Auckland Astronomical Society Inc

Astrophotography Group - Restart
2024-02-19 19:00 - 20:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
The Initial theme for 2024 will be Astrophotography without tracking.

Guided vs Unguided astrophotography
The modern CMOS Sensor – Hubble in your hand
What you will need – a Smartphone, and a mount of some sort

Settings – ISO and Exposure
Mounting in terms of tripod
Practicing in daylight

Youtube video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mdwldZNexc
The DSLR in 2024

Mount & Tripod
DSLR
Technique

Youtube video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtPNyk76Stg
Summary

Monthly Meeting February - 'Oumuamua: Our first interstellar visitor
2024-02-12 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
This month we will be screening a Gresham College video lecture presented by AAS Honorary Member Professor Chris Lintott.
In 2017, the Solar System was visited by an object named ‘Oumuamua, which came from another star system. The unusual properties of this first interstellar visitor led some to suggest it may be an alien spacecraft – but the truth is that its oddness is already teaching us lessons about how solar systems form. This lecture also considers the prospects of discovering more unusual objects in the Solar System and what we might do about asteroids that threaten the Earth. This lecture was recorded by Professor Chris Lintott on 24th January 2024 at Barnard’s Inn Hall, London. Chris is Gresham Professor of Astronomy. He is also a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford and a Research Fellow at New College. The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/o…
The video lecture will be followed by supper.

Young Astronomers February
2024-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
This month’s meeting is about FAQs in astronomy. It will cover all sizzling astronomy questions in a fun way. You will also have the opportunity to ask Alex questions and he will answer them in great detail.

At the very end of the lesson, Alex will ask you for your favourite word in astronomy and that will determine the theme of the year.

Introduction to Astronomy February 2024
2024-02-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
We start the new year off reflecting on the topics covered over 2023 and do some revision in the form of a fun-filled quiz. Most importantly, there are loads of yummy chocolates to win!
The quiz is designed for those who attended all, some or none of the talks during the year, so there’s no excuse to miss out! Come along and have loads of fun reviewing the main points of our monthly sessions.
Eight multiple-choice questions, each designed to lead into a brief teaching discussion, will include the topics: Infant Stars, The Solar System, Our Place in the Universe and The Miky Way Galaxy.
We look forward to seeing you all there, ready for chocolate!
This meeting will also be live-streamed on the AAS YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/c/AucklandAstronomicalSociety
Best regards, the AAS Team

Practical Astronomy December -The Summer Night Sky
2023-12-18 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This month will be a planetarium session where we will review the constellations and deep sky objects of the Summer Night Sky.
This meeting will be the final AAS meeting of 2023. We will resume with Introduction to Astronomy on the first Monday of February 2024

Monthly Meeting December - The Peril and Profit of Near-Earth Objects
2023-12-11 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This Month we will be screening a recent Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture
Dr. Robert Jedicke (U of Hawaii)
Near-Earth objects present both an existential threat to human civilization and an extraordinary opportunity to help our exploration and expansion across the solar system. Dr. Jedicke explains that the risk of a sudden, civilization-altering collision with an asteroid or comet has markedly diminished in recent decades — due to diligent astronomical surveys — but a significant level of danger persists. At the same time, remarkable strides have been made in advancing technologies that pave the way for a new vision of space exploration – one that involves missions and outposts within the inner solar system fueled by resources extracted from near-Earth asteroids. These objects contain exploitable extraterrestrial resources delivered free to the inner solar system, and they have been naturally preprocessed into objects the ideal size for industrial operations.
Robert Jedicke obtained his Ph.D. in experimental particle physics from the University of Toronto and held post-doctoral positions at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and at the University of Arizona’s Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. At the University of Hawai`i’s Institute for Astronomy for the last 20 years, he managed the development of the Moving Object Processing System for the Pan-STARRS telescope on Maui.

The AAS has resumed holding supper after the monthly Society Meeting! Join us for snacks and beverages in the Stardome exhibit room following the lecture. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other Society members.

Young Astronomers Group December
2023-12-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This month’s meeting will be very collaborative and fun! We will do a quiz covering this year’s topic. So form up a team and be the best team of the year! The best team gets to discuss with the fellow teammates and come up with one object which I will use a very powerful online telescope! The image will blow your mind!
Regards
Alex

Introduction to Astronomy December 2023
2023-12-04 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Black Holes and Dark Energy

If you’re interested in black holes and dark energy, then this talk is definitely for you!
A recent paper gained widespread attention, suggesting that black holes are the source of dark energy. They also presented observational evidence to support their proposal. In this talk, our guest speaker, Sohan Ghodla, summarises work at Auckland University, examining the additional observational consequences that would arise if this claim were true.
Come along and see how the claim results in significant inconsistency with pre-existing astrophysical observations.
Best regards,
The AAS Team.

