Australian Sky & Telescope - May 2018

74 AUSTRALIAN SKY & TELESCOPE May | June 2018

NIGHT LIFE by AuthorName

Astronomy tourism

is looking up

A new astronomy centre will help share the wonder of the night sky.

N

ew Zealand is to get a new,

NZ$10 million, 1,300-square-

metre Astronomy Centre,

near Takapo ̄ /Lake Tekapo on the

South Island. A joint venture between

the highly successful Earth & Sky

astronomy tourism operation and Nga ̄ i

Tahu Tourism, the Centre will house a

restored, 125-year-old, 46-cm telescope

(known as the Brashear Telescope), plus

interactive displays, a restaurant, bar

and retail outlet.

At a traditional blessing ceremony

near the site in March, Nga ̄ i Tahu

Tourism chief executive Quinton Hall

said “We want our visitors to walk away

in awe of the universe, enthralled about

scientific discoveries and astonished by

the seamless connection between science

and our local Nga ̄ i Tahu traditions”.

“The nature of this facility, with its

working telescopes and the exciting

scientific research being undertaken

by the University of Canterbury and

Nagoya University, combined with the

depth of Nga ̄ i Tahu star lore traditions

means the proposed experience offers a

really unique educational opportunity

for all visitors,” he added.

Earth & Sky was established in 2004

by Graeme Murray and Hide Ozawa,

and conducts astronomy tours at nearby

Mt John Observatory. The Ministry of

Business, Innovation and Employment

has provided NZ$3m for the Centre,

with the other NZ$7m to be contributed

by the joint venture.

“The dome will clearly identify the

building and highlight the importance

of dark sky reserve tourism to the

town,” said Murray. “It’s a clear visual

signal that Takapo ̄ is one of the premier

locations on the planet to view the

night sky.”

RASNZ Conference

May 4–6

New Zealand’s annual astro gathering,

this year to be held in Dunedin.

rasnz.org.nz/groups-news-events/conf-

next

South Pacific Star Party

May 10–13

Annual star party of the Astronomical

Society of NSW.

asnsw.com/spsp

Asteroid Day

June 30

A global day of education to help protect

Earth from asteroids.

asteroidday.org

Star Stuff II

July 7–8

A weekend of astronomy fun on NSW’s

north coast.

starstuff.com.au

National Science Week

August 11–19

Lots of astro events around the nation.

Keep visiting the website for the latest

info.

scienceweek.net.au

Public viewing nights

August 17–18

Presented by the Sutherland Astronomical

Society at its Green Point Observatory in

Sydney’s southern suburbs.

sasi.net.au

Siding Spring StarFest

September 28–30

Public lectures, telescope tours and family

activities at Coonabarabran, NSW.

starfest.org.au

International Observe the

Moon Night

October 28

An annual worldwide event that

encourages observation and

understanding of our Moon.

lpi.usra.edu/observe_the_moon_night/

VicSouth 2018

November 2–6

Annual week of astronomy under very

dark rural Victorian skies.

vicsouth.info/vicsouth.htm

WHAT’S UP?

Do you have an event or activity coming up?

Email us at [email protected]

Artist’s impressions of the new NZ$10m

Astronomy Centre for Lake Tekapo.