Film Night October
2024-10-28 20:00 - 21:15 (Pacific/Auckland) | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
We are running one full length film tonight. We look forwards to seeing you there.

The film we are playing tonight covers many different subjects. It looks at SpaceX Projects, Space Communications, how partnerships with private companies like Boeing and SpaceX are reshaping space travel and much more. This is a well put together, very interesting film.

Introduction to Astronomy November 2024
2024-11-04 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
What Meteorites Tell Us About The Early Solar System
by guest speaker Joel Schiff
Meteorites are Solar System material that has landed on Earth. Most of it comes from the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter, although some specimens are from the Moon and Mars. How this material lands on Earth and why it is scientifically important for studying the origins of the Solar System will be the subject of the talk. Numerous samples belonging to the author will be available for perusal.
This is a fascinating and important topic of astronomy. We look forward to seeing you all there!

2024 Burbidge Dinner
2024-11-09 18:30 - 22:00 | Waipuna Events Center, 58 Waipuna Road, Auckland, 1060, New Zealand
The Burbidge Dinner is held annually in honour of the main founder of the Auckland Astronomical Society, Professor Percy Burbidge. Proceedings will commence with a welcome followed by the announcement of the winners of the 2024 New Zealand Astrophotography Competition. One of this year’s judges, Dylan O’Donnell will be present to award the prizes. The prize giving will be followed by a buffet dinner and an after dinner lecture by Dylan O’Donnell.
Not just Pretty Pictures – The intersection between Science and Astrophotography.
Astrophotography is regarded as one of the most difficult forms of photography. The skills required for many branches of specialized astrophotography overlap with the skills required for professional astronomy. Most of the time there is a clear distinction between these two groups but in many cases collaboration between them yields scientific results that could not have been achieved otherwise.
Dylan O’Donnell is an Australian award winning astrophotographer with a popular YouTube channel and social media following. He is a brand ambassador for Celestron telescopes and the founder & host of the Star Stuff astronomy event in Australia. He holds a masters degree in computer science and a bachelor degree in Astronomy and hosts a weekly space segment on ABC radio. Dylan also releases his astrophotography from the Byron Bay Observatory freely to the public domain.

Tickets for the 2024 Burbidge are now available.
Member Ticket prices – Early Bird price until 12th October $70. Ticket price after 12th October $75
Non member ticket prices – Early Bird price until 12th October $75. Ticket price after 12th October $80
To order tickets please email events@astronomy.org.nz
Doors Open 6:30pm
Welcome to members and guests 7pm
A cash bar will be available.
Event Venue
Waipuna Hotel and Conference Center
58 Waipuna Road
Mt Wellington
Auckland
The Cosmic Bat LDN 43 (Captured and processed by Dylan O’Donnell)

Monthly Meeting November -Dot to Dot in the Sky – The Nature of Night
2024-11-11 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Early cultures sought connections between what happened on Earth and what occurred overhead. They told stories to explain the stars, auroras, and other night sky phenomena. Discover legends of the night sky, as well as the relationship between art, science, and nature in our Earth-sky environment.
Joan Marie Galat is an award-winning author in Canada who shares her love of the night sky in books that include the Dot to Dot in the Sky series, Dark Matters—Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution, and the National Geographic Kids title: Absolute Expert: Space. Joan’s 2024 release—Make Your Mark, Make a Difference—includes issues relating to outer space and the night sky. Visit www.joangalat.com for additional information.

Astrophotography Group November
2024-11-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Comet stacking and other features of Deep Sky Stacker with Eric Chiu.

Practical Astronomy November - Variable Stars
2024-11-18 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Observation of variable stars has a long history with amateur astronomy. We will discuss the types of variable stars and how to observe them to obtain scientifically useful data. This is still a valuable activity even with the large survey telescopes, as amateurs can obtain data for stars that are too bright for the large telescopes, or for certain types of variable stars where changes are happening rapidly, the survey scopes cannot be dedicated for short cadence observing of a single star.

Film Night November
2024-11-25 20:00 - 21:15 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
We are running two films tonight regarding our Moon
We look forwards to seeing you there.
One Big Step for Mankind | Astronomical Space Documentary Episode 12

This is the Moment that Changed Everything

Back to the Moon – Part 2 ｜ VOANews

After the Apollo program ended, the US took a long hiatus from lunar exploration. What happened during this time, and what has NASA been doing? This documentary explores the multiple attempts to return to the Moon. This is Part 2 of 2

Introduction to Astronomy December 2024
2024-12-02 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Annual Fun Quiz Night
As we approach the end of the year, it’s time for our annual quiz. We’ll have fun reflecting on ideas covered over 2024 and discussing new interesting topics such as Brown Dwarfs and Milankovitch Climate Cycles. All attendees will receive a comprehensive handout on the latter two subjects and enjoy a liberal supply of chocolates.
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 fun reviewing the main points from our regular sessions, learning some new things, and munching on end-of-year treats.
We look forward to seeing you all there!

