Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in the case of bad weather?

Stargazing tours are weather dependent and may be cancelled in case of weather that obscures the sky (i.e. cloud). In the event of cloudy skies, Western Sydney Stargazing will contact the guests via SMS at 2pm on the day of the tour advising of the cancellation of the observing session. In such circumstances, each booking will be given 2 options:

1) Those booked on a cancelled session may choose to be issued with a voucher valid for 1 year, transferable to other people, so that a new booking can be made for a future day/time.

2) Or choose to attend a seminar and interactive astronomy presentation hosted by our experienced astronomer/guide.

Guests booked on cancelled sessions must reply via SMS by 5pm on the day of the session to advise which option they are choosing. Failure to respond will be taken as agreement to attend the seminar and presentation. No refunds are available for cancellations due to weather. If no message is sent at 2pm, it means that the stargazing session is confirmed.

Can the date of a booking be changed?

Bookings can be rescheduled up to 24 hours before a booked session is due to start. Email westernsydneystargazing@gmail.com outlining inability to make it to the booked session, and preferred days/times for a rescheduled booking. A confirmation email will be sent with new days/times if openings are available. If it is not possible to reschedule, a voucher valid for 1 year, transferable to other people, will be issued.

 

What should I wear?

Astronomy is an outdoor activity and appropriate clothing is important to making the experience enjoyable. In warmer weather, it may be possible to attend a session with appropriate summer clothing (eg. shorts and shirts). During warmer weather, insect repellent is highly recommended. Even in the summer months it can still get cool in the early evening, so a jacket of some sort is also recommended. In the winter months it can get quite cold (close to 0 degrees at the height of winter – and especially if there is wind). Participants should expect to be outside for around 90min for each session and should dress appropriately. In winter, it is recommended that participants wear many layers of clothing (thermals, shirts, jackets) if possible. Gloves, covered shoes, and a warm hat (i.e. beanie) are also highly recommended for the colder months.

 

How young can a child be to come to a session?

The session is designed to suit children who are 5 years old and above. Younger children may join the session, however the tour may be quite challenging to follow at such a young age, and they might not be able to get the most out of the experience. Young children (less than 5 years old) are welcome to come along free of charge. However, Western Sydney Stargazing asks the parents be mindful of the experience of other guests during the session.

 

What is the best time of year for a session?

Astronomy is an all-year activity. As the Earth orbits the Sun, what we see in the night sky will change. As the moon and planets move along their own orbits, they too will sometimes be visible, while at other times they will not (or, in the case of the moon, may be partially visible). Consequently, there is not really a preferred time for doing astronomy as the night sky will change (almost literally) from one day to the next. Please see the ‘What Can Be Seen This Month’ section of the Western Sydney Stargazing website for details of some of the objects in the night sky that we will be looking at from month to month.

 

Cancellations and Rescheduling

Rescheduling of a session by a participant

Bookings can be rescheduled up to 24 hours before a booked session is due to start. Email westernsydneystargazing@gmail.com outlining inability to make it to the booked session, and preferred days/times for a rescheduled booking. A confirmation email will be sent with new days/times if openings are available. If it is not possible to reschedule, a voucher valid for 1 year, transferable to other people, will be issued.

 

Non-attendance of a session by a participant

Non-attendance at a booked session by a participant is strictly non-refundable, and the full amount of the booking will still be charged, unless more than 24-hour’s notice of non-attendance is given – at which point the booking can be rescheduled (see above). Western Sydney Stargazing is unable to refund, reschedule or provide credit for a missed tour.

 

Cancellation of a session by Western Sydney Stargazing

Stargazing tours are weather dependent and may be cancelled in case of weather that obscures the sky (i.e. cloud). In the event of cloudy skies, Western Sydney Stargazing will contact the guests via SMS at 2pm on the day of the tour advising of the cancellation of the observing session. In such circumstances, each booking will be given 2 options:

1) Those booked on a cancelled session may choose to be issued with a voucher valid for 1 year, transferable to other people, so that a new booking can be made for a future day/time.

2) Or choose to attend a seminar and interactive astronomy presentation hosted by our experienced astronomer/guide.

Guests booked on cancelled sessions must reply via SMS by 5pm on the day of the session to advise which option they are choosing. Failure to respond will be taken as agreement to attend the seminar and presentation. No refunds are available for cancellations due to weather. If no message is sent at 2pm, it means that the stargazing session is confirmed.

 

Gift Cards & Vouchers

Gift cards and vouchers are non-refundable, can be transferred to another person or party for the equal number of bookings/people, and can only be used once prior to their expiry date. The validity of each gift card/voucher is 1 year from the date of issue.

