Explore our historic observatory, wander through our beautiful bushland setting, bring a picnic, and discover the stories of the stars.
Our tours typically last around an hour and a half. During your visit, you’ll experience a fun and informative journey through our unique observatory, including:
Stepping back in time to see how astronomers photographed the night sky using our Astrograph Telescope, which was involved in the production of the Astrographic Catalogue and took over 28,000 glass photographic plates between 1901 and 1999. It even contributed 10% of all ground-based positions for Comet Halley – the largest contribution made globally.
Inspecting our iconic Lowell Telescope, which was constructed at the Observatory in the 1970s as part of NASA’s International Planetary Patrol program and made various discoveries, including the ring system on Uranus.
Have the opportunity to explore our Indigenous Astronomy Centre and discover the rich stories and traditions behind the breathtaking paintings on display.
Learning about our range of modern telescopes, which are used on our Night Sky Tours to share the delights of the southern hemisphere skies with our customers.
Exploring our heritage museum, which celebrates the Observatory’s unique and rich history as an astronomical research facility whose primary role was time-keeping and survey positioning in the newly established Western Australian Colony. You’ll marvel at globally significant and rare timepieces, including Shortt Synchronome Clocks, Victor Kullberg Astronomical Regulators, Marine Chronometers, an original Atlas Coelestis produced by John Flamsteed in the early 1700s, and one of the oldest and fastest-travelled objects on earth – an iron meteorite that has travelled billions of kilometres through the universe.
Enjoying the beauty of the surrounding John Forrest National Park and native wildlife, including our resident family of kangaroos and joeys, a wide variety of bird life, and the occasional emu.
Visiting our Astroshop, which offers a large collection of astronomy and space science-related products, along with Perth Observatory-branded gifts to serve as a memento of your visit. We also offer a selection of drinks and snacks.
Complementary tea or coffee is included with every tour.
Our museum, shop, and grounds are wheelchair accessible, although the historical Astrograph and Lowell Telescope domes are accessible only by stairs. You can also take the opportunity to visit one of the many neighboring wineries, breweries, or cider houses within the beautiful Bickley Valley or the nearby town of Kalamunda.
