Frequently Asked Questions
Here we Shine A Light On your FAQs
If you cannot find what you are looking for below, please do not hesitate to Contact Us.
General Stargazers Club WA FAQs
All you need is an interest in astronomy, stargazing and the amazing Universe that our Earth is part of! Stargazers Club WA is especially for beginners. You don’t need any knowledge about astronomy, stargazing or what’s up in the night sky. What’s more, you don’t even need a telescope!
We have four different levels of membership. There’s one to suit beginners at every stage of the journey and you can pay monthly or save some money when you pay annually.
The Bronze Planet Membership is FREE. When you’re ready to launch into your new hobby to the next stratosphere with a paid membership, these range from $11 to $65 per month.
Bronze Planet membership includes our FREE Telescope Cheat Sheet with regular eNewsletters.
Silver Star membership also includes 10% off tickets to events.
Gold Galaxy membership includes 12 FREE events per year plus 50% discount off tickets for friends and family.
Platinum Universe membership includes all of the above and a bonus FREE private one-on-one telescope lesson.
For all the details on what’s included in all our memberships, check out the Membership page…
Yes, they can. However, memberships are for individuals. The best way for a family to join is to take out one Gold Galaxy Membership. That member receives FREE entry to Stargazers Club WA events. Your family members will receive 50% discount off tickets.
We bring some fantastic amateur astronomy guides to teach at our classes and events. They have extensive experience with a large range of telescopes and cameras.
The great thing about our team is that we are all friendly and welcoming people. There’s no better place to be if you’re beginning an astronomy hobby.
We hold an event every month. That’s 12 opportunities through the year to enjoy Telescope Classes, Astrophotography Field Trips and Club Stargazing Nights.
Stargazers Club WA events are usually run in the Perth metropolitan area. We’re a regular at the Carine Hall in Carine Regional Open Space. This is a very comfortable and modern venue with easy access to an oval for telescope use.
Other events are run in and around Perth including Whiteman Park, Chittering and more. Sometimes we go further afield and we’re always on the lookout for dark sky places in country WA!
People from all sorts of backgrounds and ages attend our events. Families, retirees, single people. The one thing we all have in common is a love of stargazing and an interest to get into this great hobby.
Not at all! It’s a great community where you can just enjoy stargazing, telescopes and astrophotography with other members. Our events are a great way to learn more about telescopes and cameras in general and discover what type would be suitable for you, if you’re thinking of buying. Plus, you get to see a number of different types of telescopes and cameras in action with their owners and talk to experts about what would be best for you.
Yes, you can. However, please keep in mind that Stargazers Club WA information is especially for stargazers in Western Australia and the southern hemisphere. No more getting mixed up with northern hemisphere astronomy information!
Stargazing times and directions sent to members may differ depending where you live. In other locations of the Southern Hemisphere stargazing times and directions may be similar. However, Northern Hemisphere stargazing times and directions are completely different to the Southern Hemisphere.
We love astronomy! Stargazers Club WA promotes and explains astronomy science in an easy to understand way that makes learning fun. All information and images are gathered from scientific resources and are interpreted in a way that encourages curiosity and enjoyment.
Science is a great experience for children and adults alike and the information provided by Stargazers Club WA is engaging, fun and entertaining. We take pride in making astronomy accessible to everyone whilst staying true to science. Our special skill is the ability to communicate difficult concepts so that it makes it easy for anyone to understand. It’s a lot of fun too and that’s the key to get more people interested in wonderful science!
Telescope Classes FAQs
We’re a regular at the Carine Hall in Carine Regional Open Space. This is a very comfortable and modern venue with easy access to an oval for telescope use.
Yes! Those without telescopes are very welcome to join Telescope Classes. The classes are a great way to learn more about telescopes in general and discover what type would be suitable for you, if you’re thinking of buying one. Plus, you get to see a number of different types of telescopes in action with their owners and talk to experts about telescopes and what would be best for you.
Yes! Those without telescopes are very welcome to join Telescope Classes. The classes are a great way to learn more about telescopes in general and discover what type would be suitable for you, if you’re thinking of buying one. Plus, you get to see a number of different types of telescopes in action with their owners and talk to experts about telescopes and what would be best for you.
Yes! Telescope Classes are recommended for children aged 10-16 years. Younger children are also welcome. They may become a bit fidgety during the inside presentation, but it’s easy to sit close to the door near the oval for a break with younger minds.
We promote safe environments for children that minimise risk. Carol Redford (aka “Galaxy Girl”) and all staff at Stargazers Club WA hold current Working With Children Checks.
Private Telescope Lessons are perfect for someone who doesn’t have the time to come to a class or needs to know how to use a telescope immediately, especially if you’re heading away on holiday with your telescope.
A private lesson might be the way to go for anyone with a more complicated telescope with a larger equatorial mount. These telescopes do require more than one class to get you fully underway. Our Telescope Classes don’t cover South Celestial Pole Alignment which is an important step in using larger equatorial mounts. You might prefer to have a private lesson instead where you can receive one-on-one tuition.