 

How to redeem a Gift Card/Voucher?

  1. Go to the website: www.westernsydneystargazing.com.au

  2. Click on the Make a Booking button

  3. Choose the date you would like to attend a session and check the availability on the calendar

  4. Enter the gift voucher/promo code at checkout.

Privacy

Western Sydney Stargazing respects the right to privacy and is committed to safeguarding the privacy of customers and website visitors. Western Sydney Stargazing adheres to the principles outlined in the Privacy Act (1988). Below are details of how Western Sydney Stargazing will collect and treat personal information. In this outline ‘Personal information’ refers to information Western Sydney Stargazing holds which is identifiable as being about the customer.

 

Collection of personal information

Western Sydney Stargazing will, from time to time, receive and store personal information entered by customers onto the business website, provided to us directly, or given to us in other forms. Customers may provide basic information such their name, phone number, address and email address to enable Western Sydney Stargazing to provide information. Western Sydney Stargazing may collect additional information at other times, including but not limited to, when the customer provides feedback, provides information about personal or business affairs, changes email preference, responds to surveys and/or promotions, provides financial or credit card information, or communicates with our customer support. Additionally, Western Sydney Stargazing may collect any other information provided while interacting with staff at a booked session.

 

How Western Sydney Stargazing may collect personal information

Western Sydney Stargazing collects personal information in a variety of ways: including when a customer interacts electronically or in person, when the Western Sydney Stargazing website is accessed, and when booked sessions are run. Western Sydney Stargazing may also receive personal information from third parties. In such circumstances, Western Sydney Stargazing will protect this information as set out in this Privacy Policy.

 

Changes to Privacy Policy

Western Sydney Stargazing may change this Privacy Policy in the future. Western Sydney Stargazing may modify this Policy at any time, at our sole discretion and all modifications will be effective immediately upon our posting of the modifications on our website

 

Use of your personal information

Western Sydney Stargazing may use personal information to provide customers with information, updates, and other business-related services. Western Sydney Stargazing may also make you aware of new and additional services and opportunities available to you. Western Sydney Stargazing may contact you by a variety of measures including, but not limited to telephone, email, and/or SMS. Western Sydney Stargazing may use your personal information to improve our services and better understand your needs.

 

Security of personal information

Western Sydney Stargazing is committed to ensuring that the information provided to us is secure by implementing suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard information and protect it from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification and disclosure. The transmission and exchange of information is carried out at your own risk. Western Sydney Stargazing cannot guarantee the security of any information that you transmit to, or receive from, the business. Although we take measures to safeguard against unauthorised disclosures of information, we cannot assure you that personal information that we collect will not be disclosed in a manner that is inconsistent with this Privacy Policy.

 

Disclosure of your personal information

Western Sydney Stargazing may disclose personal information to employees, suppliers or subcontractors insofar as is reasonably necessary when it is required for the delivery of our services.

Western Sydney Stargazing may from time to time need to disclose personal information to comply with a legal requirement, such as a law, regulation, court order, subpoena, warrant, in the course of a legal proceeding or in response to a law enforcement agency request. Western Sydney Stargazing may also use your personal information to protect the copyright, trademarks, legal rights, property or safety of Western Sydney Stargazing, https:/www.westernsydneystargazing.com.au, its customers, staff, or third parties. Information collected by Western Sydney Stargazing may, from time to time, be stored, processed in, or transferred between parties located in countries outside of Australia. If there is a change of control in, or a sale of, or a transfer of, business assets, Western Sydney Stargazing reserve the right to transfer, to the extent permissible by law, our user databases, together with any personal information and non-personal information contained therein. This information may be disclosed to a potential purchaser under an agreement to maintain confidentiality. Western Sydney Stargazing would seek to only disclose information in good faith and where required by any of the above circumstances. By providing us with personal information, customers consent to the terms, and the types of disclosure covered by this Privacy Policy. Where Western Sydney Stargazing discloses personal information to third parties, Western Sydney Stargazing will request that the third party follows this Policy regarding the handling of personal information.

 

Access to personal information

Customers may request details of personal information that is held by Western Sydney Stargazing in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act (1988), or to update existing information. Email westernsydneystargazing@gmail.com. We will endeavour to acknowledge a request for access to personal information within 14 days and provide the information requested within 30 days. If access is denied, we will provide you with reasons for that decision.

If you have any complaints about our privacy practices or policy, please send an email to westernsydneystargazing@gmail.com. Privacy issues are taken seriously and are handled with care and integrity.

