‘AstroKids’ is a series of standalone daytime sessions designed especially for kids and their families to learn about our amazing universe. Check out our upcoming sessions below.
Bookings are essential for all AstroKids sessons
Cosmic Fairy Lights
21 Dec 6.30-8.00pm
24 Dec 6.30-8.00pm
This holiday season learn about the fairy lights of the cosmos, all those twinkling stars in the sky at the historic ballarat observatory and craft something cosmic.
How Mars-vellous
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday
in January 2025 1-2.30pm
(Sat 11th Jan: 10am-11.30am)
Mars: The Mars-vellous red planet (see what we did there?) is as far as we know entirely inhabited by rovers and other robotic instruments. Mars will be reach opposition during January 2025 and be at it closest approach this orbit. What do we know about Mars? and what questions do we still have?
Come along and learn about mars with talks from an astronomer, craft activities, an astrotour movie and more.
Stellar Besties
February 15th
4pm-5.30pm
In This valentines themed AstroKids, you’ll explore the wonderful world of binary stars, star systems unlike ours own single star system that have two stars orbiting around one another. Of everything in the cosmos they are most definitely BFFL. You’ll get to explore concepts such as gravity, orbits, telescope resolution. To finish off the program you’ll get to put your scientific thinking skills to the test and launch water rockets.
Girls do science too!
6th, 8th, 11th March
4pm-5.30pm
The 8th of March is International Women’s Day. Lots of achievements and discoveries in astronomy have been made by women. Together with your kids, learn about astronomy made possible by women, meet a local female astronomer.
You’ll also get to do some hands on science.
🚀 Blast Off 🚀
April School Holidays
Become a rocket scientist for the afternoon. Launch water rockets and determine the optimal amount of fuel for the highest launch. Learn different stages of various rockets and learn all about various previous and upcoming rocket launches and space missions.
Bookings open in February
Cosmic Eggstravaganza
Easter Saturday 2025
Hop into some Easter fun at our Cosmic Eggstravaganza: A program of fun awaits: Chocolate Treats, Easter Craft, Easter-Themed Astronomy talk and more.
Bookings open in February
Where did the stars go?
Late April 2025
For thousands of years people of looked up at the stars in amazement, used them to tell the time and the seasons and to navigate, but it seems like in the city lots of stars are missing, only to be found when you visit the bush or the country side. Why is that? Come along to find out where all the stars go. This event is part of our International Dark Sky Week (IDSW) events.
Bookings open in February
Black Holes 101
May 2025
What is a black hole? Is it really black? How big are black holes? These questions and more will be answered during our black hole themed sessions. Participants will hear a talk on black holes from one of the astronomers at the Ballarat Observatory, go on a guided tour of our historic site and launch water rockets.
Bookings open in March
🌌Our Amazing Universe🌌
July School Holidays
Dates to be announced
This beginner friendly session introduces the various types of objects in the universe. The whole family can learn together with hands on activities, demonstrations and a talk by a local astronomer along with Q&A.
Bookings open in June
Ticket booking links by time-frame
(April onwards booking links available soon)
Bookings essential.
Enquiries
Kirralee
education@ballaratobservatory.org.au