Public Indigenous Astronomy Stargazing Night

Our presenter, Dr Tim Patston, has been involved in astronomy since early childhood when his father founded the NSW Astronomical Society and the Belfield observatory. Tim is a researcher and educator across all levels of Australian education. Tim conducts talks and workshops throughout Australia, celebrating the incredible depth of knowledge of our First Nations peoples, and is dedicated to collaborating with Indigenous Australians to preserve knowledge language and culture.

What is the format of the Stargazing evenings?

In the majority of cases, the presentation is held first, followed by the telescopes. In the Summer months, it's still daylight when we start so it has to be this way. In the Winter, viewing can also be done before the presentation. If a large number attend we can also split into two groups; one viewing while the other sees the show, then swapping over.

Can I bring my kids?

Absolutely! Even the littlies get a thrill from looking through a telescope. The presentations are aimed at a general audience but seem to keep the attention of most children with animation, sound and video. Just remember to keep an eye on them around expensive equipment. All Children must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.

What if it's cancelled?

We never cancel a Stargazing Evening. Sounds strange, but it's easier for us to attend and at least do the presentation than try to decide if we should cancel, then attempt to contact everyone. If it's pouring rain you can still come along for the show, and then come along for free midway at the next public night.

Do I need my own telescope?

No. Our members will show you the night sky and will operate our large telescopes during the evening.

Can I buy anything else on the night?

Yes. We have a range of other merchandise available on the night for purchase. These may vary from month to month and can include meteorites, glow sticks, beanies, jigsaw puzzles, small red light torches, special almanacs and sky charts of what is the night sky for the year and other things. While tea, coffee, cordial and biscuits are free all evening, we do also have cans of cold drink and bottled water available for sale.