Young Astronomers Group - The Astro Game Show and Meteorites
2024-12-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
In this session, I will bring some rocks from space (meteorites) to the session, where you get to hold a fragment from space in your hands. And I will show you the billion year long stories of them.
But that’s just the beginning! In the second half, gear up for The Astro Game Show, a highly engaging quiz featuring all the hottest space topics we’ve explored this year. Compete with your peers, test your knowledge, and prove you’re the ultimate space ace. The winner will receive an exclusive opportunity to control a powerful online telescope and capture an image of any celestial object of their choice! Here’s something I took with the telescope network (below)
Don’t miss out! This is your chance to learn, compete, and make your mark in the cosmos.

Monthly Meeting December - Exploring the Gravitational Wave Universe
2024-12-09 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Measuring gravitational waves is a revolutionary new way to do astronomy. They were predicted by Einstein, but it was not until 2015, that LIGO (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) first detected one of these waves. They were tiny ripples in space itself, generated by the collision of two black holes. Since then, LIGO and its international partners have measured nearly 100 signals. Dr. Lantz explains what we can learn from these bursts of energy and just how it is possible to measure a wave which stretches our detector 1000 times less than the diameter of a proton. And he discusses what’s coming next in our search for these tell-tale ripples in space?
Dr. Lantz is the scientific leader for the Advanced LIGO seismic isolation system.
This will be a rebroadcast of one of the Silicaon Valley Lecture Series.

Special General Meeting
2024-12-16 20:00 - 20:15 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
At the 2024 AGM in April, draft accounts for the 2023 year were presented. It was resolved to hold a Special General Meeting to approve the final prepared accounts, which are now available. The Special General
Meeting motion will be as follows.
That the Auckland Astronomical Society prepared accounts for 2023 be approved.
No other business or general business will be transacted at this meeting.

Practical Astronomy - The Summer Night Sky
2024-12-16 20:15 - 21:15 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This will be one of our quarterly planetarium sessions where we will review the Summer Night Sky using the Planetarium.

Special General Meeting
2025-02-03 19:45 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
A Special General Meeting called to approve the 2023 Accounts

Introduction to Astronomy February 2025
2025-02-03 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Moons of Jupiter
By Jonathan Park
Jupiter has 95 officially recognised moons, which our guest speaker, Jonathan Park, will discuss. Learn about where they all came from, including working out which are parts of larger objects that were shattered in the past. We’ll also discuss the four large Galilean moons, three with subsurface saltwater oceans and one with active volcanoes and several lava lakes. It’s going to be an informative and fun way to start the year. We hope to see you all there for this stimulating talk with Jonathan!

Young Astronomers
2025-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
What would happen if you got too close to a black hole? Would you be stretched like spaghetti? Would you ever escape? Are black holes gateways straight to hell? This month, we’re diving into the most mysterious objects in the universe: Black holes! From stellar-mass monsters just a few kilometers across to supermassive giants that could swallow entire star systems, each black hole is a universe of its own. Get ready to unravel their secrets, from insane amounts of gravity to the point of no return!
Just to note: If Earth were compressed into a black hole, it would be the size of a marble, and do you know black holes bigger than the solar system exist?

Monthly Meeting February - Touching the Sun
2025-02-10 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Despite its familiarity, the Sun is a very different presence from the friendly yellow circle in children’s paintings. Our star is a broiling mass of plasma, with its powerful magnetic fields, twisted by its rotation, capable of producing dramatic events of spectacular beauty and power. Using results from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe – the fastest moving human-made object ever – and ESA’s Solar Orbiter, this spectacular lecture takes a new look at the mysteries of the Sun, and its effects on the Earth.
This lecture was recorded by Chris Lintott on 15th January 2024 at Conway 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.

Practical Astronomy
2025-02-17 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Telescopes and Accessories
This month we will be talking about the various types of telescopes and commonly used accessories.

Film Night February
2025-02-24 20:00 - 21:15 | Stardome Observatory & Planetarium, 670 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, 1345
This is the first film night for 2025 and we have a great line up.
We look forwards to seeing you there.

The 7 Wonders of Our Solar System

The 8 Wonders of Our Universe | Astronomical Space Documentary Episodes 5 & 6

Damon Scotting presents two stunning short documentaries
Ancestral Skies | BBC The Sky at Night

The BBC Sky at Night team are back with this informative documentary, even discussing our very own back yard

Introduction to Astronomy March 2025
2025-03-03 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission to Jupiter
Late last year, NASA launched a mission to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, in search of its potential to host life. Tonight, Chris Benton will discuss why NASA chose Europa and what special features attract astronomers and astrobiologists to such a mission. Come along and also learn about the spacecraft, how it will use gravitational assist manoeuvres to reach its destination, its various instruments and the science to be performed.

Young Astronomers Group March - Measuring Distances in Space
2025-03-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Measuring distances in space
Do we have to run the distance of a galaxy🏃, throw a spacecraft to travel for hundreds of billions of kilometers🛰️ or use a light-year long ruler to measure the distances in space📏?
What if I told you that scientists are able to measure the distances without the need of going to space?
And young scientists like you can do it too? Right here in our home on planet Earth?
Find out how we measure distances in space and how you can do it too in young astronomers group!

