Engage with us
Macquarie University’s Research Centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics (MQAAAstro) has a bold and ambitious research program that has a global reach through our collaborations with national and international institutions at an academic and student level.
Nationally, we have strong links with CSIRO Space and Astronomy and Australian Astronomical Optics (MQ-AAO). Many of our students are pursuing PhDs, joint degrees and cotutelle agreements with universities around the world.
MQ AAAstro has a rich school and public outreach programme that engages our local community and supports the work of school teachers throughout the Sydney basin.
Visit the observatory
We invite you to come to our on-campus observatory run by students as well as our planetarium which run regular sessions throughout the year. For more information, click here.
COVID-19 update (February 2021): on-campus events are significantly impacted by restrictions in response to the global health crisis. Our public observing sessions aren't currently running as of the 24th of February 2021. We're hopeful that our public Fri and Sat night sessions will be able to start up again later in 2021. Stay safe - we hope to see you again soon!
Book the planetarium
You can book our inflatable planetarium to visit your school, or come to campus for a tour of the universe. Click here for more information.
COVID-19 update (February 2021): we are unable currently to run our planetarium sessions due to the nature of the equipment and the close contact required during sessions. We hope to be able to offer in-person planetarium sessions again later in 2021. In the meantime, contact us to discover if our new virtual planetarium sessions can suit your needs.
Other Activities
Find more information on the Department of Physics and Astronomy news and events.
Employment opportunities
Macquarie University’s Research Centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics engages casual staff for a range of on-site roles.
For academic and professional roles at MQAAAstro and Macquarie University, please visit the employment section to find out more.
Association for Astronomy Staff Positions
Casual employment is available working with the portable planetarium and observatory. A sound knowledge of basic astronomy is essential and experience is preferred, although not required – we provide training. The observatory and planetarium are run on a regular basis and many day and night shifts are available, which vary from week to week. These activities may be on campus or at other schools and events around the city or state. Staff typically comprise undergraduate, honours, or postgraduate students in astronomy or astronomy related areas, but anyone with a sound knowledge of astronomy, including amateurs, are welcome to apply. This is a great way to hone your presentation, communication and outreach skills – something that is very useful for all astronomy students! Staff are also paid well for their work, although all staff are occasionally required to volunteer at special events.
Our inflatable planetarium is already in high demand and we need plenty of staff to cover a range of shifts and activities. The observatory has been running for years and always draws in large crowds, so work opportunities are plentiful.
To apply, simply send a CV and a one-page letter highlighting your experience, interests, availability, and contact details for two references to starinfo@mq.edu.au.