Matariki Morning Viewings Cancelled This Year

Unfortunately, due to poor weather, we are cancelling all of our morning Matariki viewings this year - Friday 20th and Saturday  21st (the backup morning). Looking at the forecast, it seems unlikely we’ll be able to see much on either morning, so we hope for good weather in 2026.

The evening lecture has now been moved to Wednesday, July 2nd (our July public night), starting at 7:30 pm. The lecture is on the history and astronomy of Matariki and will be delivered by Richard Croy (committee member of the Hamilton Astronomical Society).

For more details about our public nights, including entry fees, please click here.

Monthly Members’ Night - second Wednesday of each month except January.

Tonight - A presentation, followed by informal chat over tea or coffee. Telescope viewing possible afterwards depending on weather and availablilty of scope operators.

Tonight’s Talk

The Search for Earth 2.0
Origins, Conditions & Signatures of Life

Speaker: Chris Benton (from Auckland Astronomical Society)

In this follow-up lecture on exoplanets, Chris Benton will focus on the exciting quest for extraterrestrial life on planets beyond our Solar System. We will discuss what life is, what conditions life requires, and how and where life may have started and evolved on Earth before reviewing what types of exoplanets could potentially harbour life and the biosignatures of life in their atmospheres. Come along and join in discussing these and other stimulating questions of astrobiology!

Special Observing Night for Members – CANCELLED.

Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions, we’ve had to cancel tonight’s member’s observing night (Monday, 9th June).

Thank you to everyone who was keen to attend — we’ll look to reschedule when conditions improve.

We are excited to annouce that Professor Rene Breton will present “Cosmic Fireworks” to the members. Please check your emails for information about this event (date, time and location).

“Cosmic Fireworks”

Even though most objects in our Universe – planets, stars, galaxies, etc. – evolve over millions if not billions of years, space is populated with bright phenomena which can take place on very fast time scales, ranging from months all the way down to milliseconds. This talk will explore the world of astronomical transients, which include the cataclysmic supernovae and intriguing fast radio bursts. It will describe how technology enabling the study of time-variable phenomena is reshaping our understanding of the Universe.

2025 Beatrice Hill Tinsley Lecture, with Professor Anna Scaife

Monday, 26 May, starting at 7:30 pm, at the University of Waikato.

How Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we do astronomy -
and why that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Entry is open to everyone and is FREE; however, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. If you’re interested in attending or would like more information,

please click here to learn more and register your seat(s).

Monthly Members’ Night - second Wednesday of each month except January.

Tonight - A presentation, followed by informal chat over tea or coffee. Telescope viewing possible afterwards depending on weather and availablilty of scope operators.

Tonight’s Talk

The Search for Earth 2.0
Part 1: Discovering Exoplanets

Speaker: Chris Benton (from Auckland Astronomical Society)

With over 5,000 planets beyond our Solar System discovered to date, astronomers are unveiling a vast array of “other worlds.” Chris will delve into the methods used to detect these planets, from the transit method to direct imaging, and explore how scientists gather data on their size, composition, and potential for supporting life. He will also discuss the concept of “Earth 2.0” – the search for exoplanets that closely resemble our home planet and could potentially support life. We look forward to seeing you all there for this informative and stimulating discussion.