Monthly Meeting March - Observing with the James Webb Space Telescope: Glimpsing the First Stars
2025-03-10 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Dr. Dan Coe (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Observing with the James Webb Space Telescope: Glimpsing the First Stars
The Webb Telescope was designed to look back in time, to study the first generation of stars, and reveal our cosmic origins. Now in its second year of operation, JWST has already brought us tantalizingly close to our dream of seeing those first stars. Dr. Coe takes us on a profusely illustrated tour of some of the best images and latest results from the telescope, and tells us about his and others’ observations of the most distant stars and galaxies astronomers have ever seen, providing a view of the universe as it was 13 billion years ago.
This is a rebroadcast of one of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series.

Practical Astronomy March - The Autumn Night SKy
2025-03-17 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This will be one of our quarterly planetarium sessions where we will review the Autumn Night Sky using the Planetarium.

Film Night March
2025-03-24 20:00 - 21:20
We are running two documentaries this evening.
We look forwards to seeing you there.
Advances is Space Technology

A revolution in space technology is unfolding. New players in the launch industry are radically cutting the cost of access to space and our understanding of the universe is growing exponentially thanks to space-based research. We are viewing 2 parts of a 13-part series examining all things space, from Jupiter to space communication. What are the most recent discoveries, and what technology made them possible? Tonight we are viewing “The Launchers” and “Space Telescopes”

Hiding in Starlight | BBC The Sky at Night

Total solar eclipses, like the one seen recently in North America, allow us to see details of the sun that can’t be seen at any other time. The BBC Team discuss this and more in their latest documentary.

Introduction to Astronomy April 2025
2025-04-07 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Search for Earth 2.0
Part 1: Discovering Exoplanets
With over 5,000 planets beyond our Solar System discovered to date, astronomers are unveiling a vast array of “other worlds”. Chris Benton will dive into the methods used to detect these planets, from the transit method to direct imaging, and 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 topic.
Part 2: Origins, Conditions and Signatures of Life (what should we be looking for?) is scheduled for May.

Emerging Astronomers Group - The Solar System Scavenger Hunt
2025-04-14 19:00 - 20:00
Calling all kids and teens.
Are you ready for an incredible mission?
This month, we’re launching a Solar Systen themed scavenger hunt like no other!Can you sort the planets in the correct order? Can you spot Mars in the night sky?
Team up, crack cosmic clues, and race against time.The best team wins a stellar prize!
Whether you’re 6 or 16, this mission is for every young space explorer Don’t miss out. Your adventure begins now.

Monthly Meeting April - Astrophotography with Rolf Olsen
2025-04-14 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
Astrophotography with Rolf Olsen
This week, we are privileged to have world-renowned astrophotographer Rolf Olsen share his expertise with us, discussing his observatory setup, workflow overview, and latest projects.
His many international achievements include the first amateur detection of light echoes from Eta Carina and Supernova 1987A, and the circumstellar disc around Beta Pictoris. Six of his images have been featured as NASA’s Astronomical Picture of the Day, and he has worked in collaboration with three professional astronomy teams for scientific purposes. He will also showcase and discuss his incredible Cantaurus A 320h image and his involvement with the Hubble Ultra Deep Field study.
His website for further information is https://www.rolfolsenastrophotography.com/
We look forward to seeing you all there for this special evening, which promises to be one not to be missed!

Practical Astronomy April 2025 - Deep Sky Objects for the Dark Sky weekend
2025-04-21 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
This month we will be reviewing some deep sky objects well positioned for observing at the Anzac weekend dark sky observing event at the Waharau regional park.

Northern Star Party – ANZAC Weekend, April 25th to 27th
2025-04-25 17:00 - 2025-04-27 11:00
Dark Sky Weekend
We are excited to announce the dates for the first Northern Star Party for 2025 to held at Waharau Regional Park and hosted by the Auckland Astronomical Society. We are holding the event over the nights of Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of April. This is ANZAC weekend so easy travel day on the Friday. Packing up on the morning of the 27th.
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.
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 20th April
$20
$40

Late bookings
$30
$50

No one night price.
To book, please log into Hello Club……….Click here for link to “Hello Club”
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

13:15 – 14:15
Telescope Maintecnence
TBC

14:30 – 15:00
Astronomy Equipment
How to select the correct equipment for you based on your requirements

16:30 – 18:00
Telescope trail
Telescope trail

The full information pack will be available soon.

2025 Annual General Meeting
2025-04-28 19:30 - 21:30 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Auckland Astronomical Society 2025 Annual General Meeting. The agenda will include reports from Society Officers, Stardome report, Astronomy NZ Ltd report and election of officers for the AAS Council 2025/2026.
All members are encouraged to attend.

Introduction to Astronomy May 2025
2025-05-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Stardome Observatory, 670 Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland, 1345, New Zealand
The Search for Earth 2.0
Origins, Conditions & Signatures of Life
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!
All attendees receive a comprehensive six-page handout.
