Dear Macquarie University Association for Astronomy members,

Another year has come to an end for the AfA, but I have missed half of it! I will therefore, once again, leave it to Tiffany Day to describe the end of the AfA activities before the closing of business for the summer period. With this I wish you all an excellent 2013!

We are now in shut down mode until March 2013. Thank you to all our AfA staff, the observatory and planetarium guides, for all your hard work this year. Thank you to all our visitors who came to see our new planetarium shows and gazed at the stars from our observatory. We had a fantastic year, and look forward to an even brighter 2013.

Please keep an eye on our website for updates in the new year. We will also start the new year with a call for new staff - if you know anyone who is an astronomy undergraduate or has a background in astronomy, who may be interested in astronomy outreach and volunteering at the observatory and planetarium, please ask them to send an email to starinfo@mq.edu.au for 2013 recruitment!

Best Regards,

Introduction to Astronomy (I2A) Course - ASNSW

Introduction, Observing the Southern Sky, Earth-Sun-Moon, Solar System, Telescopes, Stellar Evolution.

There are no prerequisites for these courses. They are suitable for people with no scientific or mathematical background. A short observing session may be included, weather permitting, at the end of each week’s class. More...

Every day, 8:00 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...

Jupiter remains visible in the early evening as a bright star-like object towards the north-east and is close to the Moon on Christmas day the 25^th. On the 15^th, Mars is close to the crescent Moon during the early evening. The best time to view the Moon using binoculars or a small telescope is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon on the 20th. Summer solstice on the 21st is the longest day of the year and gives Sydney 14 hours and 25 minutes of daylight. Crux (the Southern Cross) is just above the southern horizon making it difficult to locate.