During the nationwide observance of Matariki, on a mild winter morning in Takapō (Tekapo), the Dark Sky Project was launched. The Dark Sky Project, formally Earth and Sky, took the next big step forward in […]
News from the Galactic Centre
A Kiwi perspective on astronomy and space science news and how to get the most out the night sky
What’s in the sky in August 2019
Prepare your telescopes, we have two amazing planets to observe. If you don’t have telescopes, join us at Space Place at Carter Observatory where we have telescope viewings every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights clear […]
How To Find The Southern Cross
A short video on how to find the Southern Cross.
Unique Stargazing Events to see in the night sky
Once you get to know your way around the sky and spend a lot of time under the stars you can start seeing amazing things. These are some of the things that I have seen […]
The Bizarre and Confusing World of Telescope Mounts – Part One
Often when people go and buy their first telescope they don’t think much about the mount, they tend to focus more on the capabilities of the telescope itself.
2022 Is When SpinLaunch Aims To Begin Commercial Launch Operations
In May this year the potentially disruptive company, SpinLaunch broke ground on its new facility in New Mexico at Spaceport America. They aim to compete in the launch market by getting satellites into Low Earth […]
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was set up in 1959 to govern the exploration and the use of space for the benefit of all humanity.
50 Years Since The First Human Steps on The Moon
The first human steps on the Moon were fifty years ago today. What an amazing achievement and a moment that brought the world together.
The Lunar Eclipse that marks the Apollo 50th
A partial lunar eclipse occurring on the 16-17 July 2019 coincides with the 50 years anniversary of Apollo 11 launching to the Moon. What doest that mean?
How to find Matariki
Here’s a quick video to help you find Matariki. You’ll have to get up early in the morning to catch this fantastic cluster in the sky just before dawn.
Planets in June 2019
For all planet hunters out there From the start of the month Jupiter’s position just keeps getting better and better. At the start of the month it rises about 5:30 in the very early evening […]
Highlights from the last few days about space and what’s coming up
Beresheet spacecraft entered lunar orbit and further speculation of the future of the SLS and commercial involvement in the Moon programme. The announcement that the Event Horizon Telescope may give us the first ever picture of the event horizon around the Super Massive Black Hole at the centre of our galaxy
NASA’s Exploration Mission 1 (EM1) and Who Might Launch it.
The Vice President of the US announced that the administration wants the US to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024. For this to happen there needs to be a way of getting them there and the SLS will probably not be ready.
What’s Happening in Space (and on Earth)
There’s a Rocket Lab Electron due to lift off on Wednesday, Beresheet is going to land on the Moon on the 11 April and SpaceX’s Starhopper might make it’s first tentative lift off with its one Raptor engine.
The 21 March 2019 Supermoon, or the more common name, Perigee Syzygy of the Sun, Earth and Moon system.
Tonight is the last Supermoon for 2019 so if you get a chance, go outside and have a look. But if you miss it, don’t worry, it’ll be back next year.
NASA Astronauts to the Moon – powered by SpaceX
NASA acknowledged that a commercial rocket might be an option to get Exploration Mission 1 off the ground. Could the first flight of the Orion Spacecraft be on a Falcon Heavy?
Brashear Telescope Restoration
The Brashear Telescope is a masterpiece of the Victorian age technology. It stands 9 m tall with a refracting lens of 18 inches (45.72 cm) across. And it is getting a new home in Tekapo, […]
50 Years Since Apollo 9, Spider and Gumdrop
50 years ago Apollo 9 launched and carried three crew members around the Earth for ten days testing the spacecraft and systems that would ultimately take people to the Moon.
News from the Solar System – Fly me to the Moon
News from space in January and February 2019
My time as a MOA observer
“MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) is a Japan/NZ collaboration that makes observations on dark matter, extra-solar planets and stellar atmospheres using the gravitational microlensing technique at the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory in New Zealand. Further studies are also carried out.” (MOA Page, University of Canterbury)
OSIRIS-REx Arrived at Bennu Late Last Year – What’s Next?
OSIRIS-REx has been at Bennu for about a month on its mission to examine the asteroid and get a sample to bring back to Earth in 2023.
