Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre

29/10/2026

It’s a great night for viewing, come along to the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre

Adults $10
Students and Members Free

Open till 9:30pm

10/10/2026

Great to see so many members and new visitors for our Monthly Community Night at the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre.
⭐️ Special thanks to Ray Hare who presented and provided a demonstration about the science of fluorescence minerals using UV light.

This presentation was made possible with funding from InspiringNSW ‘Regional STEM Community Activity Seed Grants’ Science Ignite.

🛰️ We even saw the International Space Station make its pass across our skies just after 8pm

The centre is open today:
🕙 10am to 1pm
💳 $10 Adults, Members and Students free

10/10/2026

🌨️ Clouds and weather permitting
The International Space Station (ISS) this evening with a bright visible pass over New South Wales on Saturday, October 10, 2026, around 8:01 PM.

🛰️ Appearance: It looks like a bright, steady, non-blinking white light gliding smoothly across the sky.
No telescope required

👀 Tracking: You can check live schedules, view local maps, or set up phone alerts via NASA Spot The Station
https://www.nasa.gov/spot-the-station/

The Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre is open now and all welcome!

Adults: $10
Members and Students free

The Spot the Station mobile app is an official NASA app that helps users track and receive notifications for International Space Station viewings as it passes over their respective location. It also provides real-time tracking, flyover schedules, and alerts.

08/10/2026

It’s the last weekend of School Holidays come along and get inspired at the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre

💳 Adults: $10 | Members and school students: Free

Opening Times
This weekend
🗓️Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October
🕙 Open 10:00 am–1:00 pm

🌌 Saturday 10 October – Monthly Community Night
🕕 From 6:00 pm
☕ 6:00 pm – Meet the TRAC team with tea, coffee, cold drinks and biscuits
📣 7:00 pm – Welcome and club update
🔬 7:05 pm – Fluorescence: The Science of Minerals Under UV Light
TRAC member Ray Hare will explain fluorescent minerals, followed by hands-on experiments using minerals and handheld UV torches.

🔭 8:15 pm – Telescope viewing and tours
Weather permitting, enjoy deep-sky viewing through a range of telescopes, including the 34-inch Hewitt Camera. See galaxies, nebulae, clusters, comets and the Milky Way.

🪨 The Minerals and Fossils Group will also showcase local specimens through microscope projections.

Bring your own camera, binoculars or telescope, and don’t forget a jumper—clear nights can be very cool!

ℹ️ The Centre is open:
• Every Thursday: 6:00–9:00 pm
• Every Saturday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm

08/10/2026

The 34-inch Hewitt Camera

The 34-inch Hewitt Camera was acquired by the Club in November 2016. Built in 1962 as part of a £5.5 million British Government project, it was one of only two Schmidt cameras designed to photograph Earth-orbiting satellites.

Originally designed by Joseph Hewitt to photograph British Blue Streak rocket tests in Australia during the 1950s, the camera weighs approximately 8.5 tonnes and features a 34-inch Grubb Parsons mirror and correcting lens.

The camera has since been converted to a digital imaging system, allowing live colour images of deep-sky objects to be captured within seconds and projected onto a large screen. It also offers significant potential for astronomical research. Its twin is on display at the former Royal Greenwich Observatory Science Centre.

Getting ready to explore the Universe 🪐

Come and visit the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre

08/10/2026

🔭 Sky is looking great for viewing tonight!
Come along to the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre and make sure you bring your jackets.

We will have various optical viewing Telescopes and the 34 in Hewitt Camera looking at various Cosmic objects, Galaxies, Nebula, Clusters, Comets etc. Milky Way with lots of Globular Clusters.

Our Minerals/Fossils Group; will also be operating with microscope projections, highlighting minerals and fossils from the local region and finds from recent club excursions.

Entry:
$10 Adults
Free for Members and School Students

04/10/2026

Come along to the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre open until 1pm today.

At 12pm Pete Grono will be talking about minerals and fossils in our region.

Adults $10
Students free
Includes Guided Tours

14/09/2026

OPENING TIMES DURING THE SPRING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

First Week of the School Holidays
Sat, 26th & Sun, 27th Sep: 10am-1pm
Thu, 1st Oct - 6pm to 9pm

Middle Week/ October Long Weekend
Sat, 3rd & Sun, 4th Oct: 10am-1pm
Thu, 8th Oct - 6pm to 9pm

Last Weekend
Sat, 10th & Sun, 11th Oct: 10am-1pm
Sat, 10th Oct - Monthly Community Night from 6pm

Entry
$10: Per Adult
$Free: Members and School Students


ℹ The Centre is Open (during the school term)
Every Thursday from 6pm to 9pm;
Every Saturday 10am to 1pm; and
Every First Saturday of Every Month - Community Night, (noting October is the second week)

28/08/2026

Did you know that the Tamworth Regional Astronomy and Science Centre has its own Seismometer.

This afternoon, Sydney’s Southwest recorded a 3.4 magnitude earthquake, which was recorded on our Seismometer R8DF2.

Want to know more about monitoring Earthquakes? Come along to our Centre.
You can also view via the Raspberry Shake website or App.
Ref: R8DF2

https://raspberryshake.org