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 2 to 4pm on the first Sunday of each month.
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.
Next Tour: 4th of October
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.
Full Moon Night Tour
Date: 2nd of October
When: 7:00 pm - 9:00 am
Price: $40 per adult, $30 per concession & $20 per child
Every society has created many myths and legends about our favourite satellite, from its creation to why it goes through phases throughout the month. This conversation series will take you on a journey to discover all the different facets of the moon and the cultural myths that surround it.
Join us for this first month’s discussion of some of the most known moon mythology, why many myths are similar across cultures and what we can learn about these societies through their interest in the moon. And, of course, have a good look at the moon through one of our telescopes. Finish the night with some tea or coffee and a conversation with our speaker for the evening.
Lunar Photography Workshop
Date: 22nd of October
When: 6 pm – 10 pm
Price: $90 per person
This promises to be a fun relaxed evening of photographing the Moon on some fantastic telescopes using your camera. We will have a wide range of focal lengths (magnifications) and types of telescopes available. You will be able to take photographs of the moon that feature the full disk, and photographs that are at much higher magnification.
Book NowHalloween Night Tour
Date: 31st of Oct
When: 8 pm to 9:45 pm
Price: $50 per adult, $35 per concession & $25 per child
This 31st of October put your costume on, get on your broomstick and head up to the Perth Observatory for an amazing Halloween Night and Dark Matter Day.
The Observatory will be decorated and the volunteers in costume for this special night. We'll also be giving out great prizes on the night for the best adult and child costume so please come in a costume.
We'll be showcasing ghostly objects on the night so book now.
Astronomy 101 Course
Starts: From 12th of November
Time: 7 – 8:30 pm
Price: $225 per person
We've organised a 5-week beginners course so you can learn about our amazing universe. Each week we'll go through a different topic including ancient astronomy, space exploration, the life cycle of a star, the planets and how to use a telescope. We'll then have a Q & A session with tea and coffee before we head up to the telescopes for some hand on practical experience.
On completion of the 5 week course, each participant will receive a special Perth Observatory certificate
Doctor Who Night
Date: 23rd of Nov
When: 8:00 pm to 9:45 pm
Price: $45 per adult, $35 per concession & $25 per child
Come up dressed as your favourite Doctor Who character to the Perth Observatory to celebrate everything Doctor Who on the night of Tardis Day. This 23rd of November the 55th anniversary of the debut episode of Doctor Who, we'll have Doctor Who characters at the Observatory and maybe even a dalek you really celebrate the world's longest-running science fiction TV series. Our telescope operators will be ready to show you stunning objects whether including massive nebulas, double stars, old and young open star clusters.
We'll also be giving out great prizes on the night for the best adult and child costume.
Geminids Meteor Shower Night
Date: 14th of Dec
When: 10:00 pm to 2:00 am (Gates at 9:30 pm)
Price: $25 per adult, $20 per concession & $15 per child
On the night of Saturday the 14th of December come up to the Perth Observatory and experience the southern hemisphere's best meteor shower of the year.
Rug up, bring outdoor chairs and enjoy hundreds of meteors flash past over you in our amazing southern sky. Hot drinks will be provided on the night and we'll also have some telescopes set up on some of the amazing stellar objects in our sky.
New Year's Eve 2018
Date: 31st of Dec
When: 8:30 pm and 10:15 pm
Price: $45 per adult, $35 per concession & $25 per child
Looking for something different to do to farewell 2018? Then come along to a pre-fireworks night tour at the Perth Observatory. Our telescope operators will be ready to show you stunning objects whether it's a single star, or a massive nebula.
Then to welcome the New Year, you can drive to one of the Perth Hills many lookouts and take in all the fireworks from around Perth at the stroke of midnight.
