Powerhouse Museum - Sydney Observatory

Country Always

Country Always

Caring for Country

A Corner of the Empire

A Corner of the Empire

The Garden Palace

The Holding Pen

The Holding Pen

The Agricultural Hall

Regional Networks

Regional Networks

Across New South Wales

A Museum of Doing

A Museum of Doing

Technological Museum

Expanding Stories

Expanding Stories

Evolution of the Castle Hill site from botanical research station to Museum Discovery Centre

Transforming the Tramsheds

Transforming the Tramsheds

Powerhouse Stage 1 and the Harwood Building

A Symbol in Time

A Symbol in Time

Sydney Observatory

Ongoing Transformations

Ongoing Transformations

Powerhouse Ultimo

Applied Arts and Sciences

Applied Arts and Sciences

Defining the terms in the 21st century

Powerhouse Renewal

Powerhouse Renewal

A transformative renewal program across four sites

We Rise

We Rise

Blak Powerhouse

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

Powerhouse-1 Mission Launch to the ISS

An initiative of the Powerhouse: Future Space program

2024

2024

Exoskeleton

Exoskeleton

Powerhouse Parramatta

Powerhouse Parramatta Topping Out

Powerhouse Parramatta Topping Out

Major construction milestone achieved for the new museum

Visit

Sydney Observatory

Sydney, AustraliaOpen Thursday–Saturday

Two people walking down a driveway towards a heritage building.

Located on Gadigal land, a national place of connection and scientific research. Powerhouse continues to welcome guests to Sydney Observatory. Please note, heritage conservation works are currently underway and access to some areas may be impacted. The Sydney Observatory program in 2025 explores human connections to Sky Country, astronomy, tradition and artistic practice to reveal enduring and new ways of seeing.

Programs

Sydney Observatory Tours

Subscribe FAQ Contact Governance Accessibility Opportunities

Every Wed—Sat

Sydney Observatory

Koiki Mabo sitting within bamboo and sand backgorund.

I put the stars on the ground

Every Thu—SatSydney Observatory

Collection Conversations

MonthlyAcross Sydney

Southern Sky Astrophotography

Every Thu—SatSydney Observatory

Sunset Variations

30 Jan—6 Mar Sydney Observatory

Lunar Academy

7 Week ProgramSydney Observatory

Sydney Observatory Events

Sydney Observatory Tours

Guided Family Tours

Every Fri—SatSydney Observatory

Sydney Observatory Tours

Guided Tours

Every Wed—SatSydney Observatory

Night Photography Workshops

MonthlySydney Observatory

Sunset Variations

Setwun: Celestial Bodies

Fri 6 MarSydney Observatory

Collection Conversations

Nowruz

12—25 Mar Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Steamfest

9—22 Apr Across Sydney

Astronomy Nights

MonthlySydney Observatory

Collection Conversations

Writers

14—27 May Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Seasonal Rituals

11—24 Jun Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Caring for Country

9—22 Jul Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

National Science Week

13—26 Aug Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Parramatta

10—23 Sep Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Diwali

8—28 Oct Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Educators

12—25 Nov Across Sydney

Collection Conversations

Community

10—17 Dec Across Sydney

Sky Country

Powerhouse Museum acknowledges the Gadigal as the Traditional Custodians and the first astronomers of the land Sydney Observatory is situated on. We pay respects to, and seek guidance from, their continuous connection to, and deep knowledge of, the Sky Country above us.

Celestial Emu

Custodianship of Sky Country and Sydney Observatory

Living records of First Nations sky knowledge

A Symbol in Time

Sydney Observatory

Observatory History

A symbol of time and history since 1858, Sydney Observatory has evolved over the years — from steering ships to mapping stars, housing some of Australia's first weather maps to its role now as a public educational space and museum.

Plan Your Visit

Sydney Observatory Map

Sydney Observatory is located on Gadigal land at:
1003 Upper Fort Street, Millers Point, NSW 2000

Monthly Sky Guides

Monthly guide for exploring the Southern night sky.

A black and white star guide

Sky Guides

Sky Guide March 2026

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Photograph of a lantern slide depicting a black and white drawing of Orion made of glass and paper.

Sky Guide February 2026

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Black and white image of the great nebulae in Orion, space sky showing stars and a wispy bright cluster in the centre (Orion).

Sky Guide January 2026

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

A close up photograph of a glass plate slide showing black and white photo of 'sun's disk (spectroheliogram)', used for teaching astronomy.

Sky Guide December 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Sky Guide November 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Sky Guide October 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Sky Guide September 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Zoomed in image of a glass plate slide of the 'Milky Way about M8 Sagittarius'

Sky Guide August 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Glass plate slide, Southern Cross & coal sack

Sky Guide July 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Sky Guide June 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Zoomed in image of a lantern slide graphing the meteor radiant point in Leo.

Sky Guide May 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Southern Cross' plate negative c.1900–1950

Sky Guide April 2025

Sydney Observatory's monthly guide to the southern sky

Shop

2026 Australasian Sky Guide

2026 Australasian Sky Guide

This popular guide by astronomer and author Dr Nick Lomb provides stargazers with the perfect companion to the southern night sky. Opening with an essay by Kāi Tahu woman Victoria Campbell on the cultural significance of the heliacal rising of Matariki in winter, this book features monthly sky maps, with details of the movement of the planets, stars and constellations.

