The Kingaroy Observatory

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There is one thing that we all can agree on when looking up into the sky, and that is that stars are more prominent in rural Australia than in lit-up suburbs and cities, due to light pollution.

Recently, I booked a night show at the Kingaroy Observatory with host Astronomer, Dr. James Barclay, who began his journey more than seventy years ago, and has been operating this business ever since it was established at Maidenwell in August 2004.



James has been observing and photographing the Universe since a child of seven years old, where his fascination led him on a path of unique experiences, meeting famous astronauts, like Neil Armstrong, and other scholars in the field of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Although having lived and worked in various parts of the World, he now calls country Queensland his home.

The location of the Kingaroy Observatory is at the Kingaroy Airport on Geoff Raph Drive; however, previously it was stationed at Maidenwell, and some of you reading this may have visited the centre there. Each night's show begins at 7.30 pm and continues for a period of approximately one and a half hours, weather dependent.



James asks everyone who has booked for a night’s viewing to call him an hour before the show is to commence, and he will advise if the event goes ahead or not, as all night shows are weather dependent. No bookings are made over bright Moon periods, as there is too much moonlight to see anything.

Minimum intake for a night show is four adults or six pensioners, irrespective of children. Night shows are not suitable for children under five years old. Group bookings are welcome, and on the night I booked, a group from Brisbane had also booked.

James can also be booked for events and corporate functions. As well, if you are an avid astronomer or photographer, you may like to enrol in one of the Astronomy and Astro Photography classes he holds throughout the year.

After a brief preview of what to expect, we made our way to the Observation Deck, where we sat on soft, padded seating around three Meade LX200 14-inch GPS telescopes, while James positioned their height piers for our viewing. We were then given a rundown on how to use them and how to also use our vision to see faint objects in the telescopes, such as galaxies, before the lights were completely turned off.

Larger than life telescopes all owned by Dr James Barclay

Sitting in pitch darkness, you begin to wonder what is going on until spacey music is heard and the roof rolls back to reveal a vibrant night sky that appears more alive than ever before. It was an impressive feeling to look at the Milky Way Stars, the Southern Cross and our Galaxy. The best time to view our Galaxy up close is during the Winter months, especially July/August.

Night Sky

At every night show, James gives his audience a comprehensive Guided Tour of the Galaxy, pointing out various stars and Constellations, with his CASA, QPS and local Council, registered Green Laser pointer. He also points out various Star Signs, which are a surprise to many who attend these shows.

There were several school children in our group, and I was amazed at their knowledge of stars; even having heard one boy say that he had studied the stars before coming. James has an approachable and entertaining way of interacting not only with adults but with children as well, and I could easily see him challenging the young minds with a thirst for knowledge of our Universe.

Through telescopes, we first had the opportunity of viewing Jupiter, which is currently (at time of writing,) in Taurus, until 14 May 2025 and later Mars, which is currently appearing in the sky as a golden orange point near the Twin Stars of Gemini. We also viewed the Milky Way and saw the Southern Cross, which most of us have learnt about from our school studies.

Everyone gets a turn observing the planets and our night skies

Incidentally, when James visited America earlier in his life, his comrades in science were jealous of Australians, as the Southern Cross is only seen in our skies, and the Milky Way is right above us. In James’ early days of studying and travelling, especially to the US, there were few Australians as enthusiastic as he was, so the Americans were fascinated by his accent and his knowledge of Astronomy and the Australian night skies.

So, what were some of the incredible things learnt about the Solar System, our night sky and the Universe?

First of all, the composition of Jupiter is similar to the sun, which is mostly hydrogen and helium, and Jupiter has the largest abundance of hydrogen for a planet in the entire Solar System.

The Kingaroy Observatory is wheelchair friendly, and viewing can be easily adjusted for everyone's needs.

The famous 'Red Spot' is a massive swirling, cyclonic mass of gas five times the Earth's diameter and is so strong that the Earth would shatter into millions of fragments, just like dropping an ice cube into a blender!

While the Milky Way is our home galaxy in the Universe that contains billions of stars, our Solar System lies 50,000 light years away from the galaxy's centre, but in telescopes, it does not seem that far.

The Southern Cross, also known as Crux, is visible only in the Southern Hemisphere and was used historically for navigation by ships and crews. Two of its stars form a line that points towards the South Celestial Pole. James was able to show us this with his green laser pointer.

Viewing on the Observatory Deck

The two brightest stars in the neighbouring constellation Centaurus, called Alpha and Beta Centauri, are often referred to as the 'Southern Pointers' can also help locate the Southern Cross, but once you locate it, you wonder why you never saw it before.

The Moon is our closest neighbour in Space, and I presume. This is why the Americans chose it as the first place to land humans, notably of Apollo 11 landing, in July 1969. The Moon joins us for a 365-day journey around the Sun and is approximately 280,000 kilometres away.

The Moon’s orbit around Earth not only helps to control our Tides but is also known to have an effect on various plant growth and when to sow and when to reap crops. The Moon has spawned many myths, 1000's of songs and poems, of our nearest Celestial neighbour.

Once you see a star from the telescope, it seems easier to see in the night sky.

The Sun is the Earth's nearest star centre of the Solar System, and consists of hot plasma radiating energy from its surface. It is the most valuable source of energy for life on Earth, and as many of us now work in office blocks the loss of Vitamin D from the Sun is a source of concern for our health. At about 330,000 times larger than the Earth’s mass, it makes up approximately 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System.

The Sun consists mostly of hydrogen, with the rest comprising helium, oxygen, carbon, neon and iron.

The Solar System, our Earth, and the Infinite of Space will always fascinate humankind, as astronomers like James search the night skies for new bodies of light and galaxies.

Looking through the telescopes was a profound experience and gave an awe feeling for all of us as minute beings on Earth, looking to the skies with avid enthusiasm and open minds.

The Kingaroy Observatory is wheelchair accessible as they have no steps, and all three telescopes can be adjusted in height to suit all human heights, including those with wheely walkers and in wheelchairs. Their unisex amenities are also wheelchair accessible.



If an interesting astronomical experience is an event your school or organisation is keen to pursue, you will not be disappointed by the knowledge and experience Dr Barclay brings to your visit.

For online bookings or additional information, visit the website, www.kingaroyobservatory.com.au or call James on 0427 961 391.

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