Sydney Observatory Self-GuidedSelf-Guided Tour Tour

Ask our staff about our telescope tours Welcome to Sydney Observatory

Located high on a hill overlooking Sydney Harbour, Sydney Observatory commands some of the best views of the city. Serving as both a public observatory and a museum, the Observatory showcases an amazing collection of historic and modern instruments, artefacts, books and photos. This self-guided tour will help you find your way through the display rooms to discover the history of astronomy and weather watching in Australia. Please ask our staff if you have any questions or are interested in a staff-guided tour. Explore and enjoy! A brief history

Sydney Observatory began as the centre of scientific research for the colony of , and has since played a significant role in the history of time-keeping, meteorology and astronomy in Australia. The Australian Aboriginal people have been observing the southern sky for tens of thousands of years, and the early colonists also recognised the importance of studying the stars. A young lieutenant named William Dawes was given the task of establishing an observatory when he travelled to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. He set up his instruments in a wooden building at what is now called Dawes Point, only a few hundred metres to the north of Sydney Observatory and next to the southern pylon of the . In 1821, Governor established Australia’s first permanent observatory near Government House in . Governor Brisbane and his staff studied the southern sky and began documenting unknown stars. The observations were published in 1835 in William Richardson’s A Catalogue of 7385 Stars. Parramatta Observatory was forced to close in 1847 due to lack of support. However, by 1855 the colonial government could not ignore the need for a time ball and an observatory in Sydney. Three years later construction of the time ball tower and the new observatory was sufficiently advanced for observations to begin. Work at the Observatory included determining star positions, measuring precise longitudes and latitudes, keeping time and making meteorological (weather) observations. The site has previously been known as Windmill Hill, Citadel Hill, and Flagstaff Hill, with each name indicating the site’s function over time. Today the site is known as Observatory Hill and has been the astronomical hub of Sydney for over 150 years. Toilets (outside)

Wheelchair/ 5 Emergency Group Entry Exit 3D Theatre First Floor Russell Ground Floor Reception. Rooms 7Room 4 Lecture to 10 can be accessed Emergency Room via the staircase Exit Entry/Exit Room 6 can be accessed via the Transit Room 3 staircase 1 2 Emergency Exit Planetarium Ground Floor (occassional sessions) 1. Watchers of 2. Knowing the time 3. Transit circle: 4. Planets and a different kind and finding the way the biggest clock stars of the Find out what makes Discover the instruments in the world southern sky the southern sky special used by Matthew Flinders This room is home to Explore the solar and ‘meet’ some of the to chart the Australian the transit circle, a system and discover astronomers and explorers coastline in the early telescope that was used to constellations. See: who have observed the 1800s, including: determine the exact time, •• solar system models night sky. You’ll see: •• an Earnshaw 520 positions of stars and the (orreries) – watch the •• Brisbane’s telescope chronometer – one of geographical coordinates moon circle the Earth and – used by Governor the five chronometers of the Observatory. The the planets circle the Sun Thomas Brisbane to used on Flinders’ voyage room also contains: •• a Southern Cross observe Encke’s around Australia and the •• a chronograph – used to 3D model. Comet in 1822 only one still working at record the transit circle •• a repeating circle the end of the journey observations 5. Cadi Eora – used at Parramatta •• an Earnshaw astronomical •• a pendulum clock Birrung: under the Observatory in the clock – a highly accurate – a highly accurate Sydney Stars 1820s to measure angles clock built in 1791 and astronomical regulator between stars used by Flinders to check clock purchased in 1860. Aboriginal people •• the Apollo feedhorn the timekeeping of the were Australia’s first – used to convert chronometers on his ship astronomers and have Neil Armstrong’s 1969 •• a sextant – like those watched the southern transmissions from the used by navigators sky for more than 50,000 Moon into television such as Flinders to years. The stars were images watched by determine both the used as a calendar, for millions on Earth. time and the . navigation, and to convey laws to future generations. This room looks at Indigenous Dreaming stories about the different constellations. Toilets (outside)

Wheelchair/ Emergency Group Entry Balcony Exit 3D 10 Theatre

6 First Floor Russell Ground Floor Reception. Rooms 7 Room Lecture to 10 can be accessed 9 Emergency Room via the staircase Exit Entry/Exit Room 6 can be accessed via the Transit Room staircase 7 8

Emergency Exit Planetarium First Floor (occassional sessions)

6. Transit of Venus: 7. Observing the 8. Observing the 10. The time ball the biggest ruler weather: measuring weather: surviving The time ball atop Sydney in the world and forecasting the extremes Observatory dropped The transit of Venus is When the Observatory This exhibition looks at 150 for the first time on of special interest to opened in 1858, its years of Sydney’s weather. 5 June 1858, alerting Australians – Captain astronomers began Find out about the heatwave Sydneysiders and ships in Cook travelled to Tahiti recording Sydney’s rainfall of 1939, the floods of 1984 the harbour of the exact to observe Venus passing and temperature. This and the hailstorm of 1999. time. Today the timekeeping in front of the Sun in 1769 room displays the many tradition continues, with instruments that have Observatory staff dropping and on his return voyage 9. Russell Room mapped the east coast measured the weather the time ball daily at 1.00 pm. of Australia. Australia over the years since then, H C Russell was an You can see the time was in a prime location including: important pioneer of ball’s daily drop by heading to observe the most •• a laser ceilometer – a photography and a outside for 1.00 pm and recent transit of Venus. modern instrument used significant astronomer watching the yellow ball Learn about: to measure the height of who lived and worked atop the tower. •• the photoheliograph the clouds at the Observatory – a telescope for •• a Newman & Son between 1870 and 1905. photographing the Sun mercury barometer – Here you will see historic and one of only half a an instrument used at astronomical, weather and dozen such instruments in the Observatory in the family photographs as well the world late 1800s to measure as stunning balcony views •• the photographic revolver atmospheric pressure of the city, harbour bridge – designed for use with and the time ball tower. the photoheliograph and the forerunner of the movie camera.

Experience more of the Observatory

After exploring the displays inside the Observatory, enjoy more of what this incredible site has to offer.

Day tour Dreamtime astronomy You’ve seen the exhibits, On the land of the Gadigal now look through our solar People of the Eora nation, telescope safely with one hear Indigenous sky of our astronomers and on stories that are thousands a clear day see the Sun, of years old told by bright stars, the Moon Aboriginal Astronomy and Venus. Be captivated guides. Book a 60-minute by the sights within our night tour to hear about digital planetarium or see the giant emu in the sky short astronomy films in and the story behind the our 3D Space Theatre. Southern Cross. Tours include stargazing through Night tour Observatory telescopes. This is the quintessential way to experience Sydney Name a Star Observatory. Look through Name your own star from our computer-controlled the Sydney Southern mirror telescope or our Star Catalogue! Sydney historic 1874 telescope Observatory’s Name a Star to see highlights of the program is the perfect gift, southern sky such as stars, providing a lasting legacy the Moon or a nebula. in the Australian night sky. All the stars available can also be viewed through the telescopes at the Observatory.

Ask our staff or book online at maas.museum/sydney-observatory Walsh Bay

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