IYA2009 NZ News

International Year of Astronomy Ends

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +1300

As the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) comes to a close, the true scope of the venture is becoming clear. The final count of countries involved stands at 148, a staggering number that confirms that the IYA2009 network is the largest ever in science. Activities and events from these participating nations paint a picture of professional and amateur astronomers bringing the Universe down to Earth through countless projects, opening the eyes of the public to the wonders above.

Astronomers and Musicians come together in Foxton for NZ’s biggest IYA event

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The Space Radio event at Foxton later this month will combine music and astronomy in an “Out of this World” experience using sounds and images from throughout the known universe.

Levin Stargazers and the Foxton Beach Astronomical Society have brought together artists and musicians to create an event with an exciting family day out. The event takes place on November 21st 2009, at the Foxton audio visual museum. Presentation 4-6pm and Concert 8.30-10pm.

The audience will hear the universe as it has never been heard before, the oldest known sound effect in the universe will be there too - the hiss of the radiation left over from the Big Bang.

The performance will canvas questions such as: Are we alone in the universe? Is there music coming from space? These are the sort of questions that Space Radio will explore. Musicians include Ed Zuccollo and James Davenport with Visuals from Cameron McKechnie of Chaoslab. Among a myriad of other supporters from a range of communities, Paul Moss bears special mention for his role in Space Radio. Paul is the National Coordinator for ‘Sidewalk Astronomers’ and will bring a wealth of experience and passion in helping to organise the performance.

MAVtech, the national audio visual museum in Foxton will host the event, and will offer tours of the museum in addition to the evening telescope viewing sessions on its balcony. Guests can leisurely browse the displays or take in some local space art on display by Bren Chainey.

Tickets for the evening concert are $10 each and will be available at the door from 8pm.

Earlier in the day there will be a separate film premiere.

From 4pm astronomer Frank Andrews will talk the audience through an original movie of the planets, produced by Haritina Mogosanu, using the latest sounds and pictures from NASA.

The movie journeys to the edge of the Solar System and back and is set to the music of Gustav Holst's ‘The Planets’.

The rest of the two-hour show - which costs $5, will feature Space on the Silver Screen - a fascinating screening compiled from the New Zealand Film Archives, and suited to all ages.

This exciting project has been made possible thanks to support from Creative NZ and The Horowhenua Community Trust, and proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Young Stargazers programme, to help support astronomy education.

From a press release supplied by Ron Fisher

Galilean Nights - New Zealand Gets Ready to Stargaze

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +1300

Wind the clock back 400 years and see what Galileo saw the first time he looked through a telescope – the moons of Jupiter.

Over the next few weeks astronomical societies throughout the world, and here in new Zealand, will share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the Universe by opening up their observatories to the public and encouraging as many people as possible to look through their telescopes. The focus for the Galilean Nights is on the observations made by the Italian astronomer Galileo 400 years ago, who revolutionised science with his discoveries using the telescope. By recording the changing positions of the ‘stars’ he saw around Jupiter, he proved that they were orbiting the planet, incontrovertible evidence that Earth was not the centre of the Universe.

Astronomy – and cosmology – has come a long way since then, and we know a lot more about Jupiter and its moons. However the planet with its bright bands and the largest of its many moons are easily visible with a modest telescope and the public are invited to take this opportunity to share the as Galileo’s experience and see Jupiter through a telescope as well as other celestial treasures.
Galilean Nights (www.galileannights.org) is part of a suite of global events organised for International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009).

From an IYA 2009 NZ Press Release.

Kiwi adventurer and astronomer dies

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The Royal Astronomical Society of NZ regretfully notes that Jon Hamilton, son of Sir William Hamilton, inventor of the jet-boat died recently at age 84. As well as being an an ambassador for his father's invention, piloting Hamilton jet-powered boats on the first upstream run of the Colorado River, and on the Ganges with mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, Jon was a long-time member of the RASNZ and great supporter of New Zealand astronomy.

Clive Rowe provided this memory:

"Jon had built his own observatory on his property in Kennedy's Bush road, Halswell, in the 60s. The telescope was an equatorially-mounted Celestron 14. He often showed visitors the moon and planets and on one occasion we observed one of the black spots on Jupiter soon after the impact of one of the components of comet Shoemaker-Levy.

