Sunshine Coast Astronomy - QLD

13/10/2026

Public Stargazing on Saturday 17th will not proceed due to weather forecast of rain and possible thunderstorms.

Our tentative date for our next public night is Saturday November 14th.

09/10/2026

Public Stargazing tonight 10th oct at Maleny is cancelled.
Cloud and wind till 9 pm predicted on 9/10 forecasts we have checked.
Last night in the valley was great. 🤬

Next Saturday is a technical possibility but rain forecast at this stage.

Ken😢

08/10/2026

Public Stargazing Maleny October 10th
So the decision is ..............
Maybe.
We have poured over the weather reports and it is still 50/50.
So we will continue to discuss it amongst ourselves tomorrow night and Saturday morning.
If we decide to go ahead we will aim to put tickets up on Saturday morning at 9am.
We are doing everything we can to give this the best chance of happening.
It is our intention to do a presentation in the Golf Club on the evening and the golf club shop will be open for coffee tea and snacks (no alcohol).
If it goes ahead start time will be 6:30.
Parking will be in the Pattermore house field as directed by our parking attendants from Rotary.
Only astronomers bringing in equipment and those with a disability issue will be permitted in the golf club car park.
Dress warm. Don't be fooled it can still get pretty cold standing around at night.
No pets, they are a trip hazard.

Thanks to Maleny Rotary, Maleny Golf Club and Friends of Pattermore house for their assistance.

06/10/2026

Public Stargazing update
Maleny Saturday October 10th.
At this stage cloud report does not look good.
We will make a decision on Thursday evening and announce it here.
If it is a maybe, then tickets will go on sale on Thursday evening sometime around 7 pm. Full details on what when how etc .will also come out. (Expecting a 6:30pm start on Saturday). Tickets will be $10 individuals and $20 for families.
IF we eventually decide to cancel, we will refund your money.
If we go ahead and you change your mind, we thank you for your donation.
It is difficult with the vagaries of the weather this year and believe this is the fairest solution so you know when the tickets will be available.

03/10/2026

Public Stargazing Maleny.
We are still aiming for Saturday October 10th for our next public night. We have Saturday October 17th as a backup.
Weather looks OK but with cloudy days all around we will not be making a decision till Thursday earliest.
We will update here regarding tickets mid week.

Lagoon Nebula courtesy Dr Paul Baker

16/09/2026

September 19th is NOT a public night at Maleny,but.........

October dates 2026
Saturday October 3 Brisbane Astronomical Society (BAS) members and their invited guests.
Saturday October 10 Public stargazing night. We will keep updating as it draws near.
Saturday October 17 backup night if 10th is cancelled by weather.
If you really enjoyed yourself last time, consider joining BAS and join us on more nights. No equipment or knowledge necessary, just curiosity.

As a member you will share your interest, and to learn from, many other keen amateur astronomers extending from the Southern Downs to the Sunshine Coast, and beyond. You can join fellow members at a wide range of member-only and public astronomy events held at our Warwick, Calvert and Maleny venues....

06/09/2026

Did you enjoy yourselves?
please let us know you experience, what went well and what are points for improvement.
It is over a year since we have run a public night due to the high amount of cloud, so we were a bit rusty.
Hopefully we will be able to use Golf Club facilities soon and resume starting the night with talks using the 4K system that last nights donations will complete payment for.
We will post the likely next dates soon.
Thanks for coming and sorry to those that missed out.
Thanks to Doug for the picture taken as we were packing up.
Regards
Ken

03/09/2026

We did not expect this.
We put the ticket sup late last evening and have already sold out!
We would love to have more people but can only cope with so many.
Apologies to those who missed out. We will do this again as soon as we can.

Weather forecast is good. Might be a little bit of cloud but we can work around that.

IMPORTANT NOTE.
AS IT HAPPENS THERE IS A WEDDING AT PATTERMORE HOUSE THAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

So no parking in Pattermore house northern paddock.

Maleny Rotary personnel will direct you as per the map. We will not be allowing cars to go past the front entrance to the golf club. We were only informed about this on Tuesday and doing the best we can.

Please be respectful of the wedding and quietly enter and exit by the golf club driveway on foot. Only exceptions will be for astronomers bringing in their telescopes earlier in the afternoon and those with disabilities.

03/09/2026

Public Stargazing Update - Maleny Saturday 5th September.
OMG - Its actually on , we finally have a clear night!! 😄😄

Saturday Night stargazing event is on!
Tickets are now available, limit to 180 tickets - please follow the link below.

Note: Tickets will be a considered donation to Brisbane Astronomical Society to help cover our costs such as Public Liability and the thousands we have just spent to bring an exciting bigger better capability in the near future.

If we cancel we will refund tickets. If you do not show for whatever reason, thank you for your donation. (just like the movies).
Tickets will be $10 an individual and $20 for a family.
Proof of purchase will be required to get in. (just like the movies).
You are most welcome to bring a hot drink and your own food (unlike the movies).

Either print out your tickets or show us on your phone.

Time
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Please arrive well before 6:15pm so we can organise all visitors and keep headlights to a minimum. whilst using our telescopes.

Parking
Parking will be out the front and in Pattermore house grounds as usual. Rotary members will be there to assist - there is a wedding on at Pattermore house so please follow directions for parking.

Only astronomers with equipment and those with disability need will be allowed into the golf club up till 6:00pm sharp.

Dress warm. Think ski gear it WILL be colder than you think. Beanies, gloves thick soled shoes. Jeans will NOT keep you warm. Consider a camp chair or a blanket.
No dogs or pets. They are a trip hazard .
Parents will be responsible for their children, knocking over a telescope is expensive.

This time it will be a purely outside event. We will not be inside the new golf club. But that will change soon.

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