Auckland Astronomical Society Inc

Practical Astronomy February - an Introduction to Astrophotography
2026-02-02 20:00 - 21:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
This talk will cover the basics of Astrophotography including, composition, equipment and processing.
Note the date swap with the February Introduction to Astronomy talk

2026 Beatrice Hill-Tinsley Lecture Series - Astronomy vs. the Billionaire Space Race
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:30 | University of Auckland – Physics Lecture Theatre 1, PLT1/303-G20, Science Centre, 38 Princes St, Auckland, New Zealand
The AAS, in conjunction with the University of Auckland are hosting one of the 2026 Beactrice Hill-Tinsley lecture series. Entry is free but please book to ensure your seat:
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/astronomy-vs-the-billionaire-space-race-tickets-1979945182339?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Emerging astronomers - Scavenger hunt & quiz
2026-02-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
Are you ready for a recap of last year’s topics?
This month, we’re launching a scavenger hunt based on the topics we tackled last year.
Let’s work together, solve cosmic clues, and race the clock.
After that, be sure to bring your devices for a Kahoot.There’s something for the top team!
If you are joining us, please bring your devices and if you can, download Goosechase as we will be using Goosechase for our session.
Hope to see you there!

Monthy Meeting February - From Mars with Love: Postcards from 50 Years of Exploring The Red Planet
2026-02-09 20:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
This meeting will be screening a Gresham College Lecture with Professor Chris Lintott
During the fifty years since the launch of the Viking spacecraft to Mars, our view of the red planet has changed from hostile desert to a world which was once covered in water, and which may just possibly sustain life. Lavishly illustrated with the latest images from the fleet of spacecraft that have explored our neighbour, this lecture considers how Mars’ fate, like that of Earth, was set in the Solar System’s first billion years, and the chaotic environment the process of planet formation produced.
This lecture was recorded by Chris Lintott on the 3rd of December 2025 at Conway Hall, London.
Professor Chris Lintott is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, and a Research Fellow at New College. Having been educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge and University College London, his research now ranges from understanding how galaxies form and evolve, to using machine learning to find the most unusual things in the Universe, to predicting the properties of visiting interstellar asteroids. He was the founder of the Zooniverse citizen science platform, which provides opportunities for more than two million online volunteers to contribute to scientific research, and which was the topic of his first book, ‘The Crowd and the Cosmos’. His latest book is ‘Our Accidental Universe’. Professor Lintott is best known for presenting the BBC’s long-running Sky at Night program, and as an accomplished lecturer. Away from work, he cooks, suffers through being a fan of Torquay United and Somerset cricket, and spends time with a rescued lurcher, Mr Max.

Introduction to Astronomy February 2026
2026-02-16 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Astronaut Radiation Exposure
How safe is deep-space travel?
This month, humans are returning to the Moon for the first time since 1972. NASA’s Artemis II mission is sending four astronauts as a stepping stone towards a Moon base and, eventually, Mars by 2030 and 2040, respectively. Radiation exposure is a major challenge to astronauts. How much radiation will Moon- and Mars-bound astronauts be exposed to, including traversing Earth’s Van Allen Belts, and what is their risk of radiation-related illness or diseases from such journeys?
Come along for an in-depth discussion on what radiation is, where it comes from, how it affects the body, and how much is considered acceptable. Finally, we discuss current and future countermeasures, including data from the 2022 Artemis I mission. Learn about NASA’s current research that benefits astronauts, cancer patients, and society in general. All attendees receive a comprehensive multi-page handout.
See you all there!

