macastro.org.au

The Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS) and Western Sydney University (WSU) are community outreach partners. Their most visible joint activity is the Macarthur Astronomy Forum, held monthly in collaboration with WSU's Campbelltown campus and open to the public. The forum brings Australian and international guest speakers — professional astronomers presenting their latest research — to a general audience in Sydney's south west.

The Macarthur Astronomy Forum

The forum is the main expression of the MAS–WSU relationship. According to the society, it is:

• Held monthly in collaboration with Western Sydney University (Campbelltown)
• Open to the public, with free entry for at least some sessions
• Available to members on Zoom as well as in person
• Speaker-led, featuring Australian and international guest speakers who reveal their latest research

A listed example is David Mieklejohn and Marnie Ogg (a Dark Sky Defender) speaking on September 21st, with free entry and the public welcome. The talk title given is "The Night Is Not Lost: Preserving the Future of Dark Skies in Australia."

The society directs readers to its Notice Board for current forum details, so dates, speakers and any changes should be checked there rather than assumed from older listings.

Community Outreach Partnership

Beyond the forum, MAS describes itself as a "proud community outreach partner" with WSU. The page notes that WSU Provost Prof Sarah Lewis welcomed Astronomer Prof Fred Watson AM at a recent Macarthur Astronomy Forum, with MAS Vice President Noel Sharpe and MAS President John Rombi also present. This illustrates the partnership operating at an institutional level, not just as a room-booking arrangement.

The society's broader outreach includes visiting schools and other local institutions to talk about astronomy, and it states that its amateur astronomers collaborate with local institutions to broaden public understanding of the Universe.

Patron: A Separate University Connection

It is worth distinguishing the WSU partnership from the society's patron. MAS Patron is Professor Geraint Lewis, a cosmologist, astrophysicist, teacher, author and public speaker, and Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy at the University of Sydney School of Physics. He has been an annual guest speaker at MAS since 2008.

So the society has ties to two institutions: an ongoing partnership with Western Sydney University, and a patron affiliated with the University of Sydney. If your interest is specifically the WSU collaboration, the forum and the outreach partnership are the relevant pieces.

What This Means If You Want to Attend

If you are deciding whether the WSU-linked events are worth your time, the practical points are:

• You do not need to be a member to attend the forum — it is described as open to the public.
• Members can also join on Zoom, which suits people who cannot travel to Campbelltown.
• Check the Notice Board first, since the forum runs monthly and speaker details change.
• Other MAS activities are separate: dark sky sessions and field nights are members-only, while workshops and the Astro Imaging Group have their own pages and formats.

For current dates, speakers and access arrangements, use the society's Notice Board as the authoritative source rather than any single event listing.

macastro.org.au is the official website of the Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS), an amateur astronomy club based in south-western Sydney, Australia. The site is aimed at two audiences: members who take part in regular observing nights and imaging groups, and the general public, who can attend the society's monthly astronomy forum for free. If you are looking for a local astronomy club to join, a free public talk on astronomy, or practical guidance on telescopes and astrophotography, this site is the starting point.

Who runs it and when it started

The society was founded in 1996 and describes itself as a group of amateur astronomers in south-western Sydney. It operates as an incorporated association and has a patron, Professor Geraint Lewis, an astrophysicist at the University of Sydney's School of Physics, who has been an annual guest speaker at MAS since 2008.

What the society actually does

The site lists four main strands of activity:

• Dark sky sessions – regular observing nights, scheduled for members only.
• Field workshops – practical sessions on finding your way around the sky and getting the most out of your telescope.
• Astro Imaging Group (AIG) – a group for members interested in astrophotography, focused on knowledge sharing, learning and camaraderie.
• Macarthur Astronomy Forum – a monthly public event where professional astronomers present their latest research.

The Macarthur Astronomy Forum

This is the most accessible part of the site for non-members. The forum is held monthly in collaboration with Western Sydney University (Campbelltown), is open to the public with free entry, and is also available to members on Zoom. Australian and international guest speakers present current research.

A concrete example from the site: on 21 September, the speaker is Marnie Ogg (described as a Dark Sky Defender), presenting "The Night Is Not Lost: Preserving the Future of Dark Skies in Australia."

