The star-filled night fascinates us all. People have gazed upward at it in wonder and awe for thousands of years. Regardless of earthly differences in culture, nationality or religion, the heavens are a common meeting ground for all of Earth's inhabitants. The boundaries we place between us vanish when we look skyward. Whoever, whatever or wherever we are, we all share the same sky.
more info at Astronomers Without Borders
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A web site by Paul Moss One - Tahi - Ichi Ban One Ocean, One People, One Sky ASTRONOMY forum for New Zealand (Aotearoa) Join NOW!!! win $50 prize |
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Guarding
Against Destruction of the night sky at Sharing
Space Astronomy
- inspired by the light and dark of the southern sky a website by Paul Moss - July 2008
NZ Astronomy Data is available from LINZ |
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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". IAU - International Astronomy Union |
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International Sidewalk Astronomy Night Full ISAN NZ story and photos here: ISAN2008 April 12th 2008 1pm to 11pm ISAN official Website Here |
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One People, One SkyNEWS!!! Carter Observatory to re-open
Carter Observatory July 2008 Image by Paul Moss
Stonehenge Aotearoa
Green Flash at sunset
just before the sun set
The making of the movie STARS, a presentation STARS, a project by composer Warwick Blair
STARS Performance: Warwick Blair
Saturday 26 April 12-4pm, The Gus Fisher Gallery
Composer Warwick Blair presents a four-hour preview of his forthcoming project Stars, a 24-hour-long audio-visual project inspired by the Indian concept of anoraniyan mahatomahiyan, which proposes an intertwined relationship between the cosmos and human body. Blair's composition draws from gandharva music, which applies particular qualities to specific times of the day, and incorporates electronic backing and vocals from Sandhya Rao Badakere. Admission free The Gus Fisher Gallery Phone: 9 373 7599 ext 86646
The point is saved (for now)... Kia whakapūmau tonu te wairua o Te Raekaihau Be continued forever, the wild spirits of Te Raekaihau Wellington Marine Conservation Trust has withdrawn its High Court appeal against an Environment Court decision that denied resource consent for the proposed $20 million marine education centre at more here: The Dominion Post Te Rae Kai Hau Point and =========== Book Launch full launch story and pics here Astronomy
Aotearoa PEARSON
EDUCATION NEW ZEALAND Launching
students into space website: www.astronomyaotearoa.net =====
“I want to especially note the incredible fortitude and strengths of one to two hundred Wellingtonians that are prepared to brave a GALE FORCE wind laden with salt for many hours. I measured 10.8 degrees dropping to 10.5 later, and that’s in the shelter of the motor vehicle, not taking into account wind chill. The wind was 70km/hr dropping to 50km/hr sustained, until around 11pm when it dropped noticeably. We were rewarded with the best views in Wellington, even the Milky Way appeared during totality, a once in a life time experience for most of us. I saw the moon as a ‘rock in space’ for the second time only, ever. It had a 3d quality through the refractor that blew me away. I must also thank all the nzastronomers@yahoo.com for such a buildup and preparation, support and encouragement. You guys rock! I’m esp grateful to the last minute weather reports, to try and understand the weather, and the rapid delivery of pics back to the list, very cool guys!! I experienced the largest astro gathering ever in my life (unfunded, outside of public funded events).” Quote from Paul Moss, Sharing Space www.astronomy.net.nz . If
you wish to comment then go here
Talk to Kiwi Astronomers Now! * meet at MySpace mozaherd * meet at NZ Astro Chat here *
meet at NZastronomers at Yahoo here
*Interesting
little snipett.. Paul Moss gets
published again later this year. *Illustrations by many New Zealanders, including Paul Moss. Images and web design sponsored by Sharing Space - Astronomy NZ Book Launch Astronomy
Aotearoa
Photos
and related comment click here
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'STARS' performance Saturday 18th October
Observing Partial Lunar Eclipse 17th August "The Partial Lunar Eclipse on August 17th 2008 will be visible at Moonset for all of Australia, Asia and New Zealand, though New Zealanders will only see the Penumbral stage." more at Ice In Space here.
Observing Stars, Planets, Moon and clouds Dance of the Planets (2 August to 10 August) If you go watch the western horizon during twilight for the next week, you will see some amazing things. Starting on Saturday August 2, the Crescent Moon, Venus, Regulus, Saturn and Mars form a terrific lineup. You will need a flat, unobstructed horizon to see this, as the Moon and Venus will be just under a handspan and a half above the western horizon half an hour after sunset (start looking around this time). Then on August 3 the Moon is near Saturn, and on August 4th the Moon is near Mars. During this time Venus draw close to Regulus, and on August 5-6 Venus and Regulus are close. Mercury then joins the lineup, and by August 10 Mercury and Regulus are close. At this time you can easily see all 5 classic planets that are visible to the unaided eye (Mercury, Venus and Mars and Saturn in the West, Jupiter in the east). There is still more planetary dancing to come after that, but this is enough for now. Ian Musgrave Peta O'Donohue, Jack Francis, Michael James First image from August.:
THE PLANETS IN AUGUST (abridged from RASNZ newsletter) All five naked eye planets will be visible at some time in the evening sky during August, four only for a short time after sunset. Early in the month, 4 planets, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Mars will be strung out, almost equally spaced, in the early evening sky. At first Mercury will be too close to the Sun to see, and only the other 3 will be visible. On the first few evenings of the month, Venus will be very low shortly after sunset and will itself be set before the sky is dark enough to see Saturn and Mars. read more at RASNZ web site join the emaillist.
