Overview
Stay among the stars: Unique accommodation at Siding Spring Observatory. Located atop the stunning Siding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran NSW, this extraordinary stay offers breathtaking views over the Warrumbungle National Park, Australia’s first Dark Sky Park.
The ANU 40” observatory was the first observatory constructed at SSO in 1964. The original telescope was designed for photography and photoelectric work, with the building containing a living quarter and a library. Research programs undertaken using the 40” telescope have included those in areas of observational cosmology, the dynamics and evolution of galaxies, the structure and evolution of the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds, stellar astrophysics, and the search for extra-solar planets.
The telescope ceased operation in the 1990s, and in 2023 a project was undertaken to remediate the 40” building, restoring the building to create a unique accommodation space.
The 40” Observatory is now open for bookings to the professional and amateur astronomy communities. The 4-bedroom facility houses shared bathroom and kitchen facilities, with guests having access to private balcony overlooking the Warrumbungles. Guests are free to bring their own telescope equipment and utilise the spaces outside the 40” or the dome itself, enjoying some of the best views of the night sky found in the southern hemisphere. Stays in the 40” are fully catered by our on-site caterer. Bookings and inquiries can made through LINK.
Conditions
Siding Spring Observatory is still an active research station. Guests must complete the SSO Visitor induction prior to their booking being confirmed.
Guests must arrive prior to 3pm on the day of the booking. All blinds inside the building must be closed at night, and light use kept to a minimum. No travel around the site is permitted after dark (unless in emergency situations).