Sydney Observatory

Observatory · Millers Point

4

Closed

Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null
Sydney Observatory by null

Highlights

Perched atop a hill with stunning harbour views, this historical observatory and planetarium offers a magical escape into astronomy and nature's beauty.

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
Placeholder
Placeholder

1003 Upper Fort St, Millers Point NSW 2000, Australia Get directions

Closed (Opens Thu at 12:00 PM)

"The Sydney Observatory is home to a working refracting lens telescope which has been in use for over 135 years. It is the oldest working refracting lens telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. In some ways, however, the observatory was built simply to keep another instrument, the “time ball,” functioning.  The Time Ball is a large yellow ball, easily visible from the sea, that is dropped at exactly 1:00pm every day. Built in 1858, before the advent of radio, it served as a clear visual signal of the time. Its main purpose was to help ships set their chronometers which kept them on schedule and from running into one another. Initially, the city planned to build only the time ball, but soon realized that without setting the ball to the cosmic clock, it would be useless. Hence an observatory was built and staffed with an astronomer.  The ball was originally dropped at noon, but that was soon changed to 1:00pm as Rev. Scott, the Government Astronomer, was generally busy at noon watching the sun cross the north-south meridian. Today the time ball still drops at 1:00pm sharp, but its clock is no longer controlled by an astronomer but by an atomic master clock. The observatory itself remains; it is now a museum of astronomy and pays homage to captain James Cook and his famed voyage following the transit of Venus around the globe.  If you go at night you will be able to observe the night sky through both a modern telescope and the historic original telescope from 1874. If it’s a cloudy night, visitors are invited to participate in a planetarium show in a very small planetarium instead. The planetarium show is an experience in itself. You will also still get to use the telescope on a cloudy evening if you’d like, of course, but instead of focusing on the planet Jupiter the astronomers on hand have other fascinating tricks up their sleeve. These include training the telescope at a clock miles away from where you are standing, allowing you to read the time on its face as if you’re standing right in front of it." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

·

Nov 5, 2022

View Postcard for Sydney Observatory

"In the 1850s, a rugged hill overlooking Sydney Harbour was capped with the Sydney Observatoryat the behest of English astronomer and clergyman William Scott. What started as a sandstone structure used primarily for time-keeping and navigation developed into an observatory that has been illuminating the southern sky for more than a century. Sydney has much more light pollution today, but the original retractable copper dome does a good job of blocking it out to bring distant constellations and nebulae into view. The resident astronomer will target planets such as Jupiter and Saturn as well as only-in-the-southern-hemisphere sights such as the Southern Cross constellation or the astronomer's favorite: Jewel Box, a rare cluster of glimmering stars whose different colors reflect distinct ages."

Sydney's Best Museums and Cultural Attractions
·

Mar 16, 2022

View Postcard for Sydney Observatory

"In the 1850s, a rugged hill overlooking Sydney Harbour was capped with the Sydney Observatoryat the behest of English astronomer and clergyman William Scott. What started as a sandstone structure used primarily for time-keeping and navigation developed into an observatory that has been illuminating the southern sky for more than a century. Sydney has much more light pollution today, but the original retractable copper dome does a good job of blocking it out to bring distant constellations and nebulae into view. The resident astronomer will target planets such as Jupiter and Saturn as well as only-in-the-southern-hemisphere sights such as the Southern Cross constellation or the astronomer's favorite: Jewel Box, a rare cluster of glimmering stars whose different colors reflect distinct ages."

The Best Things to Do in Sydney
·

Mar 16, 2022

View Postcard for Sydney Observatory

"Part of Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences (MAAS), this state-listed heritage site houses telescope domes, a 3D Space Theatre, and the Sydney Planetarium. Essential to shipping, navigation, meteorology, and timekeeping, the observatory was exclusively used by government astrologers during the 19th and 20th centuries. It wasn't until 1982 that the building was turned into a museum and public observatory. On view are two heritage timekeeping devices—the Flag Staff and Time Ball—plus Australia's oldest telescope. The digital Planetarium shows films about astronomy, space flight, and the constellations, plus Aboriginal tales of the cosmos." - Sophie Davies

·

Mar 23, 2018

View Postcard for Sydney Observatory

Fiona Mackenzie

Google
I went on an 8pm tour with a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide - Aliya. Thoroughly enjoyed all the history components, the flag room and the historical buildings. Then seeing stars and Jupiter through the telescopes was fantastic.

Schedulie

Google
🌿 (True) I was feeling sick before coming here, but after resting and enjoying the scenery, I felt better 🤣 💎 I’ll write about the best spots for laying out a picnic mat and recommended visiting times in the main text! Highly recommended for those who want to spend a relaxing day enjoying beautiful natural scenery in the heart of Sydney 🧘🏻‍♀️🏕️ 🔎 Best spot: Next to a big tree in the park 🌳 (It’s relatively less crowded but the view is fantastic!)
🔎 Recommended visiting time: 🌆 Visit 1-2 hours before sunset and stay to watch the sunset! 📍 Sydney Observatory

Edward Lee

Google
If you are into STEM, especially astronomy, this place is for you. Highly recommend getting the tour. On that note, I have an awesome private tour with Matt (fellow engineer) throughout the site and the telescopes. The tour provided detailed history of the observatories and the ground as well as the associated history of Sydney. More impressively, the 2 telescopes in the observatories are in working condition and I was able check out the sun as well as terrestrial objects. BTW, it is also great if you are into semaphores. I got to raise a quarantine flag!

