The star-filled night fascinates us all. People have gazed upward at it in wonder and awe for thousands of years. Regardless of earthly differences in culture, nationality or religion, the heavens are a common meeting ground for all of Earth's inhabitants. The boundaries we place between us vanish when we look skyward. Whoever, whatever or wherever we are, we all share the same sky.
more info at Astronomers Without Borders
The
International Year of Astronomy - what is it?
The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme "The Universe, Yours to Discover".
Composer Warwick Blair presents a four-hour preview of his forthcoming project Stars, a 24-hour-long audio-visual project inspired by the Indian concept of anoraniyan mahatomahiyan, which proposes an intertwined relationship between the cosmos and human body. Blair's composition draws from gandharva music, which applies particular qualities to specific times of the day, and incorporates electronic backing and vocals from Sandhya Rao Badakere.
Admission free
The Gus Fisher Gallery
74 Shortland Street, Auckland
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday, 12-4pm; closed Public Holidays
Be continued forever, the wild spirits of Te Raekaihau
Wellington Marine Conservation Trust has withdrawn its High Court appeal against an Environment Court decision that denied resource consent for the proposed $20 million marine education centre at
Te Raekaihau Pt. REBECCA PALMER - The Dominion Post
PEARSON
EDUCATION NEW ZEALAND
67 APOLLO DRIVE, ROSEDALE
NORTH SHORE CITY 0632
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
POSTAL ADDRESS
PRIVATE BAG 102902
NORTH SHORE CITY 0745
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
TEL +64 (0)9 442 7400
FAX +64 (0)9 442 7401
www.pearsoned.co.nz
Launching
students into space
The Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban will launch a secondary school textbook
on astronomy and space in the library at Aotea College on Monday 17
September. The book, Astronomy Aotearoa, teaches the new curriculum
in astronomy and space exploration for secondary school students.
Three years ago the Government introduced new NCEA standards for astronomy
and students can now gain up to 12 NCEA credits for study in this science.
Government intends that this curriculum will spark the interest of students
in science and technology. It is a part of our country’s effort
towards a knowledge economy. The book brings into focus the achievements
of ancient peoples, including Maori and Pasifika, New Zealand astronomers
at work today, and the history of Western science.
It introduces students to Newton, Einstein, and Hawking.
Pearson Education New Zealand published the book in cooperation with
the Carter Observatory. The author is Robert Shaw from Porirua City.
The book features the work of Anaru Reedy of Te Wananga O Aotearoa,
and New Zealand photographers including Paul
Moss.
=====
One of the Astronomy Aotearoa contributors,
Paul Moss, holding a pre-release of the book.
“I
want to especially note the incredible fortitude and strengths of one
to two hundred Wellingtonians that are prepared to brave a GALE FORCE
wind laden with salt for many hours. I measured 10.8 degrees dropping
to 10.5 later, and that’s in the shelter of the motor vehicle,
not taking into account wind chill. The wind was 70km/hr dropping to
50km/hr sustained, until around 11pm when it dropped noticeably. We
were rewarded with the best views in Wellington, even the Milky Way
appeared during totality, a once in a life time experience for most
of us. I saw the moon as a ‘rock in space’ for the second
time only, ever. It had a 3d quality through the refractor that blew
me away. I must also thank all the nzastronomers@yahoo.com for such
a buildup and preparation, support and encouragement. You guys rock!
I’m esp grateful to the last minute weather reports, to try and
understand the weather, and the rapid delivery of pics back to the list,
very cool guys!! I experienced the largest astro gathering ever in my
life (unfunded, outside of public funded events).” Quote from
Paul Moss, Sharing Spacewww.astronomy.net.nz
.
*Interesting
little snipett.. Paul Moss gets
published again later this year.
*Astronomy Aotearoa: NCEA
Level 1 This title is published in New Zealand
*Author: Robert Shaw
*Edition: 1
*ISBN: 9780582549906
*ISBN10: 0582549906
*Format: Paperback ; 88 pp
*Published: Not Yet Published; Expected date: 21/11/2007
*Illustrations
by many New Zealanders, including Paul
Moss.
Astronomy Day is a grass roots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the general population - "Bringing Astronomy to the People."� On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first hand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited.� Astronomy clubs, science museums, observatories, universities, planetariums, laboratories, libraries, and nature centers host special events and activities to acquaint their population with local astronomical resources and facilities.� Many of these events are located at non-astronomical sites; shopping malls, parks, urban centers-truly Bringing Astronomy to the People.� It is an astronomical PR event that helps highlight ways the general public can get involved with astronomy - or at least get some of their questions about astronomy answered.� Astronomy Week encompasses Astronomy Day starting on the previous Monday and ending on the following Sunday.�
The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," but on occasion there is an additional theme (but not always) when conditions warrant.� This additional theme is often decided just a few months prior to Astronomy Day so be sure to check this web site annually for any additional theme.�
The Moon - by Dmtri (more of Dmtri's pics on the ISAN2008 page here)
ISAN 2008 Wellington NZ
Bonnevue Pictures interviewing at ISAN 2008 -
From right: Ken Kopelson, (- Producer / Director / Writer), Paul Moss (ISAN NZ Organiser), Roland Idaczyk (IYA2009 NZ Webmaster), Ann Kopelson ( Producer / Writer),
and Anaru Reedy (maori Astronomy/Navigation).
