Wellington Astronomical Society
WAS www.was.org.nz

Wellington Astronomical Society
WAS www.was.org.nz sharing and caring.. aroha for the sky..

 

WAS Events

Meetings are held at Science House at 7:30pm, on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, contact Ross Powell, ph. 389 9765, email rpowell@astronomy.wellington.net.nz .

The WAS talk on Wednesday July 11th at 7.30pm is by TBA.

WAS Event History

Star Parties...

ISAN REPORT

Total number of amateur astronomers: 1100 +
Total number of telescopes involved: 475+
Total number of viewing guests: 25,000+
Number of countries represented: 28

An Astronomy in Wellington event 19th May, 5 events were held in NZ. Wellington was the first of the first official observers!! we created a record!!

7 badges arrived from the US

 

International Sidewalk Astronomy Night in Courtenay Place
2pm til 11pm Saturday

more

Ray Ching, Son of WAS member Paul Moss, running the stand downtown in CourtenayPlace. Click pic or here to go to the images and story.

A second Wellington event was held on Wrights Hill, Karori from midnight on to 2am Sunday morn,

more IN-Camera images here . The cloud and rain prevented the telescope viewing, but we had fun anyway.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of people wandering along Courtenay Place were exposed to the concept of Dark Sky Taonga, some saw Jupiter and it's 4 moons. Many shared their love for the environment. more

 

• Message from Donna
  at Sidewalk Astronomers.
• Totals will be updated as we get them.
  
  We still haven't heard from a lot of participants or we've had cryptic messages like "went great, had several scopes out and large crowds" ??
  
  Total number of amateur astronomers: 1100 +
  Total number of telescopes involved: 475+
  Total number of viewing guests: 25,000+
  Number of countries represented: 28
  Number of U.S. states represented: 22

  Many thanks to George Willis for taking over and posting/following up on all the results.

• Sidewalk Astronomers Website
• International Sidewalk Astronomy Night website
  
• 

*Read and Post a Blog about International Astronomy Night here

 

 

Sun Halo - International Astronomy Day April 21st 2007 by Paul Moss

Sun Halo - International Astronomy Day April 21st 2007 by Paul Moss
NOT copyright, free use.

International Astronomy Day - The pics above represent the only activity that I know of on that day, this year. At least the sky turned on an astro treat for my solo star party on the'sidewalk' (my driveway) comment by paul moss.

 

 

Gallery***** Comet McNaught Wellington Images (+SUNSET PICS)

Comet Hunting Success!!! Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1)

- pic by George Moutzouris - more Wellington pics here
- more pics at NASA Spaceweather.com here

- pic by Paul Moss

one such passion is astro web promotion and research..
look at our traffic here: WAS webtraffic compare this to
another astronomy website here: Sharing Space webtraffic
Celebrate how many people get to see cool astro stuff
on the web!!!

 

 

==========================================

expired notices (for your info)

The WAS talk on Wednesday June 13 at 7.30pm is by Gordon Hudson. He will continue his talk from last month about telescopes and his observatory.

ref: sourced from the Carter Observatory Newsletter here

.....

• 7:25pm @ Science House (Royal Society Buildings), Turnbull Street 
  

• Subject: Telescopes 
  

• Speaker: Gordon Hudson 
  

• In this talk about Telescopes, find out the basis on telescopes from beginners to advanced. Find out how to use a telescope and what to look for if your considering buying a telescope. Find out tips of what to look for in the night sky.

• Gordon has been Involved with telescopes for a number of years and will be answering questions after the Talk 

Gordon Hudson at the Ruth Crisp telescope, (a Boller and Chivens 17 inch reflector) after refurbishing the astrograph. Note the survival blanket keeping the main telescope cool for night use, while testing the astrograph on the sun. (with a mylar filter)

click for larger image, photos by Paul Moss NOT copyright, free use.

.........

• Galactic Circle
• Kids Space and Astronomy Club

 

The Galactic Circle Kids Space and Astronomy Club

The Galactic Circle Space and Astronomy Club for Kids, meets at Carter Observatory. For 6 – 13 year olds the meeting is on the third Wednesday of the month, between 4.30pm and 6pm.

The Galactic Circle meeting on June 20 will be on Mid Winter and Matariki

As Carter Observatory will be undergoing renovations and refurbishments, these meeting will probably be held at the scout hall near Carter. However at this stage it is unsure when the scout hall will be available so it would be wise to check the date and location of the meeting.

For more details,
contact Marilyn Head at (04) 389 0882 (w),
email marilyn@actrix.gen.nz
or web www.galaxy.wellington.net.nz .

ref: sourced from the Carter Observatory Newsletter here

• Pauatahanui Star Party will be held on Saturday May 26th. Observing will commence after dark. The Phone number at Pauatahanui is 021-102-6056.

 

• The Galactic Circle Kids Space and Astronomy Club galactic circle

Wednesday 16th May

• Galactic Circle will be on the 16th May between 4.30 and 5.45pm and will be held at the Kelburn Scout Hall due to the closure of Carter Observatory for redevelopment.
  The group is coordinated by Marilyn Head
  ph 389-0882 email marilyn@actrix.co.nz.
  We look forward to seeing you all there.
• "Kia ora,
  Don’t forget Galactic circle is meeting in the Scout Hall just along from the Carter Observatory Wednesday 4.30 – 5.45. (go to the CO, and follow the road over the rise (don’t go up the path to the Thomas King Observatory) and you will see the scout hall on the right. Or walk up from the back entrance which I think is Rawhiti terrace)

  We’ll be looking at black holes – don’t fall into one on the way!!
  Keep looking up
  Marilyn and John"

 

• The Gifford Observatory star party is being held on Saturday 12th May.
  The contact person is Marilyn Head ph 389-0882
  email marilyn@actrix.co.nz
  The phone number at the Gifford is 021 450-882

 

 

Sun Halo - International Astronomy Day April 21st 2007 by Paul Moss

Sun Halo - International Astronomy Day April 21st 2007 by Paul Moss
NOT copyright, free use.

