Private Penrith Stargazing session

Discover the night sky without leaving Western Sydney.

Join Red Lantern Tours for a relaxed and hands-on stargazing experience at Gipps Street Reserve in Penrith.

Away from the distractions of the city, we'll spend around 60 minutes exploring the night sky with a powerful Dobsonian telescope, looking at planets, stars, star clusters and other fascinating objects that are far beyond what you can see with the naked eye.

Your guide will take you through some of the highlights visible on the night, explain what you're looking at, and show you how to find your way around the southern sky.

Depending on the time of year and what's visible, we may explore:

• The Moon and its craters
• Planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Mars or Venus
• The Southern Cross and how to use it to find south
• Bright stars and major constellations
• Star clusters and nebulae
• The Milky Way
• Aboriginal and European stories connected to the stars
• Interesting objects and events happening in the night sky

This isn't a lecture where you simply stand around listening. You'll have plenty of opportunity to look through the telescope, ask questions and get involved.

What to expect

Your session runs for approximately 60 minutes and is suitable for beginners, families, couples and anyone who has ever looked up at the stars and wondered what they were seeing.

We'll start by getting familiar with the night sky above Penrith before moving on to telescope observations. What we look at will depend on the season, weather and what is visible on the night.

Gipps Street provides a convenient Western Sydney location, with plenty of parking and open recreational areas. The precinct is open until 10:30pm, making it a practical location for an evening astronomy experience.

What to bring

• Comfortable clothing suitable for the weather
• A jacket or warm layer in cooler months
• A small torch if you have one
• A picnic rug or camping chair if you'd like to sit between observations

Weather

Stargazing is weather dependent. If clouds or poor conditions mean we can't provide a worthwhile experience, we'll work with you to reschedule your session.

Come along, look up, and see Western Sydney from a completely different perspective.