IMPORTANT NOTICE: COVID-19 Response
  • domes

Snapshot

Opening Hours

Opening Hours

Mon - Thurs 9.30am - 10.30pm. Last session 8.30pm
Session Times

Session Times

variable with evening sessions
Session Duration

Session Duration

Daytime: 60-90 min Evening: 60-120 min
Facilitated Program

Facilitated Program

Fully Facilitated (teacher must attend)
Group Size

Group Size

Daytime max 50 Evening max 60
entry fees

Entry Fees

$10 - $15 per student
Teacher to Student Ratio

Teacher to Student Ratio

Primary 1:10 Secondary 1:15
Evening Program

Evening Program

Mount Stromlo Observatory

Evening visits

A typical evening visit starts with a welcome by professional astronomers, followed by a behind-thescenes tour of our research buildings, including:

  • Viewing labs where instruments for the Giant Magellan Telescope are being built.
  • Checking out Laser Space Debris Telescope.
  • Seeing Professor Brian Schmidt’s Nobel Prize.
  • Touching a 250 kg meteorite.

The visit continues with a stargazing session using Mount Stromlo’s outreach telescopes (weather dependent), and a Q&A session with astronomers.

Depending on visit duration, students may also participate in hands-on activities in the Visitor Centre.

Daytime visits

A typical daytime visit may include similar elements to the evening experience.

We take students on a tour around the Observatory, showing them research buildings and telescope domes, while explaining the science done at Mount Stromlo over the past 100 years.

We discuss current science projects and our future plans, and the tour ends with the opportunity for students to ask astronomers their burning questions about space.

Depending on visit duration, students may participate in hands-on activities in the Visitor Centre.

Details on further Australian National University STEM programs are on page 41.