Rotorua Astronomical Society

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In just 10 days, Aotearoa New Zealand will have a front-row seat to witness a total lunar eclipse in its entirety - the only lunar eclipse of 2026.

The lunar eclipse will begin on the night of 3 March at around 9:45pm, when the Moon starts to enter Earth’s shadow, slowly dimming before turning a deep red hue at around 11pm. Totality will occur just after midnight, with the best time to catch the eclipse around 12:30am.

Lunar eclipses require no special equipment — just your eyes and a clear view of the sky. Be sure to check the forecast for your local area if you’re planning to watch this dazzling celestial display.

There will not be another total lunar eclipse until 2028, and we are among the few locations able to watch the entire event unfold over the Pacific. Only an estimated 2% of Earth’s population will be able to view this eclipse from beginning to end.

One for early risers and rainless skies .......

Six planets and the Moon align. Everything you need to know about Monday's planet alignment | BBC Sky at Night Magazine Top tips for seeing the morning planet alignment on 18 and 19 August 2025, including where to look and when.

Dusting off and giving the Rotorua Astronomical Societies Celestron C8 Schmidt-Cassergrain a run.

https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/what-is-a-light-year/

What is a light-year? - NASA Science Light-year is the distance light travels in one year. Light zips through interstellar space at 186,000 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second and 5.88 trillion

There is definitely a lot of moisture around to fog up lenses and mirrors on telescopes. Dew shields and dew heaters might be handy. Here is a video about how to make your own dew shield.

Make your own Telescope Dew Shield. 🔔Subscribe🔔 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHnL8MnF5v9lO-yLpc9HP4g ▶️ Northern Lights trip https://youtu.be/-h8eESNYf8w▶️ Motorizing a GSO Dobsonian ...

https://www.space.com/33619-visible-planets-guide.html

The brightest planets in August's night sky: How to see them (and when) Where are the bright naked-eye planets in August 2025 and when are the best times to view them?

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/alpha-centauri-might-have-a-planet-webb-telescope-finds/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMCHb1jbGNrAwIdt2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeX9Vv2WUlhK6hRDAeuQPwxmkJR30RCoYMSLF46rTeve0cAM6GfIoMk7EhfAo_aem_kJbkT-WOlrhR-t_efq30bