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Bathurst Observatory Research Facility
Ph: 0427 292 214 | Email:
Ph: 0427 292 214 | Email:
Here you will find our Latest News, please add to your Bookmarks/Favorites and return soon …
Firstly, I am sorry for delays in posting. I've had a pretty busy time with booked out tours, and a fair share of bad weather, have meant it has been difficult posting available tour dates. It does seem my first available dates will be during July (avoiding the full Moon of course). However, it has been an eventful month will Aurora and solar activity. I did squeeze in an imaging night a months ago and imaged galaxy NGC 4945! ... See MoreSee Less
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nice galaxy
A few images from the auroral storm on the 1st of June from the observatory. (before some high cloud moved in). ... See MoreSee Less
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Wow. How much was visible to the naked eye?
Incredible
My goodness. Great shots.
Beautiful.
Hi again, Great photos of the Aurora 👏 I'm back again with a new fb account.
Awesome pictures Niall!
Phil Wilson what we missed 🤣
Amazing images
Catherine Anne
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June 1st. There is a high probability of an Aurora storm in the late hours of the 1st to near dawn of the 2nd. You need a dark sky away from town lights and a clear view to the south. There is some error in the arrival time of the solar particles which cause the Aurora so I guess it is patiently wait and see!!! It is likely to be seen southwards of a line roughly from Newcastle to Perth, but perhaps a bit northward of that. Edit it has hit early so Aurora from sunset. But note the cloud coming on the satellite images. ... See MoreSee Less
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Rob Hogarth
I managed to sneak in an image of the Moon on the 9th of May. The telescope that was used is now around 40 years old and one of many at the observatory. ... See MoreSee Less
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Absolutely brilliant
Watch THIS Space May 25
The Sun showing large sunspot group AR4079 on the morning of the 4th of May. I haven’t imaged the sun for a while! Yes, you DO need a special telescope to image the sun safely!
It is a very difficult month to fit in tours for me. A lot of family events on weekends including my birthday (I do wish I had an assistant sometimes). I am actually not sure if June will be the first tours I will manage. I am very sorry about that!
But that will not stop May being a good month for stargazers. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks around the morning of the 6th of May. It is active a few nights either side, so don’t worry if you miss the 6th. You need nothing to view them other than your eyes. However, you need to be out from 2am until dawn to see them. The meteors come from a point towards the eastern sky.
Comet F2 Swan, broke up, so will not be a highlight anymore in mid May. I do like looking for aurora this time of year, and the sun has been very active as seen in the image of the Sun on the 4th May. Also a great time of year to view those star clusters and nebula around the Southern Cross as well. ... See MoreSee Less
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Hi. Is the 23/5 available?
Watch THIS Space April 25
Another month has passed and with Daylight Savings ending, we can do tours and imaging at more reasonable times. This time of year is wonderful for seeing things in the Southern skies, particularly nebula and star clusters around the Southern Cross region. One of those is highlighted in the image this month is the Eta Carina Nebula. However there are other great things very nearby like the Jewel box cluster and Omega Centauri. We have Full Moon near on the 13th, which means no tours over that weekend (moon too bright) but at least the moon will have passed by Easter.
There will be some extra tours over the school holidays, but note, no tours Easter Sunday. Tour dates are as follows. April 18th to 24th (except Easter Sunday) at 7:45pm. Bookings Essential via message or email. Remember as well, we still offer special astrophotography beginner classes if you want to book one of those dates in! ... See MoreSee Less
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Watch THIS Space, March 2025
With the exaggeration of the “planetary alignment” now hopefully past, it is time to focus on what in the sky this month and to offer a special astrophotographers month. More on that later in this post.
Firstly, there are still two planets to see. Jupiter, now North-north west and Mars more north this month after sunset. However, I know that my eyes this time of year turn southward and imaging of the Magellanic galaxies and the nebula near the Southern Cross. I have posted a sky map of this area of the sky. In particular, I love to image the Eta Carina Nebula, visible in sky map posted above the cross.
It will also be interesting for me at least to watch the continuing fading of the once great Comet G3 Atlas.
Now the exciting bit…. Do you have your own telescope and equipment, looking for a place to image or perhaps just set up and use for viewing? Well March is Astrophotographers month at the observatory. Other than full moon weekend, you can book a powered site to set up your equipment and image on either a Friday or Saturday night during March. Bookings will still be essential. This is in response to increasing requests from people wanting somewhere special to image from, away from big city lights! ... See MoreSee Less
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You may have noticed no posts about planetary alignments from us!!! Well, sadly there are a few false or exaggerated stories about this. Firstly, yes the planets are in the evening sky but have been for weeks now! Secondly, you will only really see three of them. Venus very low in the north west, Jupiter in the north and mars in the north north east. Thirdly, it is not a one night only thing. It has been ongoing for weeks and a few more weeks to come!!! ... See MoreSee Less
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This has been such a internet beat up it’s just amazing, how many, yes, exaggerated descriptions of this ‘once in a lifetime experience’ have I seen. Hundreds. Graphics showing planets in a nice little line, like a string of pearls!!!!Just silly and thank you for this brief but relevant description from a reputable source. Just get over it people.
Thank you. I did wonder about that bit of news. I have been watching them for weeks 😊😊
Oh that's interesting. How much longer, I wonder? And are any others viewable with binoculars?
Jupiter is amazing!
It is always nice to spot the planets.
Thank you I thought that!!
I also saw a post about a lunar eclipse in March, yes there will be, NO it won't be visible to us in its entirety as the Moon will be below the horizon for most of the eclipse. We will have to wait until the 8th September this year.
Melonie Ross
Christine Fittler Brooke Coolidge
Alex Patterson-Ford
A lot of false hype
Thank you
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Comet Atlas G3 on the evening of the 17th of February. I changed to portrait orientation tonight. The sky was a bit clearer as well. Galaxy NGC 55 is still visible upper middle as well. The headless comet is about magnitude 7.0. The tail has broadened and there is still a secondary (twin) tail to the right of the main one. Image with 50mm lens in deep twilight. iso 4000. ... See MoreSee Less
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