Things To See and Do
Cosmos Centre and Observatory
Charleville
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Charleville's Cosmos Centre and Observatory is dedicated to ensuring visitors enjoy the wonder astronomy. The guides at the Cosmos Centre want to share their knowledge and love of the night sky with you including the binary stars, star clusters, planets and the Moon.
The Cosmos Centre operates day and night; both experiences will build on your knowledge of astronomy and bring you up to date with new discoveries.
The questions they will ask are: Have you ever...
Held a meteorite in your hand? Seen the rings of Saturn? Viewed a star cluster 17,000 light years away? Seen the craters on the Moon? Checked out Jupiter? Wondered about the new dwarf planets? Or seen the sun through a telescope? If you haven't, you need to come out to Charleville to explore the wonders of the universe.
The Cosmos Offers a number of different experiences day and night.
CONTACT DETAILS
Phone:
07 4654 7771
Email: obguides@bigpond.com
Web:
www.cosmoscentre.com
ENTRY INFORMATION
Open Times:
High Season (April to October) - Observatory: Bookings essential open every night including Good Friday and Anzac Day. Astronomy by Day and Cosmos Cafe is open every day. Sun viewing is available Tuesday or Thursdays and Saturdays (providing the temperature is below 26 degrees Celsius). Low Season (November to March) - Observatory: Bookings essential open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Nights. Astronomy By Day is open from Monday to Saturdays. Sun Viewing is not available during the Low Season.
Entry Costs:
| Entry | Cost | Valid From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $23.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Observatory. |
| Adult | $5.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Astronomy by Day. |
| Adult | $10.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Night Sky Stories. |
| Adult | $6.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Sun Viewing. |
| Child (Aged 4-14) | $15.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Observatory. |
| Child (Aged 4-14) | $5.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Astronomy by day. |
| Child (Aged 4-14) | $6.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Night Sky Stories. |
| Child (Aged 4-14) | $4.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Sun Viewing. |
| Concession | $21.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Observatory. Concessions prices are available for seniors and students. |
| Concession | $5.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Astronomy by Day. Concessions prices are available for seniors and students. |
| Concession | $8.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Night Sky Stories. Concessions prices are available for seniors and students. |
| Concession | $6.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Sun Viewing. Concessions prices are available for seniors and students. |
| Family | $49.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Observatory for two adults and two children. |
| Family | $16.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Astronomy by Day for two adults and two children. |
| Family | $26.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Night Sky Stories for two adults and two children. |
| Family | $14.00 | 01 Feb 10 - 31 Mar 11 | Sun viewing for two adults and two children. |
FURTHER INFORMATION
Children: Children enjoy the Observatory and Day sessions. At night one of the telescopes can be lowered to children's height. Children under four are free of charge if not viewing through the telescopes.
Disabled: There is access for guests with a disability. The telescopes are mounted on plinths that can be brought down to wheelchair level. The theatre and most of the interactive displays are wheelchair accessible.
Access Car
Headlights are restricted at night. Visitors are asked to not arrive for their evening observatory sessions until 15 minutes before commencement. Headlights cause an enormous amount of light pollution and arriving at the designated time assists in keeping light pollution to a minimum.
General Comments
Astronomy by Night
Telescope Viewing: This is your opportunity to view distant stars, planets, moon and star clusters through powerful telescopes. Star guides present the night sky in good old fashioned 'plain English', they want to share their love of astronomy and all things cosmic in a way that is easy to understand. You will leave the observatory not only seeing the wonders in the sky but having a greater understanding of what you have observed.
Stories of the Night Sky: New in 2010 - your Cosmos Guide uses a powerful astro laser light to point out and explain the constellations and tell the ancient stories. On dark nights the guides can also explain aboriginal stories and point out the dark spaces that make up the indigenous constellations.
General Comments
Astronomy by Day
Designed to pique your interest in all things astronomical. Chat time with a guide: Mini Talks that explore the Cosmos.
Catch a Falling Star! Do they fall, can they shoot? Stars can do a lot of things but only one really well. Find out what they do and even hold a 'shooting star' in your hands.
Whatever happened to Pluto? A short chat on the new definitions of the Solar System and the development of five dwarf planets. Quirky information of the planets which planet has a day that's longer than a year, how to discover a planet through maths and much more.
Paint the Nebula - Hubble Style: Do brightly coloured nebulae exist? Answer, well sort of! Find out how Hubble images are so incredibly colourful and find out if they are true colour or not.
General Comments
Cosmos Theatre: The Cosmos Theatre presents a short film - Journey to Infinity-. How did the planets form? What influence has the Sun on Earth? Why are we the only place where life, as we know it, exists?
Hands On Displays: Seven hands on displays give you time to become acquainted with the ancient star gazers and their beliefs, travel to our nearest star, find out the difference between astrology and astronomy, send your own space rocks into Earth to see what happens and much much more.
See the sun through a telescope? The classic opportunity to view the only star you can see in the day time - Our Sun. The Sun always surprises visitors; it's like nothing you can imagine. Protected by an incredible filter you can gaze at the Suns surface with a Cosmos Guide.
Cosmos Cafe: Open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. the Cosmos Cafe has light snacks and great Coffee. Why not try their Light Year Latte, Cosmic Cappuccino, Moons Drops or their speciality, Saturn-Shire Tea (similar to Devonshire Tea - but made from Saturn ingredients!!!)
Come outback to explore the Cosmos and learn about astronomy - it's astronomical!
The Cosmos Centre and Observatory is four kilometres from the centre of Charleville on the Mitchell Highway - follow the signs to the airport at the airport turn off the Cosmos signs will direct you to the centre.
Charleville Taxis offer a special Cosmos Service pick up drop off from accommodation for AUD15.00 per couple return.
Inclusion
Cancellation and Refunds Policy
No refund is available for cancellation after 3.00 p.m. unless the seat can be resold. A full refund is available for those cancelled prior to 3.00 p.m. A full refund is available when a session is cancelled due to weather. A partial refund is available if the session cannot be completed. Contact the operator for further details.
Open Times
High Season (April to October) - Observatory: Bookings essential open every night including Good Friday and Anzac Day. Astronomy by Day and Cosmos Cafe is open every day. Sun viewing is available Tuesday or Thursdays and Saturdays (providing the temperature is below 26 degrees Celsius.
Low Season (November to March) - Observatory: Bookings essential open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Nights. Astronomy By Day is open from Monday to Saturdays. Sun Viewing is not available during the Low Season.
