Welcome To The Perth Observatory
Your Gateway To The Universe
Welcome to the Perth Observatory Website
Western Australia’s oldest observatory is located 35 km east of Perth in Bickley. The Observatory has served WA for over 120 years and remains actively involved in the service of public education. In recognition of its scientific, cultural and historical significance, the Observatory was entered on the state’s Heritage Register in 2005. The Observatory is now run under a community partnership agreement between the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group.
Night Sky Tours
Our experienced and passionate tour guides will operate our unique collection of modern and historic telescopes to give evening visitors a glimpse into the fascinating world of astronomy, space science and astrophotography.
Viewing targets will differ depending on the month, the weather and the lighting conditions (dark, moonlit and full moon). Types of objects usually seen through the eyepiece include globular clusters, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Sometimes satellites and meteors flash across the sky unexpectedly too.
School Day Tours
Our primary school day tours have been designed for primary school excursions for students from Year 3 – Year 6 and relate to the Australian National Curriculum. The students will participate in activities around the Observatory’s grounds and buildings to broaden their knowledge of astronomy and physics while seeing our range of modern and historical telescopes.
The maximum number of students that we can cater for in one tour is 60 and can only be managed if five or more activities are chosen. Please contact us if you are interested in a student tour outside the year levels listed or have more than 60 students so we can suggest ways to accommodate you.
Please Note: The booking group must consist of ten students or more except in special circumstances approved by the School Day Tours Subcommittee.
Our Out of School Holiday Care tours cater for children from 4 – 11 years old
Adopt A Star
Looking for an awesome gift for that special someone?
Our star adoption program provides a unique gift and is a way to recognise a family member or friend through the adoption of a star. All available stars in the program are between stars that are visible to the naked eye or stars that are visible in binoculars, all in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sunday Guided Day Tours
Wondering where to go for your Sunday drive? Meander through the beautiful Bickley Valley and join us for a special Guided Day Tour of the Perth Observatory.
Discover what Perth Observatory looks like in the day whilst walking our grounds and learning about our amazing history.
Sunday Guided Day Tours from 11 am to 3 pm.
Prices are just $20 adult, $10 concession, $5 children. There's no need to book, just pop in and we’ll meet you. The AstroShop will be open for drinks, ice cream, novelties or a memento of your visit.
Virtual Star Parties
Time: Every second Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Price: It's free
Can't get to the Observatory of one of our night tours? Don't worry we also hold virtual star parties on YouTube where we can show you amazing stuff in our Southern Sky through one of our telescopes, some of which you can't even see with your own eye and a telescope.
Join us on our Discord Channel and ask questions while you watch the YouTube Live Stream.
Valentine's Day Night Tour
Date: 14th of Feb
When: 8:30 pm to 10:15 pm (Gates Open 7:00 pm)
Price: $50 per adult, $35 per concession & $25 per child
Love is in the air this Valentine's night at the observatory as we have a special night sky tour so you can spoil that special someone in your life. Our Volunteers will take you on a grand tour of the Southern Hemisphere’s sky with a wide range of targets including nebulas and enormous star clusters so you can earn serious brownie points with your loved one.
2021 Astrofest
Date: 20th of Feb
Where: Curtin Stadium, Curtin University
When: 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Price: It's FREE
Back again in 2021, Astrofest is a free astronomy festival of epic proportions that will get the whole family engaging in a celebration of Australian science. Astrofest will be held on Saturday the 20th of February from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Curtin Stadium, on the grounds of Curtin University in Bentley.
As well as optical and radio telescopes observing throughout the day and night, Astrofest will feature a myriad of interesting, engaging and exciting indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family.
There will also be many different telescopes to try out, and you can bring your own for some expert advice in getting the most out of it. There'll be awesome food trucks come early make yourself comfortable in the picnic area. The Perth Observatory volunteers will helping out on the night to be sure to stop us and say hello.
2021 Summer Lecture
Date: 27th of February
When: 8:00 pm (Gates open: 6:00 pm)
Price: $25 per adult & $15 per concession/child
There is a long standing tradition at the Perth Observatory. Every year, we invite hills and city folks alike to come along on a warm summer evening to hear what's new and what's exciting in the world of Astronomy and Space Science.
This year we're thrilled to have Marnie Ogg the CEO of Australian Dark Sky Alliance and Dr Kellie Pendoley who is a Marine Ecologist and Vice President of the International Dark-Sky Association as our speakers on the night and they'll be talking about the effects of light pollution not only on the night sky, but on humans and animals as well.