Partnership and public outreach

MAS describes itself as a community outreach partner of Western Sydney University, and the site notes that WSU Provost Professor Sarah Lewis welcomed astronomer Professor Fred Watson AM at a recent forum. Beyond the forum, the society visits schools and other local institutions to give talks, and frames its amateur members as collaborating with local institutions to broaden public understanding of the universe.

What you can find on the site

How to use it

• If you want to attend a free public talk: check the Notice Board for the next Macarthur Astronomy Forum date and speaker, then attend in person at the WSU Campbelltown collaboration or, for members, via Zoom.
• If you want to observe regularly: note that field nights are members only, so joining MAS is the route in.
• If you are into astrophotography: the Astro Imaging Group page is the relevant entry point.
• If you want to read or write practical astronomy content: the Articles page collects member-written pieces and accepts new contributions.

One thing the site makes clear by omission: it does not publish membership pricing or a sign-up form in the material available here, so anyone interested in joining should treat the Notice Board and the "Join MAS" prompt as the starting point rather than expecting costs to be listed up front.

Yes — the public can attend some Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS) events, but not all of them. The clearest public entry point is the Macarthur Astronomy Forum, which the site describes as open to the public with FREE Entry. Other activities, such as Field Nights, are listed as Members Only. If you are not a member and want to know what is currently open to you, the Notice Board is the main place to check for details.

Which MAS activities are open to the public?

Based on the website content, MAS runs several kinds of activities, and public access varies by type.

So the safest answer is: the Forum is the activity explicitly described as public and free, while Field Nights are explicitly members-only. For the other activities, the site does not clearly state public access, so check the Notice Board before planning to attend.

How to find out what’s on

The site repeatedly points to the Notice Board for further information. Use it to confirm:

• the next Macarthur Astronomy Forum date and speaker
• whether a given workshop or dark sky session is open to non-members
• any changes to venue, time, or access

The homepage excerpt gives one concrete example: David Mieklejohn and Marnie Ogg (Dark Sky Defender) are listed as speakers for September 21st, with free entry and the public welcome. The talk title is "The Night Is Not Lost: Preserving the Future of Dark Skies in Australia." That is the kind of detail you would verify on the Notice Board before attending.

What the Macarthur Astronomy Forum involves

The Forum is held monthly in collaboration with Western Sydney University (Campbelltown) and is open to the public. It features Australian and international guest speakers, including professional astronomers presenting their latest research. Members can also access it on Zoom.

If you are deciding whether to go as a non-member, the Forum is the most clearly public-facing option. It is also the activity with the most explicit "public welcome" and "FREE Entry" wording on the site.

Other ways the public can engage

Beyond attending the Forum, MAS describes itself as a community outreach partner with Western Sydney University and says it visits schools and other local institutions to talk about astronomy. If you represent a school or local group, that outreach route may be relevant.

For people who want to go further, the site also has a Join MAS section for those curious about the Universe, and a collection of Macastro Articles on telescopes and amateur astronomy written by members.

Quick answer

• Can I attend as a non-member? Yes, at least for the Macarthur Astronomy Forum, which is free and public.
• Can I attend everything? No. Field Nights are members only, and other activities are not explicitly described as public.
• Where do I check? The Notice Board is the site’s stated source for further details.
• Is there a cost? The Forum is listed as free entry; the site does not state pricing for other activities.

The Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS), based in south-western Sydney, runs four main activity streams: dark sky field nights (members only), field workshops, an Astro Imaging Group, and the monthly Macarthur Astronomy Forum, which is free and open to the public. If you want to attend a talk without joining, the Forum is the entry point; if you want regular observing or imaging practice, the member activities are where that happens.

Activities at a glance

Macarthur Astronomy Forum

This is the society's public-facing event and the easiest way to sample what MAS does before committing to membership.

• Held monthly in collaboration with Western Sydney University (Campbelltown).
• Open to the public with free entry.
• Features Australian and international guest speakers presenting their latest research.
• Also available to members on Zoom.

An example from the society's notice board: on 21 September, David Mieklejohn and Marnie Ogg (a Dark Sky Defender) are scheduled to speak on "The Night Is Not Lost: Preserving the Future of Dark Skies in Australia."