Film Night November
2023-11-27 08:00 - 17:00
We are running two films tonight
We look forwards to seeing you there.

NASA’s Stunning Discoveries on Jupiter’s Largest Moons Our Solar System’s Moons
A deep dive into the four Galilean moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto

Voyager 1 Has Made “Impossible” Discovery after 45 Years in Space
Even after 45 years, this remarkable spacecraft along with Voyager 2, continues to provide scientists with updated insights about space.

Practical Astronomy November - Getting Started with Astrophotography
2023-11-20 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This month will be a basic introduction of the various types of astrophotography, the equipment used and associated issues. We will be discussing, telescopes, lenses, mounts, cameras and a brief introduction to some of the software used for acquiring and processing images.

Monthly Meeting November - Dark Skies Down Under – Australian astronomy in the 2020s
2023-11-13 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Dark Skies Down Under – Australian astronomy in the 2020s

Australia’s vantage point on the Universe gives its astronomers several advantages in the pursuit of their science. One of the most radio-quiet locations on the planet is within our shores, and optical (visible light) astronomers currently have access to world-leading facilities both at home and overseas. But a new generation of telescopes is now being built, and this fully illustrated talk explains Australia’s involvement in these exciting projects, and the kinds of discoveries that might follow.
Professor Fred Watson AM has been the Australian Government’s Astronomer-at-Large since 2018. He is a graduate of the universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and worked at both of Britain’s Royal Observatories before joining the Australian Astronomical Observatory as Astronomer-in-Charge in 1995. Recognised internationally for pioneering the use of fibre optics in astronomy during the 1980s, Fred is best known today for his radio and TV broadcasts, books, music, dark-sky advocacy and co-hosting the Space Nuts podcast. A unique claim to fame is that he is the only Australian astronomer to have received an APRA classical music award. Fred is an adjunct professor in several Australian universities, and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 for service to astronomy. He has been a Questacon Mind-in-Residence since 2020, and, in 2022, received an honorary D.Sc. from Macquarie University. He also has an asteroid named after him (5691 Fredwatson), but says that if it hits the Earth, it won’t be his fault.
The meeting will be followed with supper.

Young Astronomers November - Planetary Moons
2023-11-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This month’s meeting will be based on planetary moons. This will involve learning some really famous moons and their prominent features such as the methane oceans of Titan and the active surface of Io. Also the session will be followed up by colliding and smashing planets using the universe sandbox.

2023 Burbidge Dinner
2023-11-10 18:30 - 22:00 | Sorrento In the Park, Cornwall Park, Auckland, New Zealand
This year’s Burbidge Dinner will be held on Friday 10 November at The Sorrento in Cornwall Park, just up the hill from Stardome. This year’s guest speaker is Professor Fred Watson and he will be talking about the James Webb Space Telescope.
Fred is Australia’s first Astronomer-at-Large in the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, having worked at both of Britain’s Royal Observatories before joining the Australian Astronomical Observatory as Astronomer-in-Charge in 1995.
Recognised internationally for helping to pioneer the use of fibre optics in astronomy during the 1980s, Fred is best known today for his award-winning radio and TV broadcasts, books, music, dark-sky advocacy and co-hosting the Space Nuts podcast.
Fred has adjunct professorships at Macquarie University and the Universities of New South Wales, Sydney, Western Sydney, Southern Queensland and Wollongong. In 2003,he received the David Allen Prize for communicating astronomy to the public, and in 2006 was the winner of the Australian Government Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science. In January 2010, Fred was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to astronomy, particularly the promotion and popularisation of space science through public outreach.
Fred’s books include “Stargazer – the Life and Times of the Telescope”, “Why is Uranus Upside Down? – and Other Questions About the Universe” (which won the 2008 Queensland Premier’s Literary Prize for Science Writing) and “Star-Craving Mad – Tales from a Travelling Astronomer”, featuring highlights from his science tours around the world. His most recent books are “Cosmic Chronicles – a user’s guide to the Universe”, and “Spacewarp – Doomsday Comets and other Cosmic Catastrophes”, aimed at the 10+ age group.
Fred has an asteroid named after him (5691 Fredwatson), but says that if it hits the Earth, it won’t be his fault.
JAMES WEBB
Webb’s new window on the Universe
After decades of planning and construction, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is now fully operational. Its first science images made global headlines with their breathtaking clarity and depth when they were released last year. They show cosmic detail that was only hinted at by the Webb’s smaller cousin, the ageing Hubble Space Telescope, and foretell a game-changing career of discovery for the new instrument. In this entertaining and copiously illustrated talk, Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large describes the Webb, its images, its mission and some of its discoveries.
In addition to Fred’s presentation, the Burbidge Dinner will host the awards for the 2023 New Zealand Astrophotography Competition.
Tickets can be ordered by sending an email to Niven Brown at events@astronomy.org.nz
Earlybird Members Price: $65.00 for payments received prior to 27 October 2023.
Earlybird Non-members Price: $70:00 for payments received prior to 27 October 2023.
Prices after 27 October are $70.00 and $75.00 for Members and Non-members, respectively.