All our amateur astronomy guides have extensive experience with a large range of telescopes including Celestron, Meade, Sky-Watcher, Tasco, Australian Geographic, Bushnell and many more. They are very familiar with alt-azimuth and EQ mounts. They’ll be able to explain a lot about telescope accessories such as finder scopes, filters and dew control.
The great thing about our team is that we are all friendly and welcoming people. There’s no better place to be if you’re beginning an astronomy hobby.
All events and classes go ahead regardless of weather. Sometimes it can be cloudy or wet. In these circumstances, Stargazers Club WA strives to arrange the event to give ourselves the best chance of participating in outdoor activities. If the weather restricts us from being outside, a range of alternative activities, assistance and demonstrations will be held inside or on a covered verandah for you to enjoy.
Private Telescope Lessons FAQs
Private telescope lessons are held at Kingfisher Park in Ballajura. Lessons are organised on a day that suits you. We start just before sunset so that you’re setting up your telescope in the late afternoon light before working your telescope to look at objects in the early evening night sky.
You’re welcome to bring family or friends along to make a stargazing night of it. You’ll be able to impress them with your new skills!
We prefer to give private telescope lessons when the weather is clear. It’s easy to rearrange dates if it’s cloudy or rainy. There are no cancellation fees if you need ta cancel a private telescope lesson.
Mark Davies from Earthside Astronomy usually takes our private lessons. Mark is great and has a terrific knowledge of all telescopes. He’ll go through all the set up and use of the telescope plus also some introductory stargazing tips. Meet Mark on our Team page.
Lessons can be done over the internet using Skype if you don’t live in or around the Perth area. We’ve held one successful private lesson via Skype recently and are keen to offer this to others who may not be able to make a lesson in person.
“For eager beginners like me, it was a breakthrough to go from being interest but confused to excited and equipped with the tools to explore!” Evan (Private Telescope Lesson via Skype)
Private Telescope Lessons are also available in the Northam, York and Toodyay area. An amateur astronomy guide living in the area is available to help new telescope owners get started.
Some models of telescopes need more lesson time than others. Tell us what type of telescope you own and we’ll get you a price…
Please contact us for a price!
Yes! Telescope Lessons are a great way for children to learn. Lessons are recommended for children aged 10-16 years, however younger children are also welcome.
It’s your private telescope lesson and friends and family are always welcome.
Private telescope lessons are a bit more expensive than our Telescope Classes.
If you’d prefer a telescope class instead, head over to our Events page to see when the next one is. Find out more about our Telescope Classes.
All our amateur astronomy guides have extensive experience with a large range of telescopes including Celestron, Meade, Sky-Watcher, Tasco, Australian Geographic, Bushnell and many more. They are very familiar with alt-azimuth and EQ mounts. They’ll be able to explain a lot about telescope accessories such as finder scopes, filters and dew control.
The great thing about our team is that we are all friendly and welcoming people. There’s no better place to be if you’re beginning an astronomy hobby.
Club Stargazing Nights FAQs
We like to hold Club Stargazing Nights at locations where other astronomical societies and groups meet. In the past we’ve visited the Astronomical Society of WA (ASWA) at their Whiteman Park observing site. We’ve also been out to lower Chittering to visit the Astronomical Group of WA (AGWA).
These nights are members only. You can sign up as a free Bronze Member in order to buy tickets to Club Stargazing Nights. Members are welcome to purchase tickets for friends and family and join in the fun. Non-members are welcome at all other Stargazers Club WA events.
Yes! Members without telescopes are very welcome to join Club Stargazing Nights. It’s a great way to learn more about telescopes in general and discover what type would be suitable for you, if you’re thinking of buying one. Plus, you get to see a number of different types of telescopes in action with their owners and talk to experts about telescopes and what would be best for you.
Yes! Club Stargazing Nights are the best nights for members to bring friends and family of all ages. These are family friendly events.
You never know who you’ll meet at our Club Stargazing Nights. It could be anyone from our stargazing team.
What events do we hold?
Where Do we stargaze?
Western Australia Stargazing
The Envy of the world!
Western Australia is renowned for some of the world’s best Stargazing, here’s why:
- Perth is the most isolated continental capital city in the world so you don't have to travel far from the bright city lights to see beautiful night skies full of stars.
- With low humidity, clean air & very little light pollution, Western Australia boasts some of the darkest night skies in the world, making it an absolute mecca for Stargazers from all around the globe.
- Country Western Australia is uncrowded and offers an array of ideal observing sites in welcoming country towns.
- Being in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere allows us to see the best part of the Milky Way Galaxy all year round!
How Do I Start?
The best way to learn and get the most out of your Stargazing is to join our Club. There are different memberships to suit beginners at every stage of the journey.
