Dear Macquarie University Association for Astronomy members,

Not much has been happening in May at the Association for Astronomy, but on June 6 we hosted a very successful transit of Venus event with many guests attending our displays, which included the planetarium. The weather was not great, and one of the telescope filters was damaged in the continuous moving the equipment in and out to avoid the showery weather. However we had more than ample sunny spells to enjoy to rare view. The event owes its success to the charismatic leadership of Dr. Michael Ireland, one of our astronomers, and the team who helped him, which included academic and administrative staff, post-graduate and undergraduate students. FInally, Alan Vaughan lets us know that the School of Astronomy will be running this year on the 18th and 19th of August.

Best Regards,

Every Friday, 7:00 pm

Astronomical Observatory - Macquarie University Observatory

The Association for Astronomy and the Department of Physics & Astronomy invite you to observe the cosmos with your own eyes at the Macquarie University Astronomical Observatory. You will be guided through the night sky by our professional astronomy staff, who will show you planets, binary stars, nebulae, star clusters, and even bright galaxies through our 16" and 12" professional in-dome telescopes. All are welcome! More...

Every day, 6:00 pm

Public Observing Program - Sydney Observatory

Sydney Observatory is open every night (session times vary) and day (10am to 5pm) except Christmas Day and Good Friday. The links at left have all the information you need to plan your visit. Charges apply to night and day telescope viewing sessions which include visits to the telescope domes, telescope viewing* and 3D space theatre experience - guided and explained by one of the Observatory's astronomy educators. More...

The Southern Cross is high in the sky towards the south and is easily located using the two nearby Pointer stars. The brighter of the Pointers, Alpha Centauri, is the nearest star to the Sun. Nearby are the False and Diamond Crosses that can both be mistaken for the Southern Cross. High in the sky are the constellations Leo (the Lion), Scorpius (the Scorpion) and Hydra (the Water Snake). Saturn and Mars are located towards the north in Virgo. The best time to view the Moon with a small telescope or binoculars is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon on the 27th. June 21st is the shortest day of the year (winter solstice, with 9 hours and 48 minutes of daylight) when the Sun is at its most northerly position in the sky.