The Phoenix Astronomical Society Star Parties
Telescope viewing will follow our Wairarapa Society meetings. For more information on the Wairarapa meetings visit our meetings page.
CANCELLATION warning:
In the case of extreme weather we will cancel evenings – we don’t want
anyone getting hurt on their way to the observatory. Notices will be
posted on our web site and also be sent via Phoenix Announcements. If you’re in any doubt, please phone or text Richard Hall on 027 230 5191.
If you’re not receiving these then please join:
Phoenix Announcements.
Anyone entering the Ahiaruhe Observatory site (Stonehenge Carterton)
outside of the regular Phoenix meeting and Star Party hours must contact
the land owner Richard Hall on 027 230 5191 for safety reasons. Being a
rural area there have been thefts, and any suspicious activity could
result in the police being called or confrontation with a neighbour. A
condition of entry is that someone is appointed to ensure the site is
cleaned and secured at the end of use.
The Phoenix Astronomical Society Star Parties
This year we’re running two observing nights each month. The first is after the Wairarapa meeting on the 4th Friday of each month and the second is the next evening (Sat). The second night is our dark-sky night and is an all-weather event with a BBQ to start with talks and AVs to follow; while the second night is our lunar, planetary and stellar night.
But, these observing nights won’t be a line-up a view session like you might have had in the past. We want you to bring your binoculars and telescopes with you if you can. Each night our experienced observers will provide you with talks, charts, an observing plan and all the help you need to learn our skies and become a Phoenix Expert Astronomer! Don’t have binoculars or a scope? No problem, use ours.
You can expect to see a similar programme two months running – this will help reinforce constellations and star-hopping patterns you found the previous month, and will provide us some backup in case of poor weather. In April and May we’ll move onto our Autumn Stars observing programme.
CANCELLATION warning: In the case of extreme weather we will cancel evenings – we don’t want anyone getting hurt on their way to the observatory. Notices will be posted on our web site also be sent via Phoenix Announce (
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
). If you’re in any doubt please phone or text Antony Gomez on 021-253-4979 or Richard Hall on 027 2305 191.
Anyone entering the Ahiaruhe Observatory site (Stonehenge Carterton)
outside of the regular Phoenix meeting and Star Party hours must
contact the land owner Richard Hall on 027 230 5191 for safety
reasons. Being a rural area there have been thefts, and any suspicious
activity could result in the police being called or confrontation with
a neighbour.
 The Society holds regular observing evenings at its dark sky observatory in the Wairarapa. The societies first observatory - which was opened on 17th July 1999
has an automated 20cm (8") Schmidt-cassegrain , a 12" Dobsonian (great for beginners), and a 58 cm (23") reflector (for deep space observation, including galaxies).
Observing Etiquette
For many members observing at the Phoenix observatory is a new experience and like any social gathering there are some guidelines to make this enjoyable for everyone.
Seeing Red
It can take more than 20 minutes to fully 'dark adapt' for astronomical viewing. Simply turning on a white light or shining a white light flashlight around observers will set them back at least a half hour, depriving them of the possibility of viewing all the detail in dim objects. Dim red light doesn't cause this loss of dark-adapted vision. Please don't ruin a whole viewing session by turning on white lights or bringing and using a regular flashlight. An easy solution is to fix red cellophane over your flashlight using a rubber band or some cellotape.
Vehicles
If you have to leave the observing early park where your lights will not bother those who are still observing. If possible use your cars park lights to leave the parking area and switch on the main lights in the driveway area.
Telescopes
Experienced members will show you how best to view through a telescope by adjusting focus. Other than that, please keep touching of the scopes and other equipment to a minimum, unless invited to by the operator. Do not grab the scope or pull on the eyepieces.
Observing is more enjoyable for everyone when we practice observing etiquette. :-)
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