Planetarium North operates the only public astronomy tours in Northland, with the Planetarium based in Maunu, Whangarei and special observing locations at specific times.

From lunar and solar eclipses to meteor showers, Aurora Australis, and the pure beauty of our Milky Way galaxy, New Zealand’s starlit sky will rival the Northern Lights in 2025.

The Milky Way [c] is the galaxy that includes the Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye.

The night sky there is so dark, the Milky Way is visible from horizon to horizon. Stonehenge Aotearoa is an open-air astronomical observatory that runs nighttime and sunset tours.

Photos can be taken from anywhere in the world, preferably at night, and must feature the Milky Way. The band of stars which appear in the outer edge of our galaxy can be seen around the globe....

Feb 25, 2022 · If the Milky Way was a normal spiral galaxy, its arms would lead right to its center (or nucleus) like in the Andromeda Galaxy. In total, the Milky Way has four known arms — two major connected with the bar (Scutum-Centaurus and Perseus) and two minor (Norma and Sagittarius) located between them.

Nov 27, 2024 · By examining it in different wavelengths, astronomers and astrophysicists can understand its stellar population, its gas dynamics, and its other characteristics in far more detail than distant galaxies. However, new research that examines 101 of the Milky Way's kin shows how it differs from them.

Using immersive visual displays, visitors can explore the science-based narrative of how living beings came to be. Delve into the depths of the Milky Way with the impressive 125-year-old recently restored Brashear telescope. Explore Lake Takapō (Tekapo)

Dec 28, 2021 · The band of light that stretches across the sky is our own disc-shaped galaxy, seen edge-on from the Southern Hemisphere. But when is the best time to see the Milky Way in New Zealand? Find out in this guide to the best times and places to see the Milky Way, including some photography tips.

Our galaxy is an enormous spiral of stars, planets, and gas surrounding what is thought to be a massive black hole. In remote, dark places, the Milky Way can appear as a luminous ribbon of light. Getting a clear view of our home galaxy can be tricky.