Dear Macquarie University Association for Astronomy members,

Greetings from my second month of exile.... I mean oversees research period. Italy's very hot summer has become a stormy pre-autumn, people are returning to the towns and the University is opening. I continue my research interrupted only by giving a seminar to some year 11 students who are about to take the finals of the Astronomy Olympics, a national competition.

Macquarie University is fast approaching mid semester. Our ever so popular course "Other Worlds" has reached record enrolments and is now offered as an on-line course for external students. Open Day will be staged this coming Saturday, 8 September with the usual display of courses for the coming year. The planetarium will be running all day on that occasion, for free, on Wally's Walk in front of the old library. Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt will be addressing a Macquarie audience on 19 September at 11AM, do not miss it! Other than that, just remember Open Night on Saturday October 20. I suggest you book this year since it will make it easier when you arrive and it will help us know better how many people to expect.

Best Regards,

September 8^th, 10:00 pm

MQ Open Day - Macquarie University

Open Day is all about giving you a taste of what Macquarie has to offer. On the day there are many lectures and activities, no matter what course you are considering. View our online planner and connect with Facebook for your chance to win a MacBook Air. More...

September 12^th, 5:30 pm

Physics and Astronomy Careers Night - Macquarie University

We hold a careers evening every year when some of our Physics, Photonics and Astronomy graduates come back and talk to our students. Come along and listen to them talk about their careers, their day to day activities, the skills needed, and how they got their jobs. Graduates at a range of stages in their careers will speak, so that students can see how careers might progress, and can also see the diverse range of careers that Physics can prepare you for! More...

September 14^th, 6:00 pm

A tour of the Solar System - Macquarie Planetarium

Our brand-new Digitarium Epsilon planetarium projector system and portable 7-m GoDome is available, by arrangement, for groups of up to 45 people per session. The planetarium simulates the night sky, including special events such as the transit of Venus or an eclipse of the sun. It allows an up-close look at the motions of celestial objects, the surfaces of planets, deep sky objects, and constellations. You can take a tour of the local Solar System, peer into the depths of the galaxy, or watch amazing new planetarium movies. Presentations can be tailored to the interests and age of your groups. More...

September 19^th, 11:00 am

The Accelerating Universe with Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt - Macquarie University

In 1998 two teams traced back the expansion of the universe over billions of years and discovered that it was accelerating, a startling discovery that suggests that more than 70% of the cosmos is contained in a previously unknown form of matter, called Dark Energy. More...

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 spring equinox occurs on the 23rd when the length of day and night is almost equal, about 12 hours each. Saturn is visible low in the west in the constellation of Virgo. Mars is next to the star Zubenelgenubi in Libra. The best time to see the Moon using binoculars or a small telescope is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon on the 23rd. To the south-west is Crux (the Southern Cross) easily located using the two nearby stars called the Pointers. In the centre of the sky are the constellations of Scorpius (the Scorpion) and Sagittarius (the Archer).