Astronomy – Star gazing journeys

Once you have started exploring the night sky, you begin to realise that your backyard is not always the best place to easily view some of the night wonders.

Although you can view the Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae globular clusters with binoculars, there is something special about seeing these with the naked eye. For that we need a dark location with minimal light pollution.

Hibiscus Coast residents are pretty lucky as we do not have to travel far to find some of these good viewing spots. For those on the peninsula, you may want to head out to Shakespear Regional Park for some stunning views of the Milky Way. If you live out towards Orewa, you can take a trip up to Wenderholm Regional Park, or further up to Mahurangi. Any of these locations would be excellent viewing spots on a clear night.

For the more adventurous, you may consider going to Great Barrier Island which has now been designated as a Dark Sky Sanctuary. Great Barrier Island has some of the most spectacular night skies anywhere in New Zealand, due to the small, dedicated population who are preserving this heritage. On the island, you can join a Dark Sky Tour, a guided star gazing evening with one of their Dark Sky Ambassadors. You can find more info at www.greatbarrier.co.nz/great-skies/

Heading down towards the bottom of the North Island, a must-see place is Stonehenge Aotearoa. The henge was built by members of The Phoenix Astronomy Society near Carterton, Wairarapa and is a modern, full-scale, working adaptation of the Stonehenge ruins on the Salisbury Plain of England. Not only do you get to see Stonehenge by day, along with the guided tour, but you also get to experience the awesome night skies of the Wairarapa. They too are looking to get Dark Sky Sanctuary status. For more information, take a look at: www.stonehenge-aotearoa.co.nz/

Another must-do astronomy destination can be found in the Mackenzie Region of the South Island. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is a large area where light pollution is strictly controlled. It is also the home to the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory. They have six telescopes including the country’s largest which can observe 50 million stars each night. It is New Zealand’s premier astronomical research centre. From this Dark Sky Reserve, you are also able to see the Southern Lights, if conditions are good. For more information on this Dark Sky Sanctuary, take a look at: mackenzienz.com/scenic-highlights/dark-sky-reserve/

In New Zealand we are lucky to have many places dark enough to study the night skies. Whether you are just looking for a short evening observation, or a longer holiday away, there are plenty of destinations to view the stars from.

Coming up next month: June is the month to spot Mercury and Mars. They will be very close together on June 18 in the dusk sky. Many people never get to see Mercury, so this may be a good time to look for it! Look for red Mars just after sunset and Mercury will be right next to it.

The Hibiscus Coast Astronomical Society meets every first and third Thursday of the month at the Faithfull Funeral Services Hall, 35 Red Beach Road at 7.30pm. All are welcome.