"He subscribed to Scientific American and enjoyed discussions on the science and particularly, astronomy and cosmology after reading the relevant articles in that Journal.

"Jon was particularly helpful to the Canterbury Astronomical Society (CAS) and we folded the robust frame of the present 14 inch Cassegrain (Nankivell optics) on the 1000 tonne press in the Company's jetboat manufacturing facility. They welded and turned the frame on their large vertical mill. The company also built the solid equatorial mount which supports the 14 inch. Jon, until some months ago, was actively involved in an upgrade to the 14 inch dome at the CAS observatory at West Melton.

"I was fortunate to share (from the passenger seat), Jon's passion for gliding about the Southern Alps on numerous occasions. The evenings were spent discussing science and astronomical topics."

New Zealand School Participates in Sunbeams and Shadows Project

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1200

Ngatapa School, Gisborne was the first New Zealand school to participate in the IYA Sunbeams and Shadows project, following the movement of the Sun between midwinter and midsummer at different latitudes from North to south. Schools have been invited to submit a photograph when the Sun is at an angle of 45 degrees. More details and other activities can be found at www.sun45.org including how to construct a sunbeam box and a circular Sun 45 sundial.

IYA New Zealand 2009 Poster Available for Purchase

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +1200

Thanks to the Royal Astronomical Society of NZ and the Auckland Astronomical Society we can now offer full colour A1 glossy posters showcasing IYA 2009 NZ astronomy. We would also like to thank Richard Hall for assembling this wonderful poster and to the many contributors of the stunning pictures the poster contains. It is a great poster which encompasses what this year is all about - New Zealand Astronomy and the dedication of the New Zealand astronomical community.
The posters will be printed by the end of the week of 14 August, so now is a great time to place your orders.
All payments are to be made directly to RASNZ. For full details regarding payment and the prices of the posters, please refer to the information sheet (76 KB PDF).

Webcast of 100 Hours of Astronomy Awards Ceremony

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +1200

The 100 Hours of Astronomy Awards Ceremony will be streamed over the Internet on the morning of August 12. The webcast will start at 9.00 am New Zealand time, and will be archived for future viewing. The ceremony is part of the International Astronomical Union's XXVII General Assembly 2009 and will be hosted by 100 Hours of Astronomy Co-Chair Mike Simmons. Eight award presentation videos by 100HA Task Group members from around the world will be shown, along with acceptance videos from the award winners. Among the winners are the Levin Stargazers, who will receive the 100HA Community Out Reach award.

View the webcast page.

Auckland Astronomical Society announces astrophotography competition

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +1200

The Auckland Astronomical Society (AAS) has announced the 2009 Harry Williams Astrophotography Competition. The competition is now open for entry to all New Zealand residents. Please pass this message onto your members, family and friends.

Competition categories are as follows:

Solar System - Sun, Moon, planets, comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, auroras, meteors, etc.
Deep Sky - Nebulae, galaxies, globular and open clusters, deep space objects, etc
Miscellaneous - Artistic and interesting subjects with an astronomical theme, including wide field images, artificial satellites, star trails, star parties etc.

An Entry form and Conditions of Entry in MS Word and PDF can be downloaded from the AAS's website. Entries must be in by Friday 16 October 2009.

Levin Stargazers win IYA Star Party Award

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200

The Levin Stargazers group have won the Community Outreach award as part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy Sidewalk Astronomy and Star Party competition. The competition garnered entries from around the world, and featured eight different awards. Levin Stargazers member Paul Moss was also highly commended in the 'Outstanding Individual within a registered 100 Hours of Astronomy Event'.

Read the full press release (116 Kb PDF).

The Letters of Beatrice Hill Tinsley

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200

Radio New Zealand Concert is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy with a 20-part series featuring music and the letters of cosmologist Beatrice Tinsley.

Professor of Astronomy at Yale University at the time of her death, New Zealander Beatrice Tinsley was noted for her work on the evolution of galaxies. Music played an important role in her life: she was a violinist, and a foundation member of the New Zealand Youth Orchestra.

