[Sam'n'Kelv]

One thing I'm really looking forward to in New Zealand is staring up at the night sky. The light pollution where I live is terrible and apart from the brightest stars you can't really see very much in the night sky at all. On a recent holiday in the States we had the chance to camp in the desert and the night sky was absolutely stunning.

Are the night skies in NZ equally amazing?

[wiki]

One thing I'm really looking forward to in New Zealand is staring up at the night sky. The light pollution where I live is terrible and apart from the brightest stars you can't really see very much in the night sky at all. On a recent holiday in the States we had the chance to camp in the desert and the night sky was absolutely stunning.

Are the night skies in NZ equally amazing?

Yup and very clear! The star layout is very different (of course) and you get a much better view of the Milky Way because it's closer. Once you spot the Southern Cross you can navigate to all the other formations around it.

And for a huge treat: when I was a kid in Invercargill we used to occaisonally see the Aurora Australas from our bedroom window. I had to go all the way to Lapland to see the Northern Lights, so I think we're a bit spoilt getting the Southern Lights from the comfort of our southern home :)

[jen]

We've been impressed with how many stars you see at night even here in Wellington - I would think once you get out of the city it must be amazing!

I really recommend the planetarium show at the Carter Observatory in Welly; we didn't know anything about the Southern skies & they do a great 1 hr show where they point out the constellations, planets visible now and where they are currently and in the summer sky.

Jen

Jen

[sarahw]

If we're coming back from a night out I always pause for a few moments to stare at the sky before going into the house - it really is breathtaking to see such a clear sky.

Jen - thanks for the tip - I used to work right next to the Carter Observatory & never managed to get in there despite the luxury of long lunch hours if I wanted them - we must make a visit!

[KerryS]

The StarDome at One Tree Hill in Auckland has excellent shows explaining the night sky - and you can look through the giant telescope at the stars afterwards.
I was fortunate enough to be camping up in Northland when McNaughts Comet was passing through the NZ skies, and that was amazing. We all lay on the beach and watched for a couple of hours as it passed overhead.

[Moorf]

The constellation Orion is what I always search for, wherever I am in the world, and here it's right up above our house :nice1 - albeit upside down!!

On a clear night the skies are dazzling, we thought our clear views in Scotland were great until we experienced the NZ night skies!

[nicola in nz]

hi, the first thing i noticed when we came out here on holiday was the fact that the moon is upside down and that was just so odd. but i suppose thats what you get living upside down!!!!!!!.
Nicola

[willsken]

hi, the first thing i noticed when we came out here on holiday was the fact that the moon is upside down and that was just so odd. but i suppose thats what you get living upside down!!!!!!!.
Nicola

I haven't noticed the upside down moon!! :roll I'll have to have a look! I do love the bright stars though. :yes

[Trigirl]

i hadn't noticed that either - thats even weirder than orion standing on his head....

[Sam B]

When we were camping in a remote spot on the Coromandel, I spent half the night with my head hanging out the van - the stars were amazing!

[migratory birds]

Excellent thread! I've had the same questions about the night skies.

Moon upside down? In the Northern Hemisphere the waxing (growing) moon from new to full looks like a "D" and the waning (shrinking) moon from full to new looks like a "C".

So if you look up in the N Hemisphere and see the curve of the moon looking more like a "D" than a "C" it's moving from new to full.

Is this what you mean by "upside-down"? Intead of "DOC" (waxing "D", full "O", waning "C") you see a "COD" (waxing "C", full "O", waning "D")?

And/or the "face" or the "rabbit" in the full moon is flipped?

And the sun swings across the northern horizon in the winter in the winter rather than the southern horizon? So good to look for a home with lots of windows on the north side of the house for ample winter light?

Best places in NZ to see the Australis Borealis?

[Jezza]

I grew up in the southern hemisphere - in Zimbabwe - and always felt that you could never see a face in the moon south of the Equator in the way you could in the northern hemisphere.

