BATHURST OBSERVATORY
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Last Updated 22nd January 2012Bathurst Observatory Research Facility, Bathurst NSW Australia.Please read our news page for latest information on what is happening at the observatory.IMAGES OF COMET LOVEJOY ARE ON OUR VIEWING HIGHLIGHTS PAGE! Bathurst Observatory Research Facility is an observatory site primarily for research and study, though we do offer general public viewing nights. Open Nights Star Tours.
Upcoming Tours For January, bookings essential. Tours, other than those listed below, may be able to be organised mid week for groups of 6 or more. We have sold the observatory site (though hope to run tours at this site for a few more months). However, the developer has made access to the observatory difficult and we can't always guarantee access to our observatory. Hence the need to book! January Tours! 9:30 pm Next planned tour evening is Thursday the 26th of January. Bookings are ESSENTIAL for all tours. (Note that if there is a large enough group (6 or more), I can run mid week tours, or other dates as requested! All weeknights are available for school groups!) Tours Prices For 2012 the cost will be a $5 per ADULT and Gold coin donation per child!!!! (School Groups welcome!) Tour bookings and enquires, phone 02 6337 3988, or email using the link below. How to find us? See Location description below! Why "Open Nights"?In 2012, we are locating to a new site, further along Limekilns Road. At present we do not know if our tours can be maintained at the new site. Until the move happens and we have to move the telescopes, we plan to continue offering limited tours when we can. We used to do tours using an 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, remove the dome! So now we set up the public telescope as nature wanted us to, on cleared ground, under the wonder of the Southern stars. The feedback we have been getting about our "Open Nights" has been very positive so these tours will continue. About Our Tours. Our tours are conducted with the only guide with over ten years educational astronomy experience and currently studying a Bachelor of Education! 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 are located about 6 kilometres from Bathurst, so our skies are dark and full of stars! We cater for all school astronomy and space excursions, as well as general public telescope tours of the night sky.
The Milky Way stretches overhead in this view taken at the Bathurst Observatory Research Facility on the 11th August 2007. 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 phone (02) 6337 3988. The tours under an open sky (no dome to spoil the views!!!!!) and these are run on either a Friday or Saturday night. Dates will be posted in advance, bookings essential!!!!! Also, to all those school groups that have missed my tours, call or email and we can arrange a date and time to suit. We also welcome any enquires or questions you may have on Astronomy, Space or meteorite related matters. You may also, by prior arrangement, book to come and view the meteorites and mineral and fossil display that we have at the research site. Our news page is regularly updated, so have a look for the latest news about the observatory. LOCATIONFirstly, due to developments on our old site prior to us moving, we are nearly impossible to locate! Follow directions carefully and remember to book. Travelling from Sydney
you enter Bathurst and on your right you will pass the Gold Panner motor
inn with the big Gold panner man near the road. Keep travelling and you
get to a set of lights. Go straight through the lights and take the next
right turn about 50 metres past the lights. (There is a sign pointing to
the Sheep and Cattle drome) (if you get to another set of lights, you
missed the turn). Follow up this street until you get to the top. In front
are the Kelso little shops. Turn right. You will pass Kelso High further
along. Keep on driving along this road, you will follow this road for
about 6km. It becomes increasingly rural. The road will become an 80 zone
then a 100 zone further along. The tar is a bit broken up and needs repair
so be careful. Once in the 100 zone you
will eventually pass Koonong place on your left. Keep going straight,
though our turn is now only a few hundred metres from Koonong. On your
right, not far now is a big lime green sign saying Heritage Park. Turn right into this road, immediately passing two world war
1 guns and over the small dirt bridge. Follow this road and over the cattle grid. Follow this road (about 1.5 k) until you reach two old wagons either side of the road and you will see a white post and rail fence. Our turnoff is the dirt road to the right, about 40 - 50 metres past the wagons! The post and rial fence has a small gap in it. THIS IS OUR TURN OFF! Yes it is a dirt road. If you reach a building on your left or pass or end up at the large park park and buildings, missed the turn!. This dirt road goes up behind the buildings staying to the right of them. The soccer field is on your right, Basically you appear to be driving up one side of it! Follow this dirt road, past the house like building on your left and the road will will sweep to around the building. Continue up the road and I will be at the end of this road and pointing to where to park. There are two maps below to help you. Remember bookings are essential and I will help with information about finding us when you book!
The Map above shows you how to get to the Cattle Drome. When you arrive at the Heritage Park car park, follow the map below!
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Our Details are as follows Bathurst Observatory
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