'The Stars are Comforting', Wednesday nights at 7 pm, in Appointment on Radio New Zealand Concert. The weekly programmes begin on 5 August 2009.

Canon Creative for A Cause Photographic Competition

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200

Vote and help RASNZ win funding for NZ Astronomical Societies and NZ Astronomical Education - votes close 10 July 2009.
You can find the picture of Ivan Vazey and his 12" Astronz Dob highlighting the Moon to a child at the recent 100 Hours of Astronomy event in Auckland. To vote for this image visit the Canon Creative for a Cause website.

To find the image and vote use the following;
Filter by Keyword - Sharing Knowledge of the Night Sky
Filter Category - Education
Filter Results - NZ Photographers

Amateur Kiwi Astronomer Discovers Supernova

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200

Oxford dairy farmer and dedicated astronomer Stuart Parker is “over the moon” with his first confirmed discovery of a supernova. Images taken with a computer controlled CCD camera mounted on a 14” telescope a few days ago revealed a single bright star on the edge of NGC134 - a spiral galaxy over 60 million light years away.

Read the full story in the official RASNZ press release.

Capital to Host Astronomical Conference and Open Day

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 +1200

Wellington is the place to be on the weekend of May 23-24, when two astronomical events are being held. The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand is holding its annual conference from the evening of Friday 22. The invited speaker for the conference is Professor Fluvio Melia, who will speak on supermassive black holes.

On Sunday from 10am to 4pm there will be an astronomy open day at Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. Plenty of activities for the whole family are planned, including talks, telescope advice, solar observing, a planetarium, and a dance performance.

New Zealand Public Invited to Free 100 Hours of Astronomy Events

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300

100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA) is a 100 hour, round-the-clock, round-the-globe event, that will take place over four days and nights from 2–5 April 2009. More than a million people are expected to participate and with more than 1500 events registered in over 130 countries, 100HA is on track to be the largest single science public outreach event ever.

For more information, be sure to read the complete press release.

Capital Sidewalk Astro-Marathon This Weekend

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300

A former Carter Observatory astronomer is combining IYA (International Year of Astronomy) with RFL (Relay for Life) this weekend at Wellington’s Frank Kitts Park.

From mid-day Saturday March 28th for some 20 hours non-stop, Graham Wolf will be both raising astronomy awareness, and donations for the Wellington Cancer Society.

IYA celebrates world-wide, the 400th anniversary of that immortal moment in 1609, when Italian scientist Galileo first turned a primative home-made telescope on the heavens, and changed the world of Astronomy forever. RFL celebrates the world-wide fight against cancer and also honours those who have had cancer and survived.

Lower Hutt based Graham Wolf (a three times cancer survivor) is combining these two events in a sidewalk “astro - marathon”, where a modern reflector telescope will be provided outdoors for public night sky viewing, at the RFL venue (Frank Kitts Park).
He’ll also be there to answer your astronomy questions, check, tune-up, and (if possible) even repair your own faulty ‘scope, for a modest donation to the Wellington Cancer Society. You’ll also be shown some easy ways to “astro-navigate” with the naked eye.

Weather permitting, expect close-up views of the Moon, (hopefully) the new Chinese Comet Lulin, and a host of other celestial objects of your particular choice. Galileo’s favourite:- Jupiter… rising low in the east just before dawn, will also be shown in the telescope.

During daylight, Graham will demonstrate sunspots (safely) by eyepiece projection. If he’s not too busy at night, you just might get to briefly “drive” the telescope yourself:- supervised.

Says Graham ( a former teenage protogee of TV Astronomer Peter Read in the 1960’s):- “The Carter Observatory ‘scope is twice the optical aperture of mine, but is 3m longer, several tonnes heavier, and firmly bolted down. Mine is very portable and produces similar or greater magnifications if required… that certainly gives me the edge”. Graham reckons that despite the CBD suffering from streetlight glare, some basic “sidewalk” astronomy is still possible. He’ll prove it, this weekend.
Graham pioneered sidewalk astronomy in the late 1960’s at Dunedin’s Octagon , before doing numerous similar events throughout New Zealand in later decades. During his time at the Carter Observatory he provided numerous public lecturers and helped rebuild the Wellington Planetarium on it’s current site.

