‘AstroKids’ is a series of standalone 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
Where did the stars go?
Thursday April 24th 2025
3.45pm-5.15pm
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.
What happens in this astronomer led session:
- Hands on science activities about stars and light
- Storytime
- AstroTalk
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.
Light Benders
17th May 2025
Celebrating International Day of Light! With hands on actvities, you’ll bend light (for real!), and learn how telescopes use light.
Let’s Talk Seasons
9.45am-11.15am
21st June 2025
June 21st marks the winter solstice; but what does that have to do with the seasons? Listen to a local astronomer explain how to tell the seasons based on the location of the Sun and how to navigate using the Sun. If the weather is clear, you’ll get to have a look at sunspots using the solar projection method.
AstroKids! at Night!
Tentative Dates:
July 4th/5th July 5.30-6.30pm
There’s nothing better than looking at the night sky through a telescope. The first AstroKids sessions at night are set to be fun. Use real telescopes to see the moon and stars in closer detail.
🌌Our Amazing Universe🌌
July School Holidays
Introducing the various types of objects throughout 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
The Moon
Saturday 19th of July
Saturday 4th of October
The new space race to the moon is on! This session is perfect for the little space enthusiast in your life. Get messy and learn how craters are made, send your own water rocket as high as possible and learn all the name of the phases of the moon.
Bookings open in June
National Science Week
August 2025
Science is for everyone, kids and grown-ups. Do science together. Learn something new.
Details and booking details to be released in July
EXTREME Space!
Spring School Holidays + World Space Week.
Space is so cool! Literally but it can also be superrrrrrrrrr hot! Thats pretty extreme and that’s not even mentioning the crazy weather on planets and moons in our solar system and beyond or blackholes. Participants will learn about the extremes of space with a 3D AstroTour Movie, hands-on activities and a presentation by a local astronomer.
Bookings open in June
Ticket booking links by time-frame
Bookings essential.
Enquiries
Kirralee
education@ballaratobservatory.org.au