Guarding Against Destruction of the night sky at
Te Rae Kai Hau Point aka Te Raekaihau Point

SKY

Southern Kaitiaki and You www.sky.org.nz


Sky Gazing (skygazing) for Wellington, New Zealand, and the World - inspired by the light and dark of the southern sky. Atmospheric images for everyone.

a website by paul moss - august 2007
old sky website here

The BEST sky pictures in New Zealand are posted each week at METVUW dot com www.metvuw.com

Were you looking for night sky images and info? go here to Sharing Space at www.astronomy.net.nz

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Book Launch

Astronomy Aotearoa
by Robert Shaw

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.

website: www.astronomyaotearoa.net

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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 Space www.astronomy.net.nz .

click here go to Total Lunar Eclipse
Aug 28th 2007

all pics copyright to Paul Moss
click here go to Total Lunar Eclipse
Aug 28th 2007

Paul Moss with astro-imaging equipment, at Te Rae Kai Hau Point. Photo by Edwin Rodley

If you wish to comment then go here
to Paul Moss blogspot

Talk to Kiwi Astronomers Now!

* meet at MySpace mozaherd

* meet at NZ Astro Chat here

* meet at NZastronomers at Yahoo here

Hear Kiwi Radio Now! stream George FM here

*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.

images and web design sponsored by Sharing Space - Astronomy NZ

Sunset over Te Wai Pounamu

Comet Neat Wright Hill Wellington

Comet Neat Wright Hill Wellington

Aurora Australis Titahi Bay Porirua Wellington Region

Aurora Australis Bluff Hill Near Invercargill Southland New Zealand

00/ Featured link: Makara Guardians Incorporated - read about recent environment court findings here.

GADOT - Links

1/ Save The Point Incorporated website
2 / South Coast Gateway Charitable Trust community resources
3/ Sharing Space astronomy in New Zealand
4/ Dark Sky organisation - protect our dark sky in New Zealand
5/ South Coast Community - events and networking directory
6/ Te Rae Kai Hau Point - Wikipedia info
7/ South Coast Gallery - Images of the South Coast
8/ Rakiura Music - Music and sound systems for the environment
9/ Wikimapia - view map and read / post comments about location
10/ Bryan Pepperell - WCC Councillor opposed to development

11/ Search Wellington - Wellington News digest site
12/ Schedule of Submitters - ' Information tabled at the hearing' -hearing details with names and subject matter
13/ South Coast Images - astronomical use of the South Coast
14/ South Coast Observing - astronomical use of the South Coast
15/ South Coast Music and Events - music inspired by the area
16/ Merchandise - TShirts, Stickers, CD's to fund the legal fees.
17/ Kaitiakitanga - process of protecting our Taonga
18/ Summer Lovin Music - Family Fun Day Island Bay Festival 2007
19/ Three Scapes - A series of family events celebrating the night sky, the night sea, and the special location.
20/ Landscaping at the Point - concerns regarding the recent landscaping work at Te Raekaihau Point.

21/ Capital Times and Nick Dryden - article about Save The Point Jan 2007.
22/ Tapu Te Ranga Marae - Island Bay Marae
23/ Bruce Stewart - Rangitira of Tapu Te Ranga Marae, Poet, Author, Community Worker, Leader.
24/ Fat Freddys Drop - Musicians close to the point, donating $3000 to the cause.
26/ Carbon Credits - 'The development will increase CO2 levels more than it will reduce them..'
27/ Dark Skies - A Wellington based wbsite on astronomy
28/ Toa Waaka CDNN 'World News Worth Knowing'
29/ CNEWS Community News from Wellington South Coast Suburbs
30/ Manawa Karioi Manawa Karioi is an approximately 12-hectare ecological restoration project on the edge of the suburb of Paekawakawa

31/ Wellington City Councillor --- Bryan Pepperell Blog--- here..
32/ Tapu Te Ranga Marae --- Bruce Stewart -- here.. and here..
33/ Images of Te Rae Kai Hau Point -- here.. and here.. and here
34/ Fat Freddy's donate $3000 to save The Point more here
35/ Map Net donates demographic study.. here
36/ Bonus Joules total environmental impact Analysis -- here
37/ Nick Dryden Te Rae Kai Hau Art exhibitions -- here
38/ Waatea News item.. here
39/ Cultural Impact report? you decide for yourself .. here
40/ includes Comet O'Rongomai at Owhiro Bay, page 21-- here

41/ Edwins NZ Astro Chat Astronomy

42. Save Happy Valley - "Solid Energy is driving Powelliphanta "Augustus" to extinction! " a quote from their site.

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Three Scapes Five - Tatai Arorangi
Three Scapes Five - Tatai Arorangi, Te Rae Kai Hau Point,
Wellington, Thursday 25th October 2007. 5pm onwards more info at Sharing Space here and at Eventfinder here

Astronomy and Marine with Music and Photography at Te Rae Kai Hau Point, Wellington, Thursday 25th October 2007. 6pm onwards. The almost full moon rises ahead of the sunset, giving an extraordinary window of opportunity to take beautiful landscape images on a very special piece of open space, recently saved from development.

Sunset at 19:57 (3min to 8pm) and moonrise at 18:45 (15min to 7pm). Bring torches and very warm clothing, look in the rock pools, the night life is massive around this coastline, pretty, diverse, intricate, awesome!

James is coming to play some songs, maybe we get some singers, I'll bring telescopes and sound system, come and enjoy, help, contribute, share, whatever....

