
We may also collect information how the Service is accessed and used (“Usage Data”). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data.
Tracking & Cookies Data
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and hold certain information.
Cookies are files with small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Service.
You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.
Examples of Cookies we use:
- Session Cookies. We use Session Cookies to operate our Service.
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- Security Cookies. We use Security Cookies for security purposes.
Use of Data
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility uses the collected data for various purposes:
- To provide and maintain the Service
- To notify you about changes to our Service
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- To monitor the usage of the Service
- To detect, prevent and address technical issues
Transfer Of Data
Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ than those from your jurisdiction.
If you are located outside Australia and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to Australia and process it there.
Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer.
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information.
Disclosure Of Data
Legal Requirements
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to:
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The security of your data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
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We may employ third party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service (“Service Providers”), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used.
These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.
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We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service.
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Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.
You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.
For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en
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Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit.
We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services.
Children’s Privacy
Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 (“Children”).
We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your Children has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from children without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers.
Changes To This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.
We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “effective date” at the top of this Privacy Policy.
You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:
- By visiting this page on our website: https://bathurstobservatory.com.au/contact-us.html
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We have now relocated to our new site…
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
(Open Night Tours, Research and Meteorite related inquires)
6 Priors Lane,
Billywillinga NSW 2795. Australia
Mobile: 0427 292 214
International: +61 427 292 214
Email Enquires:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BathurstObservatory/
For Tours information please see Events
Please follow the directions carefully and remember to book.
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
Bathurst NSW Australia
Please like our Facebook page for latest news and images!
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)
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.
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!).
Why “Open Nights”?
We 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.
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
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.
- that I’m available on the day.
- it is not cloudy.
- 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.
Keep up to date with our latest News.
Please Subscribe to our Newsletter.
We value your privacy and do not share your information.
Comet 12P Pons Brooks on the 25th April. It was seen in binoculars (the comet requires a telescope or binoculars). The image was taken with a 150mm diameter F5 telescope. It should be a nice photographic object in a couple of days when the bright moon is out of the evening sky.
I posted a finder chart recently, for those with optical aid, to see or image it. ... See MoreSee Less
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Great stuff Bathurst Observatory, i was clouded out tonight!
From Molong wit Nikon 5600 -55-300 lens.
Kathleen Moore
Brooke Coolidge
Georgie
Pat Drury
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With the Moon leaving the evening sky late April, early May, I thought I would provide a finder chart for those wanting to try and find comet 12P Pons Brooks in a darker sky. This chart plots the positions each night from the 29th of April (lowest yellow dot) to the 10th of May (highest yellow dot) looking west. These are for around 6:30 pm on each of those nights. The number at the end represents the predicted brightness. NOTE: YOU WILL REQUIRE A TELESCOPE OR GOOD BINOCULARS TO SEE THE COMET.
The constellation of Orion low in the west will make a good starting point to find the comet. Remember, the comet only very slowly changes position relative to the background stars night after night. ... See MoreSee Less
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Can you please mark Jupiter on this map? Very helpful thanks. Will be looking
Thank you. That is helpful
thank you for this.., it gives me a chance..i do have binocs this time...
Michelle Hadley
Warren Robins
Mink Tuangporn Gough
Thank you 😃🌑🌟☄️
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Comet 12P Pons Brooks on the evening of the 22nd April. Still hard to view due to a near full moon and twilight. In the image you can 'just' make out an ion and dust tails. Remember this is an image taken with a telescope. You could not see the comet with just your eyes!
It was really sad hearing how wrong the media was reporting on this comet tonight. I heard reports such as "streaking across the sky, visible to the eye, and best night to see it" all totally incorrect!
I am looking forward to next week when it can be imaged against a dark sky! ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you, I took my son out tonight and couldn’t make anything out. We thought we had missed the opportunity but will try again next week.
Helen Crosland tried last night and tonight but just can’t see it. I’ll try next week too I think
Oh that’s good to hear they got it wrong. We all still have a chance to see it. Do we look to the west?
My dad saw it with his eyes and took photos of it at 5.25 on the north coast
Couldn't see with naked eye but spotted it with binoculars not real clear. Glad you do excellent job thank you.
I heard the news tonight say "lighting up the night sky".. bloody media 🤔
Yep. Us along with 4 other couples had perfect views of the horizon from Dural (NSW) and could see where it was supposed to be…. Even with binoculars, none of us could spot it. Such a shame!!! Great to meet other amateur enthusiasts though.
Comets do not 'streak across the sky', they get confused with meteors.
‘Lit up the sky’ was another phrase used. Which all makes for disappointment.
Rach Hart Carole Hart looks like next week might be the better viewing
love ya work
The media can beat anything up with there hype
Alexis
Jennifer Cummings
Kai Naylor
Liz Domingue
Andrew Gardner
Ben Gaudron
Cheree Andrews
Viv Collings
Timmy!!!