2025 Australasian Sky Guide

2025 Australasian Sky Guide

Featuring monthly sky maps, with details of the movement of the planets, stars and constellations, the 2025 Australasian Sky Guide is a must-have handbook to the year's most exciting celestial events.

2024 Australiasian Sky Guide

2024 Australiasian Sky Guide

The Australasian Sky Guide will tell you everything you need to know about the southern night sky. With month-by-month features and sky maps for viewing the Moon, planets, stars and constellations, it is ideal for stargazers who are beginners and experts alike.

Sydney Observatory Tours

Photo bashed motion image with bright orange sunsets and natural textures over a silhouette of musician Setwun.

Photo bashed motion image with bright orange sunsets and natural textures over a silhouette of musician Setwun.

A landscape black and white photograph depicting two men and two women browsing in the book room, later known as the Margaret Street Bookshop.

An image of a stargazer, leaning back in a chair, staring up at the sky. The image is shot in an extreme wide: the stargazer looks tiny compared to the bright, colorful and mostly pink sky, and the vast expanse of water that surrounds them. The stars are visible in a long stretch above the stargazer's head.

Photo bashed motion image with bright orange sunsets and natural textures over multiple silhouettes and portraits.

Silhouette of two school boys looking through a telescope, with a pink sunset in the background.

Observatory tower at Sydney Observatory

Observatory tower at Sydney Observatory

Sydney Observatory

Sydney Observatory

Star trails above Sydney Observatory

Star trails above Sydney Observatory

A rectangular glazed tile is painted in cobalt-blue, turquoise, manganese and pink with a black outline on a white ground and was made for the decoration of the wall of an internal reception hall, the external wall of a castle or the house of an aristocratic Qajar family.

A rectangular glazed tile is painted in cobalt-blue, turquoise, manganese and pink with a black outline on a white ground and was made for the decoration of the wall of an internal reception hall, the external wall of a castle or the house of an aristocratic Qajar family.

Landscape format photographic image depicting a stage in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Looking south at trains with tenders used for load tests on the outer west track. In th background we can see the Sydney Observatory and houses at Millers Point.

Landscape format photographic image depicting a stage in the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Looking south at trains with tenders used for load tests on the outer west track. In th background we can see the Sydney Observatory and houses at Millers Point.

sydney observatory telescope dome,

sydney observatory telescope dome,

Black and white photograph of a morse code operator, a gentleman at a desk with morse code equipment.

Black and white photograph of a morse code operator, a gentleman at a desk with morse code equipment.

Black and white photograph of a street scene in Keijo, Korea, showing pedestrians walking either side along a banner filled street.

Black and white photograph of a street scene in Keijo, Korea, showing pedestrians walking either side along a banner filled street.

A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image shows fish traps in a section of the Darling River. The fish traps consist of low stone walls constructed on the river bed. The walls are arranged to form cul de sacs that trap the fish. The Tyrrell Collection Inventory records the above caption but does not attribute the negative to a studio.

A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image shows fish traps in a section of the Darling River. The fish traps consist of low stone walls constructed on the river bed. The walls are arranged to form cul de sacs that trap the fish. The Tyrrell Collection Inventory records the above caption but does not attribute the negative to a studio.

Black and white photograph of the first Australian airmail flight at Government House Melbourne. Multiple men in suits and hats looking to a pilot sitting on a plane, preparing to fly.

Black and white photograph of the first Australian airmail flight at Government House Melbourne. Multiple men in suits and hats looking to a pilot sitting on a plane, preparing to fly.

Silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image depicts St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Parramatta. The church is depicted in the centre of the image. The front of the church features a turret like tower with four spires. The electric tramway is depicted in the foreground of the image. Other buildings are partially depicted on either side of the church. A hansom cab can be seen in the foreground in the left side of the image. The caption, studio mark and studio number are inscribed on the reverse of the negative.

Silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image depicts St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Parramatta. The church is depicted in the centre of the image. The front of the church features a turret like tower with four spires. The electric tramway is depicted in the foreground of the image. Other buildings are partially depicted on either side of the church. A hansom cab can be seen in the foreground in the left side of the image. The caption, studio mark and studio number are inscribed on the reverse of the negative.

Black and white photograph depicting a woman (Subbulakshmi) wearing a sari looking down at a man (her husband T. Sadasivam) seated.

Black and white photograph depicting a woman (Subbulakshmi) wearing a sari looking down at a man (her husband T. Sadasivam) seated.

Photograph of a group study of "Fullerton Public School" pupils, posed in four rows in front of a wooden building with man in suit and bowler hat. There are 34 children of ages ranging from about 5 to about 15. The boy at centre front is holding a sign reading 'Fullerton / Public School / 18.8.09.'. Horizontal format on embossed cream mount.

Photograph of a group study of "Fullerton Public School" pupils, posed in four rows in front of a wooden building with man in suit and bowler hat. There are 34 children of ages ranging from about 5 to about 15. The boy at centre front is holding a sign reading 'Fullerton / Public School / 18.8.09.'. Horizontal format on embossed cream mount.

Photograph from negative with the caption "Coney Island spells fun to the child in any grown-up. Beneath the Harbour Bridge Sydney has its own version of Coney Island inside the bizarre mouth of Luna Park right on the waterfront."

Photograph from negative with the caption "Coney Island spells fun to the child in any grown-up. Beneath the Harbour Bridge Sydney has its own version of Coney Island inside the bizarre mouth of Luna Park right on the waterfront."