Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) is Australia's premier optical and infrared astronomical Observatory
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4.5/5 · 329 reviews
5-star
75%
4-star
18%
3-star
4%
2-star
1%
1-star
2%
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Feb 9, 2025
Although it claimed to be open, the place was deserted. The cafe was shut. We found our way up to the gallery at the base of the telescope and could see it through the glass. You could read about the…Full review by Departure65421660510
Dec 17, 2024
Last Friday I headed off to Coonabarabran with my two young daughters to see the Geminid meteor shower that was happening that night. We stopped at every planet along the way to our accommodation (s…Full review by al3x-hamlyn
Sep 24, 2024
Siding Springs Observatory is located on Mount Woorut, 1164 metres above sea level and high above the eastern end of Warrumbungle NP. Operated by the Australian National University in Canberra, it is…Full review by PeterLangston
Hi, we will be travelling from Brisbane back home to Adelaide with our miniature poodle in August and will be staying at Coonabarabran. We would like to visit the Siding Spring Observatory Visitor Centre and telescope exhibition. I believe there is a café and a gift shop on site. Does the cafe have an outside area where we can sit with a small dog on lead? Also please can you advise opening hours, are you open on Sundays? Look forward to hearing from you. From Jewels
A:
My husband and I were at Siding Spring last October for their open day. It was a very windy day but I do remember some people sitting outside the cafe/gift shop. There is plenty of …
My husband and I were at Siding Spring last October for their open day. It was a very windy day but I do remember some people sitting outside the cafe/gift shop. There is plenty of space around the observatory for sitting down and eating.
My 13 year old granddaughter has always wanted to be an astronomer and is a keen science student at high school and visits Qld Uni to further her interests. If we brought her to the observatory from Brisbane Around school holidays) is there anything special she can observe or participate in? John W
A:
Hi John W, Sorry, this reply is a bit late, holidays are probably over up there. Since we are still an operating research facility we dont offer any viewing of the night sky at SSO. There …
Hi John W, Sorry, this reply is a bit late, holidays are probably over up there. Since we are still an operating research facility we dont offer any viewing of the night sky at SSO. There are however a number of locally owned observatories close by that offer this. Which I always receive positive feedback for. We do offer site tours through the day in school holidays. These include access to restricted parts of the site, and are very entertaining and informative. Feel free to give us a call for any more info.
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