Date/Time
Date(s) - Sat 13 April - Sun 14 April
18:30 - 1:00
Location
Star Field site, 10 mins outside of Martinborough
The evening will start with a setting thin crescent Moon before it becomes a dark sky perfect for deep sky observing and astrophotography. The Milky Way and many of its wonders will be high in the sky as well as its satellite galaxies, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.
The Star Field site is in and near the core of the newly accredited Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, the second dark sky reserve in Aotearoa NZ. The first is the Aoraki/Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve in the South Island
There will be a tour of the Night Sky with a pointer for beginners before getting on the telescopes. There is also a lot of expertise available for anyone wanting to photograph the Night Sky.
This is a free members-only Society event. (To join the Wellington Astronomical Society see https://www.was.org.nz/join-us/ )
Register by contacting Wellington Astronomical Society through FaceBook Messenger or by emailing events@was.org.nz. Include your email and mobile phone in the text if you are using FaceBook Messenger. Directions to the site in the Wairarapa, and any updates, will be emailed out. You are welcome to stay on-site either in a tent or sleep in a car but please tell Wellington Astronomical Society if you intend to do so.
What to bring:
Warm clothes as it gets pretty cold at night, beanie, gloves etc.
Snacks if you want.
Warm drinks are provided.
A flush toilet is available on-site.
For astrophotography:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera,
A wide angle lens (preferably),
A tripod to fix the camera to.
With people taking photos, keep lights to a minimum (red lights if you can) especially car headlights (use parking lights).
For those just interested in Deep Sky Observing, telescopes will be provided unless you want to bring your own.
For further details or cancellations contact Antony. This event will be updated by the afternoon on the day of the event if the weather forecast is not looking good.
Star Field is a dark sky site made available to members of the Wellington Astronomical Society through the generosity of John Whitby.