Reedy Creek Observatory

In Reedy Creek, a suburb of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, an amateur observatory has quietly become one of the world's most prolific asteroid-hunting sites.

About Reedy Creek Observatory

Reedy Creek Observatory, assigned Minor Planet Center code 428, is the amateur facility of Australian astronomer John Broughton, dedicated to observations of near-Earth objects. It sits 66 meters (217 feet) above sea level in Reedy Creek, a suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland.

History

The observatory achieved first light in 1997. Between then and 2008, it recorded 1,237 discoveries, and as of October 2025 was ranked 36th in the world by the Minor Planet Center on its list of the most prolific discovery sites, a striking result for a suburban amateur setup.

Location & getting there

Reedy Creek is a residential suburb of the Gold Coast in southeastern Queensland, Australia, at a modest elevation of 66 meters above sea level.

Visiting Reedy Creek Observatory

As a private amateur observatory, Reedy Creek Observatory does not publish general visiting hours. Check for local astronomy club activity or contact details before assuming access.

See your named star from here

A backyard-scale observatory that has logged over a thousand asteroid discoveries is proof of what a dedicated set of eyes on the sky can find. Name a star and look for it yourself using the coordinates in the catalogue.