Call me anytime on 233 9889 or text on 021 440 443.. email paul.moss@astronomy.net.nz let me know you're coming... spread this message to friends and family, bring the kids, hold their hand! Be very careful though, its a potentially dangerous location, requires massive respect!

(actual Full Moon 26th Oct at 5:52 pm NZDT 04:52 UT).

Night Sky events in October 2007 - RASNZ

Astro-Photographers Camp at Gisborne
'Gissy Gathering' more images here

'Gissy Gathering'

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

NIGHT Clouds are cool!!! maybe they are cooler at night?
- Night Clouds 'N' Stars at Papakowhai:

Lunar Coronae

Lunar Coronae untouched pic

Lunar Coronae re-touched pic for stars

Te Rae Kai Hau Point aka Te Raekaihau Point Breaking News!!!

Te Rae Kai Hau Point on the day it was saved. Click for Gallery on Sky Org.

There will be no fish zoo!!!

The battle for light pollution and common sense over the development of a very important location has taken a positive step - quote from Save The Point;

WE WON * WE WON * WE WON * WE WON

Hot off the press 9.30 am 21 Sept 2007 The environment court descision has been given in our favour, there will be no aquarium development at Te Raikaihau Point, this is huge news, well done to all the supporters .

More to follow... http://www.savethepoint.org.nz


Paul Moss celibrating at Te Rae Kai Hau Point with friends
(self portrait photo assisted by Roland)
and more at saved.htm

___________________

Book Launch

Astronomy Aotearoa
by Robert Shaw

Photos and related comment click here

The Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban (right) and
Robert Shaw, (left) Launching Astronomy Aotearoa.

Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mana, The Honourable Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
(officiating at the book launch) with Paul Moss and
Ray Ching.
The photo held is a composite lunar eclipse montage created by those two Wellington visual artists and astronomers.

click here go to Total Lunar Eclipse
Aug 28th 2007

==============

Newtown Hall
Music Performance and Politics
here

==============

Spring in New Zealand
- a photo essay
- by Paul Moss

click on the flower or bird to see more spring pics
Spring - a renewal, a new opportunity to get it right.

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sun at Pekapeka beach - pic by Paul Moss

sun at Pekapeka beach - pic by Paul Moss

sky org nz
Southern Kaitiaki and You
- saving the dark sky
- saving Te Rae Kai Hau Point

honouring the age old pastimes of
skywatching / skygazing / astronomy
old sky website here

Friends of the Sky
- free to join now, email us with your contact details... sky@music.gen.nz  

Wright Hill Sunset - Hawkins Hill to the left
DC link to the South Island on the right - pic by Paul Moss

Gallery Now!!!
August 9th -
Stars and Galaxies from Te Rae Kai Hau Point

Ray Ching observing the total Lunar Eclipse
Aug 28th 2007 from Te Rae Kai Hau Point,
Wellington, New Zealand. more pics here:

click here go to Total Lunar Eclipse
Aug 28th 2007

Jupiter and Scorpius (The Manaia) above Te Rae Kai Hau Point)

Aroha (love) for the Sky
Atea (The Heavens) - One of the Three 'Scapes
Kaitiaki (Guardians) of natural environments
Dark Sky Taonga (Treasure) in the Night Sky
Three Scapes - Land, Sea, Sky
Papatuanuku, Tangaroa, Ranginui

Galleries:
Stars
Deep Space Objects Galaxy / Nebula / Clusters etc
Rainbows
Planets
Moon
Astro-Photography Equipment
Skylines 1,2,3
Sky Plants
Starfish

Snow times
Cloud incl Coronae and Irisation

Sunspots 1

Sunsets

Astro-Photographers help page
nzastronomers@yahoo.com Targets

Parhelia at Papakowhai - August 2nd 2007 pics by Paul Moss

Moon Coronae - pic by Paul Moss

Paremata / Mana Light Pollution - pic by Paul Moss

Who is involved in saving the Wellington South Coast and
New Zealand from harmful development?

Read the Blogs of Dr John Robinson here:
Dr John Robinson "..Now, in 2007, as so many chickens start to
come home to roost (oil peak, global warming, water shortages, war for resources,
bubble economy),
my activities span the range from global concerns to local actions..."

Read the Blogs of Bryan Pepperell here:
Bryan Pepperell "...Born again bicycle philosopher &
Word Warrior!! The Web is mightier than the sword!!!..."

Read the Blogs of Paul Moss here:
Paul Moss "...The dark sky is under threat at this location and I have worked
very hard to show as many people as possible that this development is simply a
dumb idea. Some of the components of the idea are awesome and could be
implemented at other locations..."

Read about the South Coast Gateway Trust go here:
South Coast Gateway Trust

Read about STP (Save The Point) go here: STP

Read about GADOT ( Group Against Development
On Te Rae Kai Hau Point) go here: GADOT

Looking for Rakiura Music go here:
Rakiura Music (Music in NZ)

Looking for Sharing Space go here:
Sharing Space (Astronomy in NZ)

The Cloud Appreciation Society go here:
http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/

The Royal Astronomical Society New Zealand here:
RASNZ Home - - - RASNZ Dark Sky Group

The Earth and Sky Co Tekapo New Zealand here:
Earth and Sky

The Milky Way - from Whakamaru forest area, SH1, New Zealand.
large images here

Canon 20D 31 sec ISO 800 25mm lens at f4.5 static camera,
(resting on top of car)
Curved slightly in photoshop. Winter Solstice 1am 21st June 2007.
Paul Moss.