Taatai Arorangi:
Conjunction 10th July
July 10th. more
and 7th July the moon is on the other end... more
From Ian Musgrave, Adelaide, Australia: Remember the information is intended for the southern hemisphere skygazer.
we've heard bees use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate by. We've also heard about some bird species following the Sun to find the location of their evening roost. But what do we know about the animals living at sea? Do they use astronomical aids to help them find their way around the planet? Mammals such as whales are known to exhibit "skyhopping" behaviour when they surface from the water to have a look around, but seals go one step further; they can recognise and orientate themselves with the stars… more Comet Boatini Images - Te Rae Kai Hau Point June 15th 2008
Day Sky Images - CZA and Sundogs
Night Sky Images - STARS and Comet
Stonehenge Aotearoa http://www.astronomynz.org.nz/stonehenge/
Astronomy
Aotearoa Astronomy Aotearoa has made the shortlist for the BPANZ Design Awards in the Educational category. It is a huge honour to have made the short list, and we are all hoping that it will take top honours. Congratulations to the Author Robert Shaw, and the Editing and Layout Design by Marie Low. see more here See book launch story below left, or here
'STARS' The making of the movie.
Astronomy Day
Astronomy Day is a grass roots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the general population - "Bringing Astronomy to the People."� On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first hand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited.� Astronomy clubs, science museums, observatories, universities, planetariums, laboratories, libraries, and nature centers host special events and activities to acquaint their population with local astronomical resources and facilities.� Many of these events are located at non-astronomical sites; shopping malls, parks, urban centers-truly Bringing Astronomy to the People.� It is an astronomical PR event that helps highlight ways the general public can get involved with astronomy - or at least get some of their questions about astronomy answered.� Astronomy Week encompasses Astronomy Day starting on the previous Monday and ending on the following Sunday.� The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," but on occasion there is an additional theme (but not always) when conditions warrant.� This additional theme is often decided just a few months prior to Astronomy Day so be sure to check this web site annually for any additional theme.� Wellington Event location - Queens Wharf (tbc) ........................................ Full ISAN NZ story and photos here: ISAN2008
Full ISAN NZ story and photos here: ISAN2008 . The movie PALINDROME - trailer
More info at Bonnevue Pictures ISAN EVENT!!! April 12th 2008 will be the second international sidewalk astronomy night and we invite all amateur astronomers to join us! We'll have telescopes out on the street corners, in front of movie theaters, in state and national parks, in city centre parks ... anywhere there are crowds of people! Our goal is to take scopes to the public on the same night worldwide,
 reaching hundreds of thousands of people and uniting amateur astronomers on different continents. We also hope many amateurs will try and like this different approach to astronomy outreach and will continue to hold sidewalk observing sessions throughout the year.The events don't have to be large, one or two scopes at a location will be enough and if your club has more scopes and members, why not set up multiple observing sites around your city? We know that many clubs and organizations have regularly scheduled public events at local observatories and planetariums, so we hope that you can spare one or two members for sidewalk observing. official ISAN site here
ISAN EVENT!!! April 12th 2008 1pm to 11pm Waterfront Join Read GO TO ASTRO EVENT International Sidewalk Astronomy Night - ISAN see more below... NEWS: STARS MOVIE nearly finished, Earth Hour (huge success) International Energy Saving Event March 29th 2008 at 8pm for 60mins more here http://www.earthhour.org/user/HSZd Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming. This simple act has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. As a result, at 8pm March 29, 2008 millions of people in some of the world’s major capital cities, including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Brisbane and Tel Aviv will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.
Images from the South Coast Solar Eclipse Event for lots more, see www.facebook.com
...
Toa, Roland, Gary, Hari, and Haritoa, 4 months, enjoyed the event... cool..
On Thursday afternoon (7th February 2008) a large chunk of the Sun will disappear as the Moon covers it in a partial solar eclipse. This rare event only happens every few years from Gisborne’s perspective. At first a small bite of the Sun will disappear at 4:43pm and then the Moon will progressively cover the Sun until its greatest coverage of 63% at 5:49pm. From there it will move off the Sun until it is all over at 6:49pm. A partial solar eclipse isn’t nearly as spectacular as a total solar eclipse when the Sun is completely covered for a few minutes. Nevertheless, it’s still an amazing sight to behold – however, sight is the thing to beware of as any attempt to look at the Sun with binoculars or a telescope (or even the naked eye) can result in blindness. The Gisborne Astronomical Society is opening the Cook Observatory on Kaiti Hill from 4:45pm this Thursday to show people how to view the event safely. This is the first partial solar eclipse visible from New Zealand since For more details go to the Gisborne Astronomical Society website: www.astrogas.co.nz Thanks to John Drummond.
Lets remember Carter Observatory. One of my fond memories from last summer, Bill and I tried all sorts
ore pics here: Rakiura Music ..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.----.
Check it out here: SkyDome
Observatory ====== older events here Three
Scapes Four - Marama Almost Full Moon Rising with awesome South Coast Sunset, telescopes, maybe fire and drums.. celebrate the open spaces of the Wellington South Coast. Warm clothing and hot drinks recommended! Bring cameras and learn astro photography... learn about the Wellington Community and understand the local body election from the residents viewpoint.. Sunset
1822 (the
almost full moon will be visible for 44 minutes with the sun, before
sunset.) more info text 021 440 443
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| check out the Astronomy In New Zealand swicki at eurekster.com
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