...starry skies for curious eyes

MAO is the largest self-funded, open-to-the public astronomical observatory in Queensland.

MAO is owned and operated by James Barclay - an experienced and enthuastic astronomer.

MAO is located in the heart of Maidenwell -  gateway to the Bunya Mountains National Park.  See MAP in Menu on left.

- Japanese translation link.

Photo on left shows the main observation deck with its sliding roof rolling back. In this building that can seat up to 35 people, is where you go to look through 1 of 3 Meade LX200 GPS 14 inch telescopes to view the Moon, Planets and the stars 7 nights a week (if no cloud) assisted by a full time professional astronomer. The white dome in the photo houses a Solar Video Telescope used during our Day sessions. The tall post holds a CCTV camera covering the main entrance and a Davies weather station partially sponsored by Ergon Energy. We are planning to install an ALL SKY 180 deg. view (Fisheye) SBIG camera to show the skies day and night 24/7 over the internet. It will even show the stars and Milky Way!!

This is our 5 x 2 metre road entrance sign with the Observatory seen on left in background, situated on the western side of the town's sports field.

If you see the CLOSED sign up, we are just closed for the day. On the otherhand, if it says... OPEN and a white 4WD is parked in front of the small green building,
drive up, park and get a free tour of the facility.

General info

Click here to listen as James talk about MAO.

We have no Light Pollution because Ergon Energy replaced every single town streetlight with special lighting. We also sell Telescopes, Binoculars, Books, DVD's, Star Discs, 2009 astro calendars, and astro-posters.

MAO uses 14 inch diameter Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes with height adjusted piers to suit the height of the observer.

At night you get a first-class introduction of the night skies. Aided with a powerful registered green laser pointer, James takes you on a starry narrative guided tour of the Heavens, pointing out various Constellations, planets, how to find south, why the colour of stars, light speed and yes, will answer your questions with enthusiasm!

On nights of no moon, you get to see huge glowing stellar nursuries - nebulae,  beautiful star clusters, and distant galaxies.Throughout all observing sessions, the astronomer gives a running commentary of what you are looking at and shows you where it is the night sky. In short, your visit will be a specSTARular event.

Hey....!   It's the International Year of Astronomy!

Throughout 2009 will be partaking in the IYA that is being celebrated around the world of the 400th year when Galileo pointed his little 'spyglass' towards the Heavens and saw for the first time, Saturn and its Rings...moon and its craters and 'seas'.. the planets Venus, Jupiter and its 4 bright moons...Just imagine what it was like back then...But Galileo had problems, he told his friends and they dobbed him into the Catholic Church and was asked to renounce his findings. He didn't and paid a price -15 years under house arrest. Galileo was lucky as he could have been burnt alive at the stake for speaking out. Today we reconize him as the 'father' of modern day astronomy.

During a sunny day, we show the Sun via a colour video camera on our Solar Telescope. In the Star Theatre you will see the Sun on a big screen - solar prominences, filements and sunspots.

See the latest images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile, and a remarkable video clip of how the HST works. We can also show you a 3D working view of the HST and the ESO. All this and more in our air conditioned Star Theatre. Book now!

'Moonset over Maidenwell Hotel'
Photo by 'Gazer'