Monza Bella

Google
An amazing highlight of our Sydney holiday. Our tour guide (& the others we chatted to) were so knowledgeable and passionate - as they’re all post doc students! We learnt so much about the sites history - from it’s early days as a flag signal post, to fort ruins & the observatory buildings. The items on display were fascinating and looking through a telescope and seeing stars and Saturn & its rings were indescribable!! So much fun to see the observatory domes rotate & open, and the newer telescope automatically focusing on the selected stars! Note there are extremely narrow and steep steps up to the telescopes so good idea to ask your guide beforehand for alternatives or more info. Parking is extremely limited so you can walk through ‘the Rocks’ and up the hill as it’s near the Sydney harbour bridge. You can book a taxi afterwards, just specify the ‘Sydney observatory building’. As it’s a popular viewing site to view the sunset, we booked a tour just after sunset, & arrived an hour earlier to enjoy the beautiful view towards the harbour and walk around the observatory gardens and buildings which weren’t included in the tour. Highly recommended and incredibly interesting. Book beforehand as understandably popular.

Stuart Durham

Google
I attended an evening tour of the observatory, which included using the telescopes in the planetarium. The tour was led by a member of the staff at the observatory who is one of the working scientists. He was extremely knowledgeable but was also able to make complex ideas about the Universe and physics accessible to everyone in the group. The weather unfortunately meant we could not see very much, and you may want to take this into account when booking. However, this did not spoil my visit.

Steven Hutchinson

Google
A hidden little gem of Sydney’s history. There is a small exhibition here as well as inside the observatory main building. Excellent views of the harbour from up here, and all tucked away on a short walk behind The Rocks area.

Lockie Hunter

Google
Such an exquisite experience. It was so much more than just looking at the observatory, because the surrounding buildings have history as well. Our guide was lovely. There were not too many people who had questions, and I think she would’ve really welcomed those questions. There were children in the group, so we let them lead the way, but every time the guide had a question, I wanted to pipe up and answer, because I’m a total nerd, and Instead, we let some of the kids and teenagers answer, which is totally OK. I am a middle-aged woman; I should not have the floor. And the guide offered opportunities for us to participate at the observatory, like opening hatches and such, and again, we really tried to let the children and teenagers have those. But I’m such a fun kid inside, and I really wanted to do it myself! I know that sounds silly. And it really should not be part of the review, but I love the fact that our guide gave the people on her tour opportunities to be involved. Normally I’m the kid in the front row with her hand raised screaming “Mr. Carter, Mr. Carter!” If you don’t know that reference, you’re probably not from the United States. Or not Generation X. I enjoyed the tour on so many levels. I feel like a curious kid again. So, here is how the tour worked. Of course, we were there to see the observatory, but what was unexpected was that we were also treated to a tour of the grounds and other buildings and learned elements such as the signal flags. This was a surprising highlight. I thought the tour simply included time at the observatory, but instead, the guide started with the grounds and the flags, and history of the observatory and the excavation underneath. It really contextualized the experience. But, of course, the true highlight, was actually touching the telescope and looking out! We even got to look through a second telescope, the original. What a treat! In both cases we were present when they moved the dome. It was so steampunk as we watched the copper-plated dome move. But again, the preamble to all of this, the flags and the building it was built on, and the grounds, and the history I thought would be a bit of an afterthought, was wonderful as well. So our guide was not simply an astronomer, but a bit of an historian, certainly an educator. My only disappointment, so silly, is that every time I look at Saturn in a telescope… it looks like it’s fake. Like somebody put a little Saturn slide in there. I don’t think it is real. I’m trying not to sound like a flat-earther here! The moon is different. When I look at the moon, it looks so real! Of course, she appears odd here in the southern hemisphere. I kept staring at her for weeks when I was in Australia in New Zealand, wondering who that imposter was up in the sky. But gosh, Saturn? I don’t know what’s going to shake me out of the spell that I feel that it’s fake. How big of a telescope do I need? Do I have to go to Hubble? Anyway, tour guide was delightful; the surroundings were delightful. Gosh, just being up there made me wish to go back to the observatory to meditate and soak in the surroundings. Well done everybody. Five stars. I know this review was rambling.

Ramez Besada

Google
We did the family tour and it was amazing.. kids and grown ups loved it, our guide (Grace) was very friendly and informative We got lucky with breaks between the clouds to see Jupiter and a closup of the moon through the telescope 🔭 We did the night time tour, they said at day time you can see the sun and at night the planets and the moon (depending on the weather)
Sydney Observatory on Postcard