StarFest

During the NSW Labour day long weekend (October), Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) opens its doors to the general public. You can get up close and personal with the telescopes, instruments, astronomers and engineers at SSO. The weekend features Science in the Pub, Open Day, and the Bok Lecture. Science in the Pub is an evening of friendly banter between world renown astronomers and scientists on topical scientific issues. The public can engage with them, ask questions and learn new and exciting facts about the universe. The Open Day is an all access event. Activities include "mini-talks" by professionals for both adults and children, science demonstrations, displays from organisations like ANSTO, CSIRO, and Questacon, and a market featuring local produce and wares. The Bok Lecture is a presentation by a world renown professional in the field of space science. The presentation topics can be quite diverse, from life in space to the expanding universe.