Dear Macquarie University Association for Astronomy members,

The observatory has opened for business on Friday 8^th March 2013 with a few new faces amongst the demonstrators ranks. I am looking forward to the new observing season and invite you all to come and visit us and bring your friends and families. The next planetarium session will take place on campus on 31^st May 2013 and the second session is set for Friday 5th July. Tickets are available for both on the planetarium website. If we see that the session fills up we will immediately nominate an additional date so as to insure that everybody gets a chance to visit.

During Open Night, on May 18^th, the planetarium will be running as usual. Unfortunately not everybody can be accommodated on that night. However, remember that during Open Night the planetarium sessions are very short and there is no comparison with the proper thirty-minute-to-one-hour sessions we offer on normal nights. So do not be discouraged if you do not get a seat and just book yourselves in for a proper planetarium evening.

Best Regards,

Every Friday, 8:00 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, 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...

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 20th. Jupiter can be seen towards the north-west during the evening. On the 18th at 8:15 pm Jupiter and the crescent Moon are located next to each other. The Autumn Equinox occurs on the 20th. The word equinox is Latin meaning equal night, and is one of two days (usually 21 March and 21 September) when the Sun spends an equal amount of time above and below the horizon for every place on Earth. Constellations visible this month include Canis Major (the Great Dog), Orion (the Hunter), Gemini (the Twins) and Leo (the Lion). Crux (the Southern Cross) is low in the south-east and is located just above the two bright Pointer stars.