Lara Fullgrabe
Taylor Carpenter Shane Carpenter
Christine Parish
Thanks for that.
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A couple of images of 12P Pons Brooks on the 21st April. It was just visible in binoculars despite bright moonlight and twilight interference. These images were taken with a small 150mm diameter F5 telescope at 18:50-19:10. ... See MoreSee Less
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We saw it tonight from Mungo NP, after sunset in the low western sky, as the moon was rising in the east. Magical night
Well done 👍 I had trouble finding it for all the smoke in the west of Cudal.
Excellent work!
We were looking from Mt.Pan but no luck identifying it. 🙁
Brittani Rose I want to go find this green comet
Rach Hart
John Batchelor
Liz Barnes
Susi Crawford
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So what are the REAL prospects for comet 12/P Pons Brooks? Not great really. The comet reaches closest to the sun 22nd April when it is still not very favourable for southern hemisphere. Some observers with telescopes or binoculars, are just able to see at now (mid April) just above and left of Jupiter, but are also reporting it as difficult to see (I found it hard to image). There is media hype around the 22nd April (perihelion date) as the best to see it, but this is just media confusion re closest to the sun date and besides the full moon will also make it hard to see.
It is moving higher in twilight and further due west as we enter late April (after full moon) and through May, but due to Earth/comet geometry, it will be fading from about mag 5.5 to magnitude 6.5 (or fainter) during this time. So definitely not a comet you can see with just your eyes!! You will need binoculars or better yet a telescope to observe it. DSLR cameras should also pick it up with say 10-20s exposures and a 50-100mm lens.
It will be too low for the large observatory telescope in the west during early May, but I'm hoping for images late May into June. I think though it may be a nice photographic object at this time and likely will set up a different telescope for this purpose myself (In fact I posted an image on the 18th). It will continue to fade through June from mag 7.1 early June to 8.4 by the time the moon no longer interferes towards the end of the month. However, being higher in the western sky during late June, should still be a nice photographic object, particularly in wide field telescopes.
The finder charts are for the 10th of May at 6:30pm and 27th of May at 6:30pm, both dates when the moon is not present and during its "best" viewing dates. ... See MoreSee Less
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You can try now but you need a good unobstructed horizon in twilight. Best in a dark sky from 27th onwards.
That's a good summary Ray...thanks
Good luck, hopefully you will get some good photos. Here at Cudal I have got 3 photos (out of town) - 12th, 14th and 16th so far but adding to all of the other things making it hard to photograph, we have smoke from burning off and all the reduction burns going on at the moment 😷😷😷😷😩 The media haven't a clue 😵💫 Some saying you can see it just before Sunrise 🙄 My research (Stellarium) is saying around 4th May for us in Cudal, the Moon won't be up and 12p still at Mag 4.71 , hopefully the weather will be good with no smoke !!!!! 🤞 The 27th April isn't too bad either but the Moon rises at 7.30pm that night at 88% .
so have a crack at it between 10th and 20th may? I have a 500mm lens
In a real imaging challenge, I was just able to capture comet Pons Brooks in evening twilight on the 18th of April. It couldn't actually see it even with the portable telescope I was using, but was able to record it in an image in a ten second exposure. ... See MoreSee Less
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Very well done Ray. I hope the prospects are better for May.
Excellent
Wendy Mied!!
Photoshopped
16th April, and I snapped some Moon images just before the public tour! ... See MoreSee Less
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Grace Fagnano
Excitement is now building for the 22nd of July 2028 total solar eclipse that will occur over parts of Australia. Bathurst Observatory IS under the total eclipse path. Although this is still a few years away, we have began our planning. One thing we will need to know is how many people we may expect. We are currently planning a few sites around Bathurst that can host a gathering of people but that will depend on numbers. At present we are seeking expression of interest of those who would be seeking sites. Note this is NOT a booking, but just a plan. In addition to sending an EOI, indicate your level of experience (total novice, amateur or professional), how far you would be coming from and what sort of things you might be seeking at a dedicated site. Please remember this is NOT a booking. Please just use the message button and we will collate the data! ... See MoreSee Less
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Orion is getting low in the west this time of year. This is Orion taken with just a camera with a 35mm lens. You can see a few nebula and star clusters!
Tours for school holidays are the 15th until the 18th, sorry there aren't more available, but I have a few things on myself. There is also a tour on the 4th of May.
There is a bit of interest in comet Pons Brooks as well. It "may" be just visible late in April for us in Southern Hemisphere, but it will be low in the west in some twilight at this time. I will detail more in a couple of weeks. ... See MoreSee Less
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Hello there! My friend and I are thinking of making a trip to bathrust between 16-18th april. We were wondering if we can come along for the stargazing tour! If so, what are the procedures we need to take on for bookings?
Robert Henry Hansen