Introduction to Astronomy November 2023
2023-11-06 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
What is the Universe made of?
Guest Speaker: Jonathan Park
The main components of our Universe have been identified as ordinary matter, radiation, dark matter, and dark energy. Matter is the atoms of which everything we see is made, while radiation includes starlight and the cosmic microwave background in the universe. Dark matter is an invisible matter identified from many observations, including the speed at which stars orbit in spiral galaxies. Dark energy is the best explanation for why the expansion of the universe is speeding up rather than slowing down. In this talk, we learn about each of these. We will look at the evidence for dark matter and dark energy, what they might be, and how they affect the geometry and expansion of the universe.
This is an introduction to the topic, so it should be suitable for everyone, but we can go into more detail during the questions and answers after the talk for anyone who wants to know a little bit more.

Film Night October
2023-10-23 20:00 - 21:30 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
We are running two films tonight
The first film is the second part of a 2 part film that we ran in August.
The second film is TBC
We look forwards to seeing you there.

Mysteries of the Universe | Space Documentary
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars shimmer and galaxies collide, lies a tapestry of mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Get ready to be captivated by the wonders and the biggest mysteries that lie beyond our reach, awaiting discovery in the depths of the universe in this 4K space documentary.
Topics covered in Part 2
3. Vanishing of Planet Dagon (Fomalhaut b)
4. Pioneer Anomaly

Topics covered previously in Part 1
1. Olber’s Paradox (Why is space black?)
2. First Contact

Practical Astronomy October - Astronomical Nomenclature
2023-10-16 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
We will be discussing the various Astronomical Catalogues commonly encountered by amateur astronomers and the IAU naming schemes for Astronomical Objects. Wel will start the talk with a short review of the sky this month.

Monthly Meeting October - The Birth and Death of Worlds.
2023-10-09 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
We now know that our solar system is but one of countless others. Where did all these planets come from? What are their fates, and ours? Dr. Chiang describes the life cycle of planets, how they are born and die, and how they are born again. The story combines the latest observations from a wide range of telescopes with our evolving theoretical understanding of the role planets play in the development of the cosmos.
with Dr. Eugene Chiang (University of California, Berkeley)
This is a rebroadcast of a recent lecture from the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series.

Young Astronomers Group October
2023-10-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Young Astronomers Group discuss current topics in Space and Astronomy. This month we will be investigating Dwarf Planets.

Introduction to Astronomy October 2023
2023-10-02 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Milky Way
Our Home Galaxy
by Chris Benton
The Milky Way, our cosmic home, is an immense spiral galaxy containing billions of stars, planets and celestial wonders. Discover the overall structure and dimensions of the Milky Way, including its central supermassive black hole and extensive dark matter halo in which the galaxy is embedded. Join us and prepare for a journey through our galactic neighbourhood while exploring the birthplaces of new stars.

Film Night September
2023-09-25 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
We have one film running tonight. The film will run for the full hour. We look forwards to seeing you there.

Everything NASA Discovered from James Webb’s First Year in Space | Space Documentary
It’s already been one year of JWST operations. In this episode all the major science results are accumulated, all the amazing images and graphs, all the important discoveries and controversies. Enjoy the ULTIMATE GUIDE to the first year of James Webb.

Practical Astronomy September - The Spring Night Sky
2023-09-18 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This will be one of our seasonal Planetarium sessions. We will use the Planetarium to explore the Spring Night Sky. This is a great way to improve your knowledge of the Spring constellations and learn about some of the deep sky objects to be found in them.

Northern Star Party - September 15 -17, 2023
2023-09-15 08:00 - 2023-09-17 11:30 | Waharau Regional Park, 1748 East Coast Rd, Orere Point, Whakatiwai, 2473
Dark Sky Weekend
We are excited to announce the dates for the second Northern Star Party for 2023 held at Waharau Regional Park and hosted by the Auckland Astronomical Society. We are holding the event over Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of September. Packing up on the morning of the 17th.
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 external 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.
The full information pack and agenda will be released shortly. We just wanted to get the dates out so that you can lock them in now!

