Explore the Cosmos Centre in Charleville (Cost & Review)

When your road-tripping through Outback Queensland, one of your highlighted stops will be at the Cosmos Centre in Charleville. Since the area is know for it’s dark skies and low light pollution, this is where you’re going to observe the stars, Moon and Sun.

We only had a couple of days too spend in town, but we made sure that this was at the top of our list. Todays, blog will be focusing on the Tours and the things you can do in the centre, the cost and what to expect.

So lets get to it!

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How much is the Cosmos Centre in Charleville?

The Cosmos Centre has a variety of tours to choose from, each offering a fascinating and exciting glimpse into the mysteries of the universe. 

Tours and Prices includes:

• $35 per Adult – Big Sky Observatory Tour running nightly for 1 hour
• $22.50 per Adult – Sun tour running daily at 10:15 am & 2 pm for 45 minutes
• $12 per Adult – Film on “Oasis in Space” in the Planetarium (1130am for 30 minutes)
• $12 per Adult – Film on “Our Living Star” in the Planetarium (1230pm for 30 minutes)
• $80 per Adult – Small Personalised group tours (On request only)

If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ll definitely want to check out the Centre as one of the best activities to do in Charleville. 

My Overall Review

Overall, I loved the experience of completing the tours, but much preferred the Sun Tour due the group numbers. The Big Sky Observatory Tour (or Night Tour) is clearly the preferred and more popular tour, and I’m not sure they limit the numbers as much as I would like.

Do I regret visiting? No, Both Matt and I loved the tours provided.

Would I go back again? That would be a maybe, depending on my time available and how much they are charging.

As an Astrophotographer, I know how to find the planets and I can see the low light pollution anywhere in the outback. However, seeing the stars, planets and moon so close in the High powered telescope was amazing and very unique!

Are you looking for a place to stay? We chose a cabin at the Bailey Bar and Caravan Park for a three night stay in Charleville and was very convenient to see everything in town.

6 Things to do (& Tours) at the Cosmos Centre

The facility is located near the Airport on Qantas Drive. The centre’s opening hours depend on the time of year, but, can be visited at any time of day for a quick coffee in the café. However, due to the Outback Queensland heat, winter is a great time to visit.

As part of the Natural Sciences Loop, there are 2 main tours that you MUST schedule in to see. During the Day, or the “Sun tour”. Additionally, the night tour is the “Big Sky Observatory”. They are both popular and will need to be booked before you get there.

1. Sun Tour ( Day Tour)

The Sun tour is where you get to look through their Hydrogen Alpha Sun Telescope to observe the Sun up close. As you can see below, this is even close enough to see the Sun’s solar flares.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this tour with the limited numbers and what we saw. We were very lucky with only four people and a guide on our tour.

2. Big Sky Observatory ( Night Tour)

In the Big sky Observatory, you get to look through the 14” Meade telescopes at items in the sky available at that time of year. Therefore, as it was a full moon that evening, we got to see the moon up close, a few Stars, and even Saturn.

There were at least 30 people on this tour with 3 telescopes. Each time the guides positioned the Telescope, you had to wait with around 10 different people for a turn to look through.

In the end, it wasn’t a horrible process, and could be better organised (maybe with less people). Unfortunately, some dishonest people were skipping between telescopes for multiple views.

Either way, seeing the beautiful night sky is a wonderful experience, and you don’t want to miss it. Out of the full moon, the sky’s are amazing, especially the Milky Way.

3. Astronomy By Day section

Step into the world of astronomy by day, where the latest technology will transport you to outer space. From the comfort of an interactive cosmos shuttle, you’ll learn about astronauts’ daily lives and what happens when shooting stars streak across the sky. 

Get up close and personal with meteorites in the rock box exhibit before stepping into the holographic box to experience a life-size hologram filled with space knowledge.

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4. Film on “Oasis in Space”.

Oasis in Space film invites you to join on a thrilling adventure through our celestial neighborhood. As we search for the elusive ingredient of organic life, liquid water. Plus, explore the hottest planet in the Solar System, Venus, and uncover incredible secrets lurking beneath the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. 

5. Film on “Our Living Star”.

Have you ever wondered about the giant, fiery ball of gas that has been a constant presence in our lives and has sustained all forms of life on our planet? The Sun, our nearest star, has been shining on us for over four and a half billion years. 

It may seem small in the grand scheme of the universe, but don’t let that fool you. This typical dwarf star consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets put together! 

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6. Guided & Group Tours

And if you’re worried about booking difficulties, don’t be! Just call the centre, and they will do their best to accommodate your needs. Whether you’re dealing with a fully booked day or a group larger than four, they to help you enjoy the magic of the night sky in comfort, style, and togetherness.

Wrap up to the Cosmos Centre Charleville

Thanks for reading this blog post today on the Cosmos Centre in Charleville and I hope you found what you were looking for. However, If you’re still researching, please find more Outback Queensland Blog HERE for inspiration and planning.