Sydney Observatory

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sydney-observatory

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Observatory Hill, Upper Fort Street, Millers Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
2. What is the construction period?1857-1859
3. Why was the building originally a fort and windmill?It started as a fort on Windmill Hill to protect the colony, then became a windmill, a semaphore station for ships, and a time ball station to help ships keep time.
4. How many telescopes are at the observatory and what are they?There are two main telescopes: an old 29‑centimetre refractor built in 1874 that is still used, and a newer 40‑centimetre Schmidt‑Cassegrain telescope that can see deeper into space.

Heritage-Listed: Officially recognized and protected for its historical and cultural importance.
Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope: A type of compact telescope that uses mirrors and lenses for powerful magnification.
Refractor Telescope: A telescope that uses lenses to bend light and form an image.