This page is for those who want to observe the Moon, planet/s and some stellar objects,  up close in large expensive telescopes.

Teachers & Parents: The dates below are best suited for Yr. 2 - 6 visits. (Year 7-12 students should pick Starry skies)

We do not do any night shows around a Full Moon - too bright to see any craters and a full moon 'drowns out' many fainter constellations and stars.
However we do make exceptions. On June 26 is a Partial Lunar Eclipse.. read on...

Night shows not suitable for kids under 5 year. No drinks or food allowed into any show.

scroll down for dates..

Ever wanted to see the Moon up really close?

Just book a night from the dates below and call us!

Max. number we can take on anight's booking is 40 persons.

Group discounts apply for 30 or more people (excluding kids).

Our telescopes at right can magnify a planet or the Moon up to 800X on nights when the stars are not  'twinklling' - Scintillation meaning the more steadier the image is in the telescope, the more detail you will see of that object under high magnification.

Normally we do not do Night shows on or around a Full Moon* - just too much moonlight to see the stars, etc..

Having said that, there are exceptions: June 26th is a Partial Lunar Eclipse event when the Full Moon will move partially into the Earth's shadow at 8.30pm..Our show will start at 8pm and conclude at 11pm.

Mar    23 - 27   +  Saturn   +  Mars   +   Orion, Canis Major, Carina, star clusters, nebulae,  binary stars and lots more......

Apr    21 - 25         "                                           "                                             "

May   21 - 25         "                                           "                                             "

Jun    19 - 23         "                                           "                                             "

June 26, Partial Lunar Eclipse

Bookings essential and close June 11, 5pm. Ph. (07)  4164  6194.

All one price..$15 cash per person. No exceptions. Credit card attracts a 5% surcharge (blame the banks not us)

• Our night show will start at 8pm and continues right through till 11pm.
  

• Eclipse begins at 8.30pm and concludes at 11pm.

• See the eclipse LIVE on the big screen in the Star Theatre and through our big telescopes!

• During the evening we will show you the Ring planet SATURN and its moons..!!

• E-mail your bookings to    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   (just remove the 'at' and replace it with the @ symbol)

• PIg on Spit that night at the Maidenwell Hotel at 6pm.. Bookings essential and close on June 11, 5pm. Phone  (07) 4164  6133.
  

Aug   17 - 22         "                         "

Sep   15 - 20  +  Jupiter                   "

Oct    15 - 20        "                          "

Nov   14 - 18        "                           "

Dec   13 - 18        "                          "

Moon Craters

Ever wanted to see the Moon up close in a big telescope? Pick any date and do it..

There are over 1 million listed craters on the Moon, some big enough to swallow all of Brisbane, Gold and Sunshine Coasts.One day up there is equal to 14 days down here.

22 days old.

This phase always rises around midnight and sets around noon.Each night the Moon comes up about 50 minutes later than before.That is why you can see the Moon in the afternoon.The moon takes 29.5 days to orbit the Earth and varies its distance by as much as 50,000 kms at Perigee (closets) and Apogee (furthest).  See LINK in top menu to read more

9 day old Moon

This a good time to search for domes, rills and scarps. It is also a good phase time as the Moon is high in the sky and the detail seen down the night/day boundary called the terminator, shows incredible detail. Clavius, Tycho and Copernicus are three of the largest craters seen at this time of the lunar month.

Copernicus crater.

This is the sort of detail you will see in our telescopes at high powers.

The crater at left is the results of a massive asteroid impacting into the 'Ocean of Storms' basin, about 3 billion years ago.

Measuring 115kms across, it has terrace walls and a 'central peak' - the remains of 'melt' from the impact projectile.

Truly a magnificent specimen of Lunar geology.Best time to view this  feature is 2 nights after 1st Quarter Moon.

Want to take photos like this?  If so, a small fee will apply. Contact the Obs. on 4164  6194.

All moon photos by James Barclay

Full Moon

The Moon, is our nearest celestial neighbour to Earth and it lies at a mean distance of 300,000 kms.

It has 1/6 of Earth's gravity and Lunar day temperatures are hot enough to boil water instantly.  During a Lunar night however,  (equal to 14 days here on Earth) .the temp. is so cold it would snap your bones.

During each lunar cycle the Moon moves through various phases of Waxing and Waning. New Moon is when the Moon lies between us and the Sun. About 4 days after a New Moon we see a Waxing Crescent shape Moon facing west.

By the 7th day we see a 'Half' or First Quarter Moon and 5 nights later, we see a Gibbous Moon. On the 15th night we have a Full Moon.Since the Full Moon rises around 6pm each month, Last Quarter comes up around midnight and sets at midday. A waning crescent comes up around 3am and sets around 3pm. That is why you can see the moon in the afternoon.