skywatch

Ideal conditions for exploring the heavens

Ideal conditions for exploring the heavens

This week, I invite you to join me on an evening tour of the northwestern sky.

In search of the noon analemma

In search of the noon analemma

I have just finished my latest analogue photography project, which, after 12 months of work, ultimately turned out to be something of a failure.

The attraction and distraction of refraction

The attraction and distraction of refraction

Earth’s atmosphere is fantastic. It keeps us alive, provides oxygen to breathe and is a shield protecting earthlings from the worst the universe can throw at us.

Antenna ‘measures’ successive sunsets

COMPOSITE IMAGE: IAN GRIFFIN / STEPHEN VOSS

Antenna ‘measures’ successive sunsets

No matter who you are or from where your whānau came, rest assured your ancestors were familiar with the rhythms of the sky.

Blue supermoon a spectacular sight

Thursday's full moon is not just a supermoon - it’s a blue moon as well. So get out and see it, as the next one won't appear until 2032.

Running rings around all the other planets

Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun.

The perfect time to spot Mercury is next Thursday

Next Thursday, Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation.

Thursday night — the perfect time to spot Mercury

Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation on Thursday.

A rare kind of spot on the sun

Last Friday, I had a day off work.

Planet next door puts on show

Venus, one of Earth’s closest celestial neighbours, is putting on quite a show in the western sky after sunset at the moment.

Celebrating Matariki with early morning viewing

The rising of Matariki, the star cluster known as Pleiades, usually happens near the end of June...

Celebrating Matariki with early morning viewing

The celestial pairing of a waning crescent moon and Matariki on Friday will make for a beautiful sight and is well worth getting up early for, writes Ian Griffin.

A window into celestial motion

The solargraph recorded from Ian Griffin’s deck, January 21 to June 22. Photo: Ian Griffin

A window into celestial motion

The solstices are always a time for celebration in Ian Griffin's household because they mark both the beginning and the end of his latest "crop" of solargraphs.

Colour unnecessary for aurora to be inspiring

Camera view on the left, naked-eye view to the right. Image: Ian Griffin

Colour unnecessary for aurora to be inspiring

Since moving to Dunedin in 2013, Ian Griffin's witnessed hundreds of auroral displays.

A busy week in the heavens

There is so much going on in the sky at the moment that it is hard to know where to begin this week’s Skywatch.

Early birds get first chance to see Matariki

Winter is Ian Griffin's favourite time of year. The long nights allow ample time for stargazing, and with the centre of the Milky Way passing almost overhead at midnight, some of the finest sights in the heavens can be seen.