I can't wait to see the Southern Cross again.

[b&k]

The best skies we've seen in NZ were in Lake Tekapo. They have a light conservation zone there (or something like that) which means that streetlights have to emit light downwards only and no bright signs are allowed.

This and the fact that it's at a higher altitude and miles from any big settlements gives it some the clearest night in NZ. There's a good observatory there too called Mt John.

[robberger]

The constellation Orion is what I always search for, wherever I am in the world, and here it's right up above our house :nice1 - albeit upside down!!

On a clear night the skies are dazzling, we thought our clear views in Scotland were great until we experienced the NZ night skies!

I was getting a little bit depressed a few days before we left the US for New Zealand, and one night in Salmon, Idaho, was looking up at an extremely clear winter sky. Hours away from the nearest city, it was almost as good as being in the middle of Death Valley! But it didn't help my feelings--I began wondering what I would do if I looked up and everything was unfamiliar.

I was very pleasantly surprised on arrival to see Orion and quite excited to tell my wife about it...and everything seemed a bit better. Weird. Christchurch has very clear skies for a city, at least where we are.

[wanderingoregonian]

I'm always amazed when we're traveling between lower hutt into wellington how little light popultion there is. You can tell where the city and houses are, but it isn't a flame with lights the way many american cities are. I remember living in chicago the sky was often reddish pink, something I NEVER got use to. I haven't had a chance to see the night sky outside of the city yet....

[Moorf]

The observatories will start their evening trips again soon. :nice1 There is one at West Melton and then there's the biggie at Lake Tekapo - I'm pretty sure I saw them advertising evening trips... I'll check out the press...

[Moorf]

http://www.earthandsky.co.nz/mtjohn_tour.htm

[scoobydoo]

We were bowled over at just how clear the stars are. But the real shock was the moon. The other night it looked way bigger than the old moon.... plus the full on 'moon shape'. Well cool.

[rachandlee]

whats the sky like in auckland? Ive read a lot about the pollution. Hope were not disapointed in June.

[vixxann]

Oh yes.. the night skies are absolutely jaw dropping
We spend many evenings gawping up at stars and tripping up over things!
Got into good habit of using trampolines on playareas at campsites to lie on at night (with a handy bottle of beer!) and star gaze.
My little girl took to spotting satelites and would lie quietly for ages!

cannot wait to get back , would love to go to an observatory. Where's nearest for Christchurch?

[thezorbster]

We too thought the night sky was stunning, you can see so many tiny stars that back home are invisible. I was really surprised to look up and see Orion, I just didn't expect it but I have to be honest, I didn't notice he was upside down! Can't wait to be back to check this out now! Looking forward to many nights of stargazing when we finally arrive for good.

[Cardy]

My girls went on a camping trip recently in NAurawaghia and they said they laid looking up at the stars and couldnt believe it, they were also treated to a small meteor shower .I go out on the decking nearly every night to have a look .

Cardy:nice1

[gil]

whats the sky like in auckland? Ive read a lot about the pollution. Hope were not disapointed in June.

Stunning!

By the way, you all sound immensely knowledgeable! For duffers like me there are some very good websites to help. Here's a link to a collection http://www.transitofvenus.auckland.ac.nz/astronomy/index6.html

Gil

[incredible hulse]

http://www.earthandsky.co.nz/mtjohn_tour.htm

Has anyone done this tour ? We're at the final stages of our SI tour and trying to decide if it's worth it

Steve

[migratory birds]

Haven't done the tour (hopefully someone can answer your question) but did find the answers to the questions I had on this thread 7 mos ago...

The "rabbit in the moon" is oriented differently - instead of its rump at the
"base" and the ears on the "right" side of the moon, facing the top - it looks like it is sitting "right-side-up" and is facing the left.

The waxing crescent is indeed a "C" at 40 degrees south (instead of a "D" as it is in the Northern Hemisphere at 40 degrees north).