Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

Astropark

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display


Transportation

As the Astropark is located behind the Pak Tam Chung Barrier inside Sai Kung East Country Park, to preserve the environment and limit the effects of motor vehicles, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will only consider issuing permits to persons carrying out official duties or works beyond the Barrier. Application for recreational purposes will not be considered. Please refer to the AFCD website for details. Visitors may use public transport to visit the Astropark.

As the Astropark is located behind the Pak Tam Chung Barrier within the High Island Reservoir areas, applications have to be made to the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) before coaches could reach the Astropark.

Applicants to the WSD for accessing Sai Kung Man Yee Road to reach the Astropark by coaches should note that only schools or non-profit making organizations will be considered. A permit quota system applies with restrictions on the size of the coaches. Application details can be found in the WSD website or through the enquiry (Tel: 2829 4718) of the Water Supplies Department.

Applicants to the AFCD for entering the Pak Tam Chung Barrier by coaches should also be aware that a quota system applies. Application should be made on behalf of schools / organizations. Application by individuals will not be accepted. Application details can be found in the AFCD website or through the enquiry (Tel: 3129 3056) of the Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Centre of AFCD.

After obtaining the permits from the Water Supplies Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, visitors may take coaches to reach the Astropark directly. The opening hours of the Astropark are 24 hours daily. However, the time of the coaches entering the Barrier should be between 9am and 4:30pm.

Without the need for applying any permits, coaches can park at the Pak Tam Chung car park. Visitors can then walk for about 1.5 hours or take a taxi ride for 15 minutes to reach the Astropark.

As the Astropark is located behind the Pak Tam Chung Barrier within the High Island Reservoir areas, applications have to be made to the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) before coaches could reach the Astropark. For details, please refer to "Frequent Asked Question 2".

As the number of group booking to visit the Astropark is ever-increasing, the Hong Kong Space Museum has now made available an "Astropark Traffic Permit for Coaches Travelling via Sai Kung Man Yee Road" for interested secondary schools to apply. For details, please refer to Download for the "Astropark Traffic Permit(s) application form" and "Guidelines on using the "Astropark Traffic Permit".

 

The cost for taking a New Territories Taxi to the Astropark from Pak Tam Chung is about $60 while a journey beginning from the Sai Kung town centre costs about $130.

Only campers to the Chong Hing Water Sports Centre are eligible to take the shuttle bus. Campers are advised to contact Chong Hing Water Sports Centre for details.

 

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

General Facilities

Yes, for mobile network coverage in the adjacent country park areas, please check the Mobile Network Coverage Survey website of the Office of the Telecommunications Authority.

There are mobile toilets besides the Astropark.

There is no snack or beverage service in the Astropark. Campers of the Chong Hing Water Sports Centre may use the vending machines in the Centre for drinks or cooking facilities in the Centre.

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

Guided Tours

To increase the interest and knowledge to the instruments in the Astropark, the Hong Kong Space Museum is planning for guided tours in the Astropark. Please refer to the Space Museum website for the latest update.

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

Telescope Piers

Mounts from different telescope manufacturers have different designs. Please refer to the Telescope Pier Adapter Plate Diagram or call the Space Museum (Tel: 2721 0226) to make a reservation to check out a sample plate to see if any modification is required for your mount.

To use the power supplied in the Astroparks for driving telescope mounts or connecting to notebooks for astrophotography etc, users have to make prior bookings with Hong Kong Space Museum (Tel: 2721 0226).

The adapter plate is about 1.3 metres above ground for tall piers and 1 metre for short piers.

No, the adapter plates are already fixed on the telescope piers.

Due to the various designs of telescope mounts, users are required to bring their own screws for mounting their telescopes to the adapter plates.

The telescope piers are equipped with waterproof 3 prong power sockets with 220V AC. To use the power supplied in the Astropark, users have to make prior bookings with Hong Kong Space Museum (Tel: 2721 0226).

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

Other Astronomical Instruments

A fixed screw of 1/4" 20TPI is installed on each star tracker. Users could bring their own suitable ball heads for mounting their cameras to the star trackers.

Visitors may use the four installed binoculars with aperture of 80mm and magnification of 20 in the Astropark for free. The binoculars only operate from 7:30 pm to 5:30 am. Never look at the Sun directly with the binoculars.

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

Observation Condition

As the Astropark is far from the town centre and residential areas, the light pollution is not serious. With no street lights nearby, it can be considered a good stargazing site in Hong Kong.

The Chong Hong Water Sports Centre has a camp site with BBQ stoves for campers. Since this area is located about 100 metres away from the Astropark with trees surrounding the area, stargazing in the Astropark is not affected.

Longitude: 114 degrees 20 minutes 9.6 seconds

Latitude: 22 degrees 22 minutes 34.7 seconds

Web Content DisplayWeb Content Display

Security

The Astropark has a 24 hour security guard service.

The gate of the Astropark is closed at night to prevent cattle from entering. Visitors can open the gate to enter the Astropark and keep the gate closed.