The Forum series also reflects the society's partnership with Western Sydney University. WSU Provost Prof Sarah Lewis recently welcomed astronomer Prof Fred Watson AM at a Forum, alongside MAS Vice President Noel Sharpe and President John Rombi.

Field Nights and Workshops

These are the hands-on, member-focused activities.

Field Nights are regular dark sky observing sessions scheduled for members. Because they depend on dark sky conditions and are restricted to members, check the Notice Board for dates rather than assuming a fixed schedule.

Workshops are aimed at improving field expertise — specifically learning how to navigate the night sky and get the most out of your telescope. They suit newer members or anyone who owns a telescope but hasn't yet used it confidently.

Astro Imaging Group

The AIG brings together members with a shared interest in astrophotography. Its stated purpose is knowledge sharing, learning and camaraderie — so it functions as a peer group for improving photographic technique rather than a formal course. If your interest is imaging rather than visual observing, this is the relevant group.

Other ways to get involved

• Public outreach: MAS visits schools and local institutions to talk about astronomy, and describes itself as a community outreach partner with WSU.
• Articles: Members contribute practical astronomy articles on telescopes and amateur astronomy, collected on the society's Articles page.
• Membership: The society invites anyone curious about the universe to join; joining is what unlocks Field Nights, Workshops and the AIG.

Choosing what fits you

• Want to test it first, no commitment: attend a Macarthur Astronomy Forum — free, public, monthly.
• Want to observe under dark skies: Field Nights, but you need to be a member.
• New to using a telescope: the Workshops address exactly that.
• Interested in photographing the sky: the Astro Imaging Group.

For current dates and any changes, the society directs visitors to its Notice Board, and to the AIG and Workshop pages for those specific activities.

Joining the Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS) gives you access to members-only dark sky observing nights, hands-on field workshops, an astro imaging group, and a library of practical astronomy articles written by members. The clearest member-only benefit stated on the site is the regular dark sky observing nights, listed under "Field Nights – Members Only." If you are weighing up membership, the value depends on whether you want regular observing time with other amateurs, or mainly want to attend the public talks.

Member benefits at a glance

What each benefit actually gives you

Regular dark sky observing

The site schedules regular dark sky observing nights for members and points to the Notice Board for details. This is the benefit most directly tied to membership: if your goal is to observe under darker skies with others rather than on your own, this is the core reason to join.

Workshops to build field skills

MAS runs workshops aimed at improving your field expertise — specifically "learning how to find your way around the sky and get the most out of your telescope." This suits newer observers who have equipment but want guided practice in using it.

Astro Imaging Group

The AIG brings together members with a common interest in astrophotography "to promote knowledge sharing, learning and camaraderie," with the stated aim of improving your photographic technique. If you already image or want to start, this is the peer group to plug into.

Forum access, including by Zoom

The Macarthur Astronomy Forum is held monthly with Western Sydney University (Campbelltown) and is open to the public, so it is not itself a membership perk. The member-specific advantage is that it is also available to members on Zoom — useful if you cannot attend in person. A recent example from the site: David Mieklejohn and Marnie Ogg (Dark Sky Defender) speaking on September 21st, with free entry and the public welcome.

Articles and contributing

The Articles page is a collection written by members, for members, covering telescopes, amateur astronomy and more. Members can read it and contribute new articles — a way to share what you have learned.

How to decide whether to join

• Join if you want regular members-only dark sky sessions, guided telescope and sky-navigation workshops, or a community for astrophotography.
• You may not need to join immediately if you mainly want the guest-speaker talks — the Macarthur Astronomy Forum is public and free to attend, so you can sample the society first.
• Check before committing if Zoom access to the forum matters to you, since that is described as a member benefit rather than a public one.

Practical next steps

1. Go to the Notice Board for current details on field nights, forum dates and speakers.
2. Look at the Workshop page if improving your field skills is your priority.
3. Look at the AIG page if astrophotography is your main interest.
4. Read the Articles page to see the kind of material members produce, and consider contributing once you join.

The site does not state membership fees or a joining process on the pages summarised here, so confirm current arrangements through the Notice Board or by contacting the society directly.