For the general public – our Visitors Centres

A pathway through trees leads to a building with a large telescope dish behind it.

Our visitors centre at the Parkes Observatory, home of Murriyang, our Parkes radio telescope.

Kangaroos in long grass, with a telescope dish in the distance.

See the Australia Telescope Compact Array.

The Visitors Centre at NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex, Tidbinbilla, ACT

Other than the public visitors centres, visiting is generally by prior arrangement only. Further information is provided below.

Scientific Visitors

Astronomers with allocated ATNF time are encouraged to use the Marsfield Science Operations Centre (SOC) at our Marsfield site in Sydney or at the SOC at our Kensington site in Perth. On-site accommodation is available at Marsfield.

Astronomers with time allocated on ATCA are also welcome to observe from the Narrabri site, which also has on-site accommodation – refer to the Visitors Guide to the Narrabri Observatory for details.

Intending visitors to any of our sites should book in advance through our online ATNF Booking system.

ATNF Visiting Scientists Program

Visits for scientific collaboration are also welcomed and are supported through the ATNF Visiting Scientists Program. This program is open to scientists at all career levels, with a Distinguished Visitor tier for an established scientist with a distinguished track record in astronomy.

The program provides support for scientists to visit the ATNF (mainly Marsfield or Kensington, but any of our sites will be considered) to collaborate and work with our staff. Financial support typically covers the cost of on-site accommodation and provision of logistical support (office space, computing). Flights are covered for the Distinguished Visitors, and most, if not all, flight costs are covered for others in the program. Please click on “More Information” for full details.

Visitors are normally the guest of a member of the CSIRO staff with whom they will be working. Visitors are expected to deliver at least one colloquium during their stay at CSIRO.

To Apply

Proposals for ATNF Visiting Scientist open twice a year, and once a year for the ATNF Distinguished Visiting Scientist. Potential visitors should contact a local member of staff to develop a proposal for a scientific visit. Proposals to the program should include a cover letter, a short description of the collaborative project to be conducted during the visit, an estimate of the dates of the visit and support required.

Applications are now open for:

  • Distinguished Visiting Scientist (for visits in 2026)
  • Visiting scientists (for visits Jan to Jul 2026)

Applications will close 30 September 2025

Please contact Minh.Huynh@csiro.au if you have any questions about the ATNF Visiting Scientists Program or the application process.


All visitors to our sites for work purposes. including research, technology, and maintenance. are requested to fill in this booking form well in advance. This includes day visits and overnight stays. It also includes CSIRO staff visitors.

Accommodation for staff and official visitors to Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, our Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory


Visit the telescope virtually through live images of the telescope, updated every minute, and time-lapse movies

Mopra and ATCA skycams

The Mopra and ATCA all-sky web cameras (skycams) maintained for site awareness, including weather conditions.