Welcome To The Perth Observatory
Your Gateway To The Universe
Welcome to the Perth Observatory Website
Western Australia’s oldest observatory is located 25 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 and relate directly to the Australian National Curriculum. The students will participate in activities around the Observatory’s grounds to broaden their knowledge of astronomy and physics while seeing our range of modern and historical telescopes.
Our day tours can be adapted for other groups of children aged between 7 and 12. Please contact us with full details if you are interested in a student tour outside this age range. The maximum number of students that we can cater for in one tour is 60.
10% discount on School Day Tour bookings for term 1 until 9th April
Discount only offered for available tour booking days in Term 1
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: 1st of March
2020 Astrofest
Back again in 2020, 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 29th 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.
Star Navigator Talk
Date: 5th of March
When: 7:30 pm (Gates open: 6:00 pm)
Price: $45 per person & $22 per person for the bus
Bus Leaves: at 5:30 pm from His Majesty’s Theatre
West Australian Opera and Perth Observatory are proud to partner for a bespoke event that will delight opera lovers and astronomers alike. On the 250th Anniversary of his voyage, join us under the stars to discover who Captain James Cook was, how HMS Endeavour was sailed, why the transit was important and to hear of his encounter with Tupaia, the star navigator.
This will be a perfect introduction to West Australian Opera's world premiere opera concert Star Navigator, composed by Tim Finn, and be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the meeting of these master mariners, Cook and Tupaia. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy the Perth Observatory Museum and participate in looking through the telescopes.
2020 Summer Lecture
Date: 6th of March
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 Curtin University's planetary scientist Dr Katarina Miljkovic as our speaker and she'll be presenting a talk on her work with NASA's Mars InSight Mission which landed on Mars at the end of 2018 and has been revealing what lies under the red planet's surface so that we can understand the evolution of Mars and other rocky planets in our inner solar system.
Astronomy 101 Course
Starts: 11th of March
Time: Wednesday evenings, 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
Astrophotography Workshops
Astrophotography One Day Workshop
Date: 14th of March
When: 1 pm to 10:00 pm
Price: $225 per person
Get started with astrophotography using your camera and a telescope. Learn what your equipment is capable of and how to make the most of what you have to get a start on astrophotography.
Spring into Milky Way Workshop
Date: 21st & 22nd of April
When: 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm (Doors open: 6:30 pm)
Price: $180 per person
This workshop is strategically timed to prepare you for the Spring Milky Way season when the Milky Way will be rising in the east in winter.
Abseiling & Telescopes Night
Date: 4th of April
Sessions From: 4 pm and 7 pm
Price:
$60 per adult for 3 abseils
$50 per concession for 3 abseils
$40 per child for 3 abseils
Need a bit of thrill in your life? Perth Observatory and Spacechameleon Adventure Co have organised a family friendly event where you can abseil our Lowell Telescope Dome. Each participant will get 3 abseils through the dome’s trap door and descend the full 12m in a controlled free fall to the ground.
On the night, we’ll be able to show you the Moon, nebulas and star clusters. If it’s cloudy we’ll then provide you with an amazing guided tour of the Observatory and an astronomical presentation.
Live Long And Prosper
Date: 5th of Apr
When: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Price: $50 per adult, $35 per concession & $25 per child
Put on your star fleet uniform, grab your phaser and tricorder and set course to the Perth Observatory to celebrate the first contact with the Vulcans on Star Trek Day. Our telescope operators will show you stunning objects that are in Federation space and a massive nebula which is in the Orion Syndicate's terrority.
We'll have prizes for the best adult and child costumes. So please come along to our Star Trek Day event at the Perth Observatory in your fav Star Trek gear. There will even be Star Trek character on site
May The 4th Be With You
Date: 4th of May
When: 7:30 pm to 9:15 pm
Price: $50 per adult, $35 per concession & $25 per child
This 4th of May put your Jedi robes on, clip on your Lightsabre(s) and make a lightspeed jump to the Perth Observatory to celebrate Star Wars Day. Our telescope operators will show you stunning objects whether it's a planet the Death Star could destroy, or a massive nebula to launch an attack from.
We'll have prizes for the best adult and child costumes. So please come along to our May 4th event at the Perth Observatory in your fav intergalactic gear. There could even be a Star Wars character on site, you never can tell!!!
