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New jewel in the crown
If you head out after midnight this month, you can’t miss bright orange Arcturus, some 25 degrees above the northern horizon.
Sky watch
A chance to spot comet Nishimura
A chance to spot comet Nishimura
At 6.50pm this evening, the sun's centre crosses the celestial equator. This event marks the southern hemisphere spring equinox. At the equinox, the rising and setting sun meets the horizon at its...
Lunar occultation — star gone in the blink of an eye
Lunar occultation — star gone in the blink of an eye
The moon is full on Sunday afternoon at 3.42pm which means that bright moonlight will wash out the dimmer stars all night.
The Moon, Mars and Venus
The Moon, Mars and Venus
The new moon occurred in the early hours of this morning.
Waxing moon escorts a descending Matariki
Waxing moon escorts a descending Matariki
The moon reaches the first-quarter phase on Wednesday just after 3.30pm. For the early part of the week, stargazers in our region will enjoy fine views of the waxing lunar crescent after sunset.
Awe-inspiring solar observations
Awe-inspiring solar observations
If you think that astronomy is purely a nocturnal hobby, you would be mistaken. One star, the sun, is visible every cloudless day.
Beacons of night sky have colourful history
Beacons of night sky have colourful history
According to legend, centaurs were generally a fearsome and unruly bunch.
So you want a telescope for Christmas?
So you want a telescope for Christmas?
With equipment prices ranging from tens to thousands of dollars, the wrong choice of telescope could make for an expensive mistake.
Once around the sun in a figure of eight
Once around the sun in a figure of eight
The spring equinox occurred Friday at 1.03pm. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south is always a cause for celebration in the astronomy-loving Griffin household.
Nothing particularly super on closer inspection
Nothing particularly super on closer inspection
Though July’s full moon is the closest, biggest and brightest of the year, it's not particularly super, writes Ian Griffin.
Gemini beneath the waxing moon
Gemini beneath the waxing moon
While the morning sky is interesting, we must not ignore the evening, writes Ian Griffin.
Gazing out across the galaxy
Gazing out across the galaxy
Watching the centre of the Milky Way ascend over Otago’s beautiful landscape is one of the most inspirational sights available to Kiwi sky watchers, writes Ian Griffin.
Lunar eclipse may be challenge to see
Monday’s lunar eclipse may be challenge to see
Anyone expecting to see a beautiful bright full moon clearing the southeastern horizon on Monday is in for a bit of a rare surprise.
All that glitters
All that glitters
Ian Griffin loves observing the night sky from the back bays of Otago Peninsula.
A compunction to see a conjunction
A compunction to see a conjunction
For the past few weeks, four planets, all visible to the unaided eye, have been putting on a mesmerizing show for early rising stargazers. The daily change in their relative positions has been a...
In awe at airglow
In awe at airglow
The moon reaches last quarter tonight and will be new on May 1. With moonrise just before midnight, and roughly an hour later with each passing day, the early part of the night will be the best...
Light from a supermassive black hole
Light from a supermassive black hole
This week, Ian Griffin encourages stargazers to hunt for a remarkable object which has fascinated stargazers since it was first observed on April 29, 1826, by the astronomer James Dunlop.
Chasing the ultimate image
Chasing the ultimate image
The clocks go back one hour tomorrow at 3am. As a result, for those of us who commute at the same time each day, mornings suddenly get lighter and evenings darker as a result of the time change.
Lights and sights at the crossing of the equator
Lights and sights at the crossing of the equator
The southern hemisphere autumnal equinox occurs at 4.33am on Monday morning (March 21). At the equinox, the centre of our nearest star crosses the celestial equator.
Mount John star trails pinpoint South Celestial Pole
Mount John star trails pinpoint South Celestial Pole
A few weeks ago, I was visiting the University of Canterbury’s Mount John Observatory. I was there to use one of the larger telescopes to take pictures of distant galaxies.