New Zealand National Node

New Zealand´s indigenous name Aotearoa, which means land of the long white cloud, may not sound too propitious for astronomy, but in fact we do have several advantages! We are uniquely placed to see the sky from the most southerly latitude and are the only sizeable land mass in the extensive south Pacific Ocean. So we are an important link in whole sky coverage.

We can and do make an important contribution to a variety of areas in astronomy.

The International Year of Astronomy - what is it?

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme "The Universe, Yours to Discover". IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all nations.

Galileo´s Telescope: Read and see more about the instrument that changed the world, from the Institute and Museum of the History of Science in Florence, Italy: http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/telescopiogalileo/index.html

Kiwi Astronomers - We need you!

If you are a New Zealander and an active astronomer, at home or overseas, or know of someone else who is not yet on our NZ Astronomers pages, please contact us with details and possibly a link to a personal web page. We would love to create a complete list of all Kiwi astronomers.
Thank you!

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