International Astronomy Day - The pics above represent the only activity that I know of on that day, this year. At least the sky turned on an astro treat for my solo star party on the'sidewalk' (my driveway) comment by paul moss.

 

WAS May Meeting

• Wednesday the 9th of May 
  7:25pm @ Science House (Royal Society Buildings), Turnbull Street 
  

• Subject: Telescopes 
  

• Speaker: Gordon Hudson 
  

• In this talk about Telescopes, find out the basis on telescopes from beginners to advanced. Find out how to use a telescope and what to look for if your considering buying a telescope. Find out tips of what to look for in the night sky.

• Gordon has been Involved with telescopes for a number of years and will be answering questions after the Talk 

 

 

• Spaceflight Meeting
• 
  Wednesday the 18th of April
• 
  Details to be announced by Dave Maclennan
  7:20pm @ Carter Observatory
  http://www.nzspace.org.nz/meetings.htm
•  

• Future Star Parties

   

  Gifford Star Party - 

    
  Gifford : The Gifford Observatory star party is being held on WEDNESDAY 18th April from 7-9pm not Saturday.
  The contact person is Peter Graham
  email peterbg@attglobal.net.
  The phone number at the Gifford is 021 450-882

   

  Organizer Peter Graham peterbg@attglobal.net.
  

   

• Events @ Carter

   

  Astronomy Camp

  Carter Observatory will be running its first Astronomy Camp, giving 13-17 yr old a unique opportunity to live the life of an Astronomer!

  The Camp will allow students to participate in a research project, to learn how to use a telescope, identify important and interesting features of the night sky, find out what it would take to become an Astronaut, and a range of other activities.

  The camp will be held on April 16-20. There are limited places available, and we can help qualifying students to obtain funding. Costs to the successful applicants would simply be the travel to and from Wellington at the beginning and end of the camp.

  To Qualify: Send a 1000 word essay on the topic of ‘Why is Astronomy Important’ to:
  Astronomy Camp Applications
  Carter Observatory
  PO Box 2909
  Wellington

  Or email tamsyn@carterobservatory.org

   

  Stargazers Course

  Ever wondered about the stars you can see on dark, clear nights? Have you ever wanted to know their names, and find out how they work?

  Starting on March 27, we have our newest 'Stargazers' 5-week course. You will finish the course knowing the names of most of the main constellations, when and how is best to see them, how they differ around the world, and much more.

  For further information and bookings, catch Tamsyn at tamsyn@carterobservatory.org or call (04) 472 8167.

   

   

• Galactic Circle

The Galactic Circle Kids Space and Astronomy Club

Galactic Circle : This will be our final meeting at Carter Observatory until September. Both Marilyn and John will be away so Harry and Anna will be taking you through the planetarium. They will be looking at the Winter Constellations and exploring some of the wonders of the universe! The May meeting will be at the Kelburn Scout Hall

• check out UPSTART magazine

 

Events collated by Edwin Rod
http://www.screenrevolution.co.nz/laintal/

 

Astronomers LOVE what they do, and that's a wide range of activities; often overlapping passions such as observing, study, sharing, photography, education, writing, entertaining, music, geology, environmentalism, research, fantasy, promotion, and the sheer wonder at it all!!!

Gallery***** Comet McNaught Wellington Images (+SUNSET PICS)

Comet Hunting Success!!! Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1)

- pic by George Moutzouris - more Wellington pics here
- more pics at NASA Spaceweather.com here

- pic by Paul Moss

one such passion is astro web promotion and research..
look at our traffic here: WAS webtraffic compare this to
another astronomy website here: Sharing Space webtraffic
Celebrate how many people get to see cool astro stuff
on the web!!!

 

 

WAS gallery pages - coronae, halos, sun halos, sunsets, sun.. transits.. New - Kiwi Astro personalities. Graham Loftus.. Tony Dodson. - Telescopes Tony Dodson Telescope. WAS member pages - submit yours now.. WAS solar viewing equipment pages - submit your equipment details now..

SUNSETS!!!Sunsets December 2006

Astronomy Images on the South Coast of Wellington
New Zealand here - Images of the south coast here

Astronomy Book by the late Tony Dodson - How to build a Telescope email us to secure your copy of this out of print book by a Wellington Astronomer. more

More Images: sun halos1 sun halos2 (december) , wave clouds, sunrises, sunsets, clouds in Wellington. here.. SUNSETS!!!Sunsets December 2006 sun prominences

 

Fun & Observing - Three Scapes #3
Date to be advised here, any ideas?
suggest June 16th 8:30pm til late
wanna help? cook sausages? run a telescope?
point out astro objects to the public?
hand out membership applications?

#3 'Papatuanuku .....' dates to be advised...

#2 ' Tangaroa Atea' - ' The Ocean of the Heavens'

#1 'Taatai Arorangi' - The biggest star party in Wellington in 2006

details here: Princess Bay / Te Rae Kai Hau Point

All information contact
Paul Moss 021 440 443 or 233 9889
Email kaitiaki@music . gen . nz (type it in without spaces)