With the Carter Observatory closed indefinitely for renovations, Graham will be (metaphysically) moving the observatory down to the waterfront this weekend.

This weekend, Graham comes out of astro-retirement to honour two heroes:- Galileo and Peter Read.

From a 24 March 2009 Press Release from Graham Wolf

The World's Largest Star Party

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The Levin Stargazers are hosting "The Worlds Largest Star Party" - a challenge laid down to everyone holding events for the 100 Hours of Astronomy. They will be recording the names of everyone who looks through a telescope and place them into the draw to win a telescope worth $500! Sponsored by Total Control (Manawatu), special thanks to Michael White, a dedicated member of the stargazers. They will have a guest astronomer talking on something topical and there will be an information desk and an array of telescopes and operators to showcase our Southern skies alongside 3 main scopes looking at Saturn for everyone to see. If the weather doesn't permit then they have a surprise back up option that you won't want to miss.

UN Association of NZ Covers International Year of Astronomy

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The February issue of the United Nations Association of New Zealand newsletter features two articles on the International Year of Astronomy. The first article provides an overview of the year, its Cornerstone Projects, and New Zealand's participation in New Year's Day events. The second article focuses on Tekapo's bid to become the world's first night sky reserve. The full newsletter is available to download as a 2 Mb PDF. The United Nations Association of New Zealand's website is www.unanz.org.nz.

Galileoscope in Production

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The Galileoscope — a high quality, easy-to-assemble and easy-to-use telescope at an unprecedentedly low price — is now available to order. A Cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), the Galileoscope was developed by a team of leading astronomers, optical engineers and science educators to make the wonders of the night sky more accessible to everyone. Orders can now be placed through www.galileoscope.org for delivery beginning in late April.

Excerpted from an March 4 2009 IYA Press Release.

Vineyard Toasts New Zealand's First Gamma Ray Observatory

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The latest addition to New Zealand’s suite of telescopes, a Spanish supplied 60-cm fast-acting, robotic telescope which will monitor exotic gamma ray bursts, will be officially opened on Friday 27th February at 2.00pm by the Spanish Ambassador, His Excellency Martin Gomez.

More information about the telescope and gamma ray bursts is available in the press release.

January Astrophotography Winners Announced

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1300

The winners of January's RASNZAPS astrophotography competition have been posted. The winners in each category are (with links to the winning photographs):

Telescope-Hard Section: M35 in Gemini.
1st - Gary Beal
2nd - John Drummond

Telescope-Easy: Tarantula Nebula in the LMC.
1st - David Moorhouse
2nd - John Burt

Sub 400mm: Vela Supernova Remnant.
1st - George Ionas
2nd - John Drummond

Congratulations to all the winners. Don't forget there's still time to enter in the February and March competitions.

Lights Out For Earth

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1300

Between 8:30 and 9:30pm on Saturday 28 March 2009 lights around New Zealand will be turned off for Earth Hour. Organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and supported by Councils and businesses around New Zealand and the world the aim is to bring awareness to the impact of Climate Change. Many local landmarks and businesses will turn off their lights bringing darker skies to New Zealand, and many community groups are organising events. This is an opportunity for astronomical groups to get involved in offering a Star Party or just adding your voice. For more information go to the Earth Hour website. More information will be posted there and on this website closer to the date.

News story provided by John Field

Backyard Observatory is Shed of the Month

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +1300

Southland astronomer Ray Murray and his backyard observatory are featured in the Feb-Mar 2009 issue of The Shed magazine. Check out the article at the magazine's website.

Stardate South Island Star Party

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1300

Astronomers, both amateur and professional, will descend on the small Canterbury town of Staveley for the weekend of 23 January 2009 for the 20th annual Stardate celebration. Bring your binoculars, telescopes, tents or caravans, or if you prefer, book a place in the lodge. There will be talks on astronomy and also guided nature tours. Registration cost is $10/person per night. For more details see Stardate's event page.

IYA 2009 Kicks Off With Solar Viewing

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1300

The International Year of Astronomy will open with safe public solar viewing in Auckland, Wellington and Dargaville. Local astronomy groups will set up solar telescopes on January 1 to give the public a chance to see sunspots, faculae, and other features of our Sun. See the event page for details on the times and places.

