Cosmodome sessions booked out
The cosmodome, a portable planetarium for showing the night sky, has been so popular that all sessions for today, its final day at Central Library, have been booked out very quickly. We have been...
View ArticleApollo plus 40: Central Library event
40 years ago this July humans landed on the Moon for the first time – and then did it five more times over the next three and a half years. In this illustrated presentation, David Maclennan, President...
View ArticleThe Great Comets of Our Time – how do they compare with the past?
What makes a ‘Great Comet’, and how do the Great Comets of our lifetime compare with the legendary comets of the historical era? Many New Zealanders have had opportunities to marvel at these rare...
View ArticleAstronomy in Islam
Join us for an evening at Ruth Gotlieb Library in Kilbirnie to learn more about the importance of astronomy in Islam as we celebrate Islam Awareness Week. There will be a presentation, displays, time...
View ArticleBlack holes & Big bangs – Einstein’s gravity
What are the implications of Einstein’s theory of gravity for astronomy and cosmology? What happens if you add quantum physics to the mix? And why should we be interested? The physics community have...
View ArticleThe Dark Side of Lighting
Light pollution is an increasing problem threatening not only astronomy, but also human health, eco systems, safety and our human heritage. But being dark sky friendly does not mean no light – it...
View ArticleCelebrate 400 years of Galileo!
As part of the International Year of Astronomy, people worldwide will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of the telescope to look at the night sky from 22-24 October. We have...
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Mata Ora – Celebrating Maori Celestial Navigation
With Hekenukumai (Hector) Busby, Jack Thatcher and Hoturoa Barclay Kerr Celebrating celestial navigation, the event Mata Ora highlights and pays tribute to the courageous deep sea voyaging explorations...
View ArticleThe Christmas Star – is there a scientific explanation for the Star of...
A free talk by Frank Andrews from Wellington Astronomical Society Is it possible to give a scientific explanation for the biblical account of the appearance of a bright star at the time of the birth of...
View ArticleThanks for an astronomical year!
Wow – what an amazing and fun year we’ve had celebrating the International Year of Astronomy! It has been great meeting and getting to know some of you throughout the year and thank you to everyone...
View ArticleSee the oldest refractor telescope made in NZ!
If you’re passing the Central Library this weekend, take a look at the telescope on display in the foyer window. Built in 1930 in Auckland by Robert Bruce, it’s the oldest refractor telescope made in...
View ArticleSolar Observing Day
Our first solar telescope viewing event as part of our celebrations for the International Year of Astronomy took place with Wellington Astronomical Society in Civic Square on Saturday. Using a special...
View ArticleEarth Hour this Saturday
Turn off your lights this Saturday and see the stars! Between 8.30 and 9.30pm this Saturday 28 March, lights in Wellington and around New Zealand and the world will be turned off for Earth Hour, with...
View Article100 Hours of Astronomy!
Be part of the largest event taking place in the world this year to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy – celebrations are taking place worldwide from 2-5 April with 100 Hours of Astronomy –...
View ArticleHundreds join in for the 100 Hours of Astronomy
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Civic Square over the weekend to celebrate 100 Hours of Astronomy – an event which took place worldwide. The weather held for us on Saturday and hundreds of...
View ArticleTour the planets!
What would you need to know to survive a tour of the planets? Forget a Lonely Planet guide – let Ross Powell from the Wellington Astronomical Society take you on a tour through the solar system using...
View ArticleIntroduction to Astrophotography
Would you like to take photographs of the night sky? Not sure what to use or where to begin? Using his own experiences, John Field from the Wellington Astronomical Society will explore and explain how...
View ArticleCall it Pluto, and please pass the toast.
Venetia Phair - the last person to be said to have named a planet – died two weeks ago at the age of 90. She thought up the name Pluto for the newly discovered planet in 1930 at the age of 11, and...
View ArticleAstro Mike
Mike Massimino, one of the astronauts on the STS-125 mission to the Hubble telescope, has written the first Twitter from space. You can follow him here. The mission is the fifth and final servicing...
View ArticleNot as we know it.
The new Star Trek movie is very enjoyable, but does its astronomy hold up under scrutiny? The writer of Discover magazine’s excellent Bad Astronomy blog has reviewed the film and the answer is yes –...
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