The Western Sydney Stargazing website

The Western Sydney Stargazing website (https://www.westernsydneystargazing.com.au) may collect certain information such as browser type, operating system, website visited immediately before coming to our site, etc. This information is used in an aggregated manner to analyse how people use our site, such that we can improve our service. The Western Sydney Stargazing website may use cookies. Cookies allow a website to identify a returning user and to store details about the use of the site. Cookies are not malicious and cannot access or damage private computers. Many web browsers automatically accept cookies, cookies can be rejected cookies by changing browser settings. This, however, may prevent a user from fully accessing the Western Sydney Stargazing website. The Western Sydney Stargazing website may also use cookies to analyse website traffic to help provide a better website visitor experience. In addition, cookies may be used to serve relevant ads to website visitors through third party services. These ads may appear on this website or other websites you visit. The Western Sydney Stargazing website may have links to other websites not owned or controlled by Western Sydney Stargazing. These links are meant for convenience only. Links to third party websites do not constitute sponsorship, or endorsement, or approval of these websites. Please be aware that Western Sydney Stargazing is not responsible for the privacy practices of other such websites.

Copyright

All photos, graphics, text, audio clips, button icons, slogans, trade names and other intellectual property contained on our website, belongs exclusively to Western Sydney Stargazing. Use, reproduction, modification, copying, transmission, display, publication, selling, licensing, distribution or commercial exploitation of any of the content is not permitted without the express written consent of Western Sydney Stargazing.

Terms and Conditions

This Website is operated by Western Sydney Stargazing. Western Sydney Stargazing offers this website, including all information, tools and services available from this site to the user conditional upon the acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies and notices stated here. By visiting the Western Sydney Stargazing website and/or making a booking, the user engages in our ‘services’ and agrees to be bound by the following Terms & Conditions, including those additional terms and conditions and policies referenced herein and found elsewhere on the Western Sydney Stargazing website. These Terms & Conditions apply to all users of the website, including browsers, vendors, customers, merchants, and/or contributors of content.  If a user does not agree to all the Terms and Conditions of this agreement, then they may not access the website or use any services. Any new features or tools which are added to the current website shall also be subject to the Terms & Conditions. Western Sydney Stargazing reserve the right to update, change or replace any part of these Terms & Conditions by posting updates and/or changes to the Western Sydney Stargazing website. Use of, or access to, the website following the posting of any changes will be considered acceptance of those changes. 

 

Booking Confirmation

Upon purchase, your booking will be submitted to Western Sydney Stargazing for processing. You will receive a confirmation email describing the date, time, ticket quantity, and cost of your booking. This email confirmation of your order will be taken as proof of your acceptance of the provisions contained in the Western Sydney Stargazing Terms and Conditions, and the Western Sydney Stargazing Privacy Policy, and shall be treated as legal evidence of a transaction between Western Sydney Stargazing and the purchaser.

 

Conditions of Entry

Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Respect other participants and staff

Please refrain from speaking over the guide and/or hindering the experience for other participants. Participants must respect the staff and may be refused entry or asked to leave the site if they do not follow such terms.

Personal belongings

Western Sydney Stargazing does not accept responsibility for any losses or damage incurred to personal belongings or clothing.

Respect property of Western Sydney Stargazing

Participants should not cause damage to any property owned by Western Sydney Stargazing including the telescope, eye-pieces, lights, signage, or any material brought to the site.

Alcohol

It is illegal for a person to consume alcohol during our stargazing tours. 

Smoking

Western Sydney Stargazing sessions are strictly smoke-free and smoking is not permitted under any circumstances within the vicinity of the tour. Participants should also adhere to any other restrictions posted at the location where a session is being held.

Photography

Western Sydney Stargazing may take promotional photos or videos during a public or private event. Guests have the right to decline to have their images captured and should make this known to the staff members. Guests should also avoid taking photographs and videos of other guests, unless permission is given. No images are to be captured of minors, unless permission is granted by the parent or guardian.

Western Sydney Stargazing reserves the right to:

  • Refuse guests’ entry to the location should they breach any of these conditions of entry.

  • Request guests leave the location without a refund, should they breach any of these conditions of entry.

 

Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

The purchaser agrees that the provision of any service, purchased from the Western Sydney Stargazing website, is at the purchaser’s sole risk. To the full extent permissible by applicable law, Western Sydney Stargazing will not be liable for any damages of any kind arising from the use of this site, or from any services provided from this website or establishment, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages. No oral advice or written information given by Western Sydney Stargazing nor its affiliates, nor any of their officers’ directors, employees, agents, providers, or the like, shall create a warranty or legal obligation; nor shall the purchaser rely on any such information or advice.