December Full Moon Larger than Usual

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1300

December's full Moon, occurring on the morning of the 13th, will be slightly larger and brighter than normal full Moons. Its orbit around the Earth is elliptical, and on closest approach (called perigee) it is a few thousand kilometres closer than average. These two events (fullness and perigee) occur within five hours of each other this month. More information on this event is available on the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand news page.

New Levin Stargazers Observing Group

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300

The telescopes are out in Levin. A new group has been started known as the Levin Stargazers and will be in full force for the International Year of Astronomy. Ex-Carter Observatory staff members Ron Fisher and Owen Moore have been reunited in Levin. Owen finished building his own backyard observatory in 2008 and Ron recently moved into the neighbourhood. Together, along with Levin members of the Foxton Beach astronomy society, they are transforming the astronomical scene in the Horowhenua. “We just want to give something back to the community. Kids here don't have much to do with their time, so they play games like ‘hide the letterbox’,” said Mr Fisher. “We want to provide a safe and interesting hobby that can expand their minds and may even turn into recruitment for universities and observatories around New Zealand.”

The Levin Stargazers will hold its inaugural star party on November 7th at the Adventure Park in central Levin from 8–10pm, weather permitting. Everyone is welcome and the more telescopes the merrier.

To join is free and simply a matter of sending an email to express your interest. Please send an email to Ron Fisher at ronaldofisher@hotmail.com.

Award for Kiwi Astronomer

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Albert Jones has been awarded the 41st AAVSO Merit Award, for his contributions to variable star astronomy.

For over 60 years Albert Jones has been observing variable stars. From his home in Nelson, he monitors the changing brightness of these stars using little more than a telescope and his keen eyes. Astronomers the world over have benefited from Albert's numerous precise records, and regard him as one of the finest variable stars observers. His work has earned him many awards and recognitions, the latest being the AAVSO Merit Award. Presented by the American Association of Variable Star Observers, it recognises his observing achievements and his mentoring of new observers.

The full award citation can be read on the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand website.

The Great World Wide Star Count is on!

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Over the next two weeks, people all around the world will head outside at night and count stars. They will be helping to map the effects of light pollution on the night sky. You can join in too. It's fun and easy, and is designed to encourage learning in astronomy. To get involved, visit the event's page.

State of New Zealand Astronomy

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300

This past Sunday, the Insight programme on Radio New Zealand National featured a segment on New Zealand's first professional radio astronomy dish. Reporter Kim Grigg talks to AUT's Sergei Gulyaev about the dish, and New Zealand's possible role in the Square Kilometre Array. She also provides an overview of the current state and future of astronomy in New Zealand, through interviews with many of the country's leading researchers.

An mp3 of the show is available (8.9 Mb) through the programme's webpage.

Support for Australasian Science Initiative

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +1200

New Zealand will offer strong support for Australia’s bid to host the world’s largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today.

Prime Minister Rudd warmly welcomed New Zealand support in formal bilateral talks held in Auckland.

“This 21st century project would use our region’s intellectual and data infrastructure resources to push the boundaries of scientific enquiry and exploration”, Helen Clark said.

“Hosting the SKA would be a hugely exciting development for Australasia.

“Kevin Rudd and I agreed today to establish a joint officials group to look at how New Zealand can best participate in the design and establishment of a SKA hosted by Australia.

“This group will investigate the costs and benefits of New Zealand engaging in the SKA project. There are significant commercial and technology spin-offs from world-leading science projects. We need to investigate fully what opportunities the SKA could present for New Zealand infrastructure and high technology businesses so that we can take informed decisions on New Zealand’s role,” Helen Clark said.

The Square Kilometre Array or SKA is a “next generation” radio telescope, and would be more than 50 times more sensitive than any radio telescope currently built.

If Australasia wins the global bid to host the SKA, its centre would be in Western Australia. Observatory sites thousands of kilometres from the centre (the outer spirals), including potentially in New Zealand, would be linked by high speed data connectivity.

The hosting site for the SKA will be decided in 2011/12 by global scientists. Australasia’s competitor to host the SKA is a coalition of six Southern African countries.