Prices
Members
Non-members

Early Bird paid by 8th September
$20
$40

Standard
$30
$50

No one night price.
To book, please log into Hello Club at Click here for link
Program:
Friday: Viewing, movie (TBC)
Saturday:
Workshops: Midday to 4:30 pm.

Time
Activity
Details

12:00 – 14:00
Astronomy Equipment
Familiarisation, maintenance, collimation, etc

14:30 – 16:00
Astronomy Processing
TBA

16:30 – 18:00
Telescope trail
Telescope trail

Viewing from 19:00, movie (TBC)
Food: BYO – walk-in fridge and kitchen available. Tea, coffee, milo (morning/afternoon tea) supplied.

Monthly Meeting September - Astronomical Displays
2023-09-11 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
My mission is to engage people with the science that is going on in the world around them. I develop activities and hands-on physical displays that spark curiosity and creativity. You will have seen some of my interactive works in Stardome’s amazing new exhibition gallery that explores space and connects visitors to the night sky. I will talk you through my creative journey and you will see how my aim of displaying patterns and cycles has resulted in these interactives that often reveal some unexpected connections. I’ll talk about some of the Stardome interactives: The Tellurion; The Moon Phases over Maungakiekie; The Tohu monthly star markers; and Pacific navigation.
Plus I’ll have some slightly crazy prototypes for you to play with, a chaotic glow in the dark pendulum, a clock that shows the phase of the moon driven by the tide and an Aotearoa-centric armillary sphere.
Doug Makinson

Young Astronomers Group
2023-09-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Young Astronomers Group discuss topics in Astronomy and Space Exploration. The topic for this month will be comets.

Introduction to Astronomy
2023-09-04 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
Man’s Future on Earth and in Space
Guest Speaker – Dr Nick Odom
Much is unpredictable, but we can understand a lot about future conditions on Earth by studying conditions in the past. The talk also debunks some commonly held myths about man’s future in space.

Film Night August
2023-08-28 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
We have Part 1 of a 2 part film running tonight. Part 1 will run for the full hour. We look forwards to seeing you there.

Mysteries of the Universe | Space Documentary
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars shimmer and galaxies collide, lies a tapestry of mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Get ready to be captivated by the wonders and the biggest mysteries that lie beyond our reach, awaiting discovery in the depths of the universe in this 4K space documentary.
Topics covered in Part 1-
1. Olber’s Paradox (Why is space black?)
2. First Contact

Practical Astronomy August - Care and Maintenance of Telescopes and Accessories
2023-08-21 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This month we will discussing the care and maintenance of telescopes and accessories. We will start with an explanation of eyepieces and barlow lenses and then demonstrate how to safely clean the optical surfaces of lenses and mirrors. We will also explain and demonstrate the collimation of the optics of reflector and catadioptric telescopes.

Monthly Meeting August - Building on the shoulders of giantesses
2023-08-14 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
An often used quote by Isaac Newton is that “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”. In this talk I’ll discuss how the current work on understanding the sources of gravitational wave transients made when black-hole and neutron stars merger is built on the shoulders of giantesses. These women astronomers, Annie Jump Cannon, Henrietta Leavitt, Antonia Maury, Cecilia Payne, Erika Böhm-Vitense and Beatrice Tinsley made vital contributions to our understandings of stars that are key to unlocking the secrets of the Universe.

Professor Jan Eldridge, Head of Department of Physics University of Auckland.
I obtained my MA and MSci degrees from the University of Cambridge in 2001. I stayed at the University to study for my PhD in astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, graduating in 2005. After this I undertook postdoctoral research at the Institut d’Astrophysics de Paris, Queen’s University Belfast and the Institute of Astronomy. In 2011 I was appointed as a Lecturer of Astrophysics at The University of Auckland.
My research is focused upon the lives and deaths of stars. Most of my work involves the suite of computer codes I have created, the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis code (BPASS, bpass.auckland.ac.nz). Using BPASS I study stars, supernovae and gravitational wave sources in our own Galaxy out to the edge of the observable Universe.

Young Astronomers August
2023-08-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Young Astronomers Group discuss topics in Astronomy and Space Exploration.

Introduction to Astronomy
2023-08-07 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Our Place In The Universe
Where do we fit in?
Discover our place in the Universe with a visual tour by Chris Benton, starting on Earth before moving out of the Solar System, through the Milky Way galaxy and into clusters of galaxies making up the cosmic web of the Observable Universe before speculating on the size and geometry of the Entire Universe. Structures of unimaginable size put our home planet in perspective. We look forward to seeing you all there.