Special General Meeting - New Constitution
2026-02-23 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
For the purpose of reregistering the Society under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
What is happening?
In 2022 the Government passed a law that changes the way incorporated societies like ours work and are structured. Each society is required to update their constitution to include language mandated by the Act, and reregister by 5th April 2026 in order to remain on the register.
What has changed?
Where possible, the proposed Constitution (including our purpose, AGM timing, quorum size, and overall structure) has been kept the same as our current Rules. Key changes include a clearer process for dispute resolution, more flexible ways to participate in General Meetings, clearer governance and transparency requirements, and a number of smaller clarifications particularly regarding notice periods. As a result of the requirements of the Act, the new proposed Constitution has many more clauses than our current Rules. In addition, the Regulations formulated by Council in 2022 are being adopted as Bylaws of the Society under the Act.
How have the changes been made?
A subcommittee of Council has met several times to combine our existing Rules with the changes required by the Act. This has been an exhaustive process requiring much deliberation. A draft Constitution was presented to Council in late 2025 for review, and many amendments were made over several rounds of revision. Council has approved Version 10 of the Constitution as suitable to be brought to the Society membership for ratification.
What is needed from me?
Please read the documents! Though Council has approved the version of the Constitution to be presented at the SGM, it is not binding until formally approved by the Society membership. We want you to be well informed on what is changing, so that any questions or concerns you may have can be addressed. It’s also possible that you have never heard of the Society Regulations (called Bylaws under the new Act), in which case a review is highly recommended. A link to the meeting agenda and documents has been sent to all members via email
Please come to the SGM! This is a very significant meeting for the Society, as we must reregister by 5th April 2026 to remain on the register, so high attendance is critical to achieve the required quorum to pass the necessary motions. If the new Constitution is not passed at the SGM, it will put a lot of pressure on us to meet the April deadline. If there are any amendments still to be made, the earlier the better.
The following motions are to be put at the SGM:
That the Auckland Astronomical Society be reregistered under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
That the document ‘AAS Constitution Version 10 – 24Jan26’ be ratified as the new Constitution.
That the existing Council members be the Officers of the Society under the Act.
That the submission of the contact details of the current President, Vice-President and Treasurer as the AAS contact persons be approved.
That the document ‘AAS Bylaws – 28 January 2026’ be approved as the Bylaws of the new Constitution.
No other business will be transacted at the meeting.
Hope to see you there.
Mitchell Clark
AAS President

Introduction to Astronomy March 2026
2026-03-02 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Gamma Ray Bursts
by guest speaker Dr Nick Odom
Gamma ray bursts were discovered serendipitously in the 1960s. They remained a mystery for many years. Since 1997, satellite technology has enabled their nature to be better understood, thereby providing insight into the most distant and energetic explosions in the universe. Come along and learn about these fascinating events and what they tell us about the Universe.
This meeting will also be live-streamed on the AAS YouTube channel
See you all there!

Monthly Meeting March 2026 - How can AI help us find exploding stars and Hungry Black Holes?
2026-03-09 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
Dr Heloise Stevance
Modern sky surveys can image the entire sky every night. In doing so, they discover new cosmic explosions – from stars collapsing to stars being devoured by black holes. But the sky is vast and the alerts are many – far too many for humans to keep up with. When the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) begins in 2026, millions of nightly discoveries will flood astronomers. Partnering with experts in sky surveys and applied machine learning, I am developing a Virtual Research Assistant that harnesses A.I. to help experts find the cosmic explosions that made the space dust we come from.
Dr Stevance is a Schmidt AI in Science Fellow at the University of Oxford working with international sky surveys (ATLAS, Vera Rubin) to find extragalactic transients (supernovae, tidal disruption events). She works at the interface between Astronomy and AI, developing “Virtual Research Assistants” to help astronomers find the needles in the cosmic hay stacks. She is an award winning science communicator and early career astrophysicist (Beatrice Tinsley Lecture Prize 2021, Caroline Hearschel Prize 2024), and her talk will be an updated version of her Caroline Herschel Prize Lecture.

Practical Astronomy March - The Autumn Night Sky
2026-03-16 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
This will be one of our seasonal Planetarium sessions. We will use the Planetarium to explore the Autumn Night Sky. This is a great way to improve your knowledge of the Autumn constellations and learn about some of the deep sky objects to be found in them.

Northern Star Party – April 17th to April 19th 2026
2026-04-17 16:30 - 2026-04-19 11:00
Dark Sky Weekend
We are excited to announce the dates for the Northern Star Party for 2026 to held at Waharau Regional Park and hosted by the Auckland Astronomical Society. We are holding the event over the nights of Friday 18th and Saturday 18th of April. Packing up on the morning of Sunday the 19th.
It will be a weekend of practical astronomy and dark sky observing. It is great opportunity to spend a weekend viewing the sky from a dark site, on Moonless nights, though a range of different telescopes. Bring your telescope or binoculars, but if you don’t have any there will be plenty there for you to look through. Also the society has telescopes available for hire though the hire will have to be set up prior to the camp. Refer to the club for further details.

During the day on Saturday, there will be a full program of practical astronomy – how to use equipment and various types of telescopes, new equipment demonstrations and an astrophotography workshop.
Films will be shown in the early evening on Friday and if appropriate on Saturday.

Prices
Members
Non-members

Early Bird paid by 1st October
$30
$40

Late bookings
$50
$60

No one night price.
To book, please log into Hello Club……….Click here for link.
From the Hello Club page, you will need to log in.
Program:
Friday: Viewing, movie (TBC)
Saturday:
Workshops: Midday to 4:30 pm.
Solar Viewing during the day on Saturday.

Time
Activity
Details

13:00 – 14:00
TBC
TBC

14:30 – 15:00
Practical Astronomy
TBC

16:30 – 18:00
Telescope trail
Telescope trail

For the full information pack, click here.