More information at Scoop.

Astronomy Aotearoa wins book design award

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1200

Astronomy Aotearoa, created for the NCEA Level 1 Science curriculum, has won the Educational Book category of the Book Publishers Association of New Zealand (BPANZ) Book Design Awards 2008.
Author: Robert Shaw, designer: Marie Low.

More info at bpanz.org.nz/.

More information on the book can be found on the Pearson Education New Zealand website:www.astronomyaotearoa.net/.

Kiwi contribution to Night Sky Observer's Guide, Vol III

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1200

New Zealander Ian Cooper is the co-author of The Night Sky Observer's Guide, Vol III - The Southern Sky. The book also features photographs by John Drummond and Chris Picking.

More information on the website of the publishers Willmann-Bell: www.willbell.com/HANDBOOK/nitesky.htm, where a sample PDF file of a chapter from the first two volumes is available to view the style of the books.

Astronomy Aotearoa shortlisted for book design award

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 +1200

The Book Publishers Association of New Zealand (BPANZ) has announced their shortlist for the BPANZ Book Design Awards 2008. Astronomy Aotearoa is one of three titles nominated in the Educational Book category.

The list is dominated by beautiful books with eco-friendly themes and a social conscience. The judges had a tough time narrowing the field to just twelve titles, and this was a process not without conflict, with a few books' inclusion splitting the team of three judges led by New Zealand Listener's Guy Somerset. They were looking for “the complete package: the book whose insides matched their outside for the thought and care that had gone into them, striving for something a little bit different, or a little bit better”.
More info at bpanz.org.nz.
Winners to be announced in July 2008.

More information on the book can be found on the Pearson Education New Zealand website.

Astrophoto Competition: Deadline extended to 30 April 2008

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

In celebration of the upcoming 2009 International Year of Astronomy, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's Kendall Planetarium is sponsoring an astronomy photo contest. Winning astronomy photos will be published in OMSI's 2009 Kendall Planetarium astronomy calendar.

More information: [url=http://www.omsi.edu/misc/astrocontest/]http://www.omsi.edu/misc/astrocontest/.

Note: Contest deadline extended to 30 April 2008.

Palindrome promo online

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Bonnevue Pictures has published a promotional video of Palindrome. It can be viewed online.

Gisborne Observatory Clean-up

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

The Gisborne Herald reports on a major clean-up at Gisborne's James Cook Observatory in preparation of the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

Jules Verne monitored from Awarua

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

When the European Space Agency (ESA) launched their first Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV) Jules Verne from Kourou in French Guiana, a tracking station in Awarua in the Southland region of New Zealand was monitoring the vehicle´s progress. The Southland region is quickly establishing itself as a southern centre of Radio Science.

New Zealand Film to Celebrate IYA2009

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Bonnevue Pictures is producing Palindrome, which will be the official motion picture event for New Zealand´s contribution to the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

For a short description and information on the film makers visit bonnevuepictures.com/movies.html.

New Solar System Found

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1300

An international collaboration including a number of New Zealand-based scientist has published a paper of their discovery of a planetary system with two gas giants comparable Jupiter and Saturn in the Solar System. This discovery (OGLE-2006-BLG-109) dates back to March/April 2006. The paper titled Discovery of a Jupiter/Saturn Analog with Gravitational Microlensing appeared today in Science Vol. 319, no. 5865, pp. 927 - 930. A free copy of the paper is accessible on the arXiv website.

Partial Solar Eclipse

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +1300

A partial solar eclipse will be visible from New Zealand (weather permitting) in the late afternoon of Thursday, 7 February. There will be several events to facilitate safe viewing of this phenomenon. For details please refer to the entries on our Events page.

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The Wellington Crowd (Image: RI)

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Colander pinholes (Image: RI)

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Near Maximum (Credit: Ron Fisher)

More images from New Zealand astronomers (in no particular order):

Careering Through Astronomy

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1300

A presentation by Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell facilitated by the Royal Society of New Zealand in Wellington on the 24 January 2008. For details, please visit the Events page.

