Mount Stromlo & Siding Spring Visitor Centres

ANU Heritage contributed to the refurbishment of the Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatory Visitor Centres, which opened in 2016 and 2015 respectively.

Both Visitor Centres have a dedicated section exploring the rich history of the sites, the historical development of astronomical research, and significant people connected to the Observatories.

Highlights at Mount Stromlo include the remains of the original Oddie Telescope (and its working replica); a gun sight made at the Observatory during WWII; a display on the MACHO project; and a copy of the bark painting Milky Way by Mawalan Marika.

At Siding Spring, visitors can compare photographic plates taken by the UK Schmidt telescope; see an Aboriginal Dreaming story, the Emu in the Sky; read about the Observatory's original advocate Bart Bok; while kids can embark on the Astrorangers scavenger hunt.

ANU Heritage also contributed to sections on the Aboriginal connection to the stars, used for navigating, as calendars, and in stories of the Dreaming. Local Aboriginal groups and Indigenous astronomy academics were enlisted to provide advice on the content of this interpretive signage.

For opening hours and information, please visit either Siding Spring Observatory or Mount Stromlo Observatory.