April 12th 2008 will be the second international sidewalk astronomy night and we invite all amateur astronomers to join us! We'll have telescopes out on the street corners, in front of movie theaters, in state and national parks, in city centre parks ... anywhere there are crowds of people!
Our goal is to take scopes to the public on the same night worldwide, reaching hundreds of thousands of people and uniting amateur astronomers on different continents. We also hope many amateurs will try and like this different approach to astronomy outreach and will continue to hold sidewalk observing sessions throughout the year.
The events don't have to be large, one or two scopes at a location will be enough and if your club has more scopes and members, why not set up multiple observing sites around your city? We know that many clubs and organizations have regularly scheduled public events at local observatories and planetariums, so we hope that you can spare one or two members for sidewalk observing. official ISAN site here
ISAN EVENT!!!
International Sidewalk Astronomy Day/Night
April 12th 2008 1pm to 11pm Waterfront
Queens Wharf near sails and Rainbow Warrior MAP here night sky activity
in Wellington?
and info?
see 2007 event here
Join
a community of common Interest - astro stuff!!
go here (you need a yahoo ID) and vote in the latest poll: click nzastronomers at yahoo.com
Read
the truth about how many emails and the
attached content were posted at
nzastronomers@yahoo.com
. HERE.
NEWS: STARS MOVIE nearly finished,
Warwick Blair's STARS musical composition is complete, the companion movie is nearing completion. The first 24 hour premiere of both works will appear as one installation at the National Film Archive in April 2008. Later this year, 6 movies will tour Art galleries across NZ with the composition, with 8 hour performances at some locations.
Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.
This simple act has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. As a result, at 8pm March 29, 2008 millions of people in some of the world’s major capital cities, including Copenhagen, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne, Brisbane and Tel Aviv will unite and switch off for Earth Hour.
Images from the South Coast Solar Eclipse Event
- Thursday February 7th 2008
Te Rae Kai Hau Point
for lots more, seewww.facebook.com
user
Paul Moss and Edwin Rodley
Photo courtesy Ron Fisher
...
Toa, Roland, Gary, Hari, and Haritoa, 4 months, enjoyed the event... cool..
On Thursday afternoon (7th February 2008) a large chunk of the Sun will disappear as the Moon covers it in a partial solar eclipse. This rare event only happens every few years from Gisborne’s perspective. At first a small bite of the Sun will disappear at 4:43pm and then the Moon will progressively cover the Sun until its greatest coverage of 63% at 5:49pm. From there it will move off the Sun until it is all over at 6:49pm.
A partial solar eclipse isn’t nearly as spectacular as a total solar eclipse when the Sun is completely covered for a few minutes. Nevertheless, it’s still an amazing sight to behold – however, sight is the thing to beware of as any attempt to look at the Sun with binoculars or a telescope (or even the naked eye) can result in blindness. The Gisborne Astronomical Society is opening the Cook Observatory on Kaiti Hill from 4:45pm this Thursday to show people how to view the event safely.
This is the first partial solar eclipse visible from New Zealand since
April 2005. The next will not be until November 2011. So the general consensus is, make the most of this one!
For more details go to the Gisborne Astronomical Society website:
Carter Observatory, Wellington, New Zealand. Image copyright 2008 by Paul Moss
Lets remember Carter Observatory. One of my fond memories from last summer, Bill and I tried all sorts
of angles to achieve the composition, thanks Bill.
.................................
Lets reduce the light pollution, lower our energy use,
help the nocturnal animals get healthier,
share the treasures of the sky.
Three
Scapes Four - Marama
Three Scapes Four - Marama, Te Rae Kai Hau Point,
Wellington, 26 September 2007. 5pm onwards
Almost
Full Moon Rising with awesome South Coast Sunset, telescopes, maybe
fire and drums.. celebrate the open spaces of the Wellington South Coast.
Warm clothing and hot drinks recommended! Bring cameras and learn astro
photography... learn about the Wellington Community and understand the
local body election from the residents viewpoint..
Sunset
1822
Moonrise 1738
(the
almost full moon will be visible for 44 minutes with the sun, before
sunset.) more info text 021 440 443
Paul Moss celibrating at Te Rae Kai Hau Point with friends
(self portrait photo assisted by Roland) and more at http://www.sky.org.nz