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Professor Bell Burnell talking in Wellington (Images Credit: Roland Idaczyk)

New Year's Honours for Professor Yasushi Muraki

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1300

THE NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF MERIT
The Queen has been pleased, on the occasion of
the celebration of the New Year,
to make the following Honorary appointment, to
The New Zealand Order of Merit:
M.N.Z.M.
To be an Honorary Member of the said Order:
Professor Yasushi MURAKI, of Kobe, Japan.
For services to astrophysics.
Dated at Wellington this 31st day of December 2007.
DIANE MORCOM, Secretary and Registrar, The New Zealand Order of Merit.

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Professor Yasushi Muraki on Mount John (Image Credit: Takashi Sako)

Dark Energy without Dark Energy

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +1300

Dr David Wiltshire (University of Canterbury, Christchurch) has published a paper on Dark Energy.
Read Marilyn Head's article on David Wiltshire.

UN proclaims IYA 2009

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +1300

The 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. Please refer to the IAU press release.

The Point saved for now

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +1200

The Environment Court ruled today against the development of a marine education centre at Te Rae Kai Hau Point, a prominent Wellington dark spot on the wild Cook Straight coast. This concludes the year-long effort of a group of concerned citizens, Save the Point, strongly supported by local residents and a number of local astronomers around Vicky Irons and Paul Moss.
Save the Point are facing a huge legal bill and are contuining their fundraising by selling their popular calendar and T-shirts. Please see the Save the Point website for more information.

Total Lunar Eclipse visible from NZ

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +1200

The first total eclipse for New Zealand since the year 2000 can be observed on Tuesday, 28 August 2007. Details are available at the RASNZ web site. Observation events are held, among others, at Wellington's Te Rae Kai Hau Point (see Paul Moss' web site for event details) and in Gisborne (see John Drummond's Possum Observatory).

Discovery of Comet P/2007 Q2 (Gilmore)

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +1200

On 22 August 2007, Alan C. Gilmore of Mount John University Observatory discovered a periodic comet of approximately 18th magnitude and slowly fading. Alan Gilmore comments:
I'm as surprised as anyone at the discovery. I noted an unlisted asteroid when I was searching for an object (xy1125) on the NEO (Near Earth Object) confirmation page (NEO CP). It was moving north-south where the target object was more east-west. I Reported it as MJO181 then followed it up again two nights later so it would get a provisional designation. Didn't think anything more about it until I got a note from Brian Marsden of the Minor Planet Center. He assumed that I had seen the orbit was cometary and asked if I could see a coma in the 1-m images. It was only from places with better seeing that the coma was noticed. Observers with 1-m telescopes at Siding Spring in Australia and Guangzhou in China were able to see the faint fuzz around the star-like nucleus, showing the object was indeed a comet. It's not a bright comet -- in fact it's probably one of the faintest discovered! -- but it's nice that it is periodic. It returns to the sun every 13 years.
The discovery was reported in the IAU Circular IAUC 8865 (subscription required for this link!). Ephemeris data available at MPEC 2007-Q43 (free access).

Southern Astronomy stamps

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 +1200

NZ Post has just issued a wonderful edition of southern sky stamps featuring images by New Zealand astrophotographers and telescopes. The release date was timed to welcome in the Māori New Year, Matariki, the Māori name for the Pleiades. An accompanying booklet, written by Associate Professor Peter Cottrell of the University of Canterbury, explains the images and details the background to the telescopes and their observatories. The booklet and stamps can be purchased online at the New Zealand Post web site until June 2008 or while stocks last.

StarLight Reserve - the World´s First Heritage Dark Sky Park

Sat, 05 May 2007 00:00:00 +1200

The StarLight Reserve project is a project to obtain UNESCO recognition and protection for the dark skies in the Tekapo region and above Mt John Observatory. The project was the brainchild of Graeme Murray, director of Earth Sky Limited who, together with others in New Zealand's astronomical and conservation communities, has sought support from the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. Following a favourable response to Graeme's initial presentation to UNESCO in April 2006, the Committee met in Christchurch 2007. Support from the New Zealand government is also being called for and it is hoped to bring the proposal to fruition by 2009, the International Year of Astronomy.
Read the article Return to the Dark Side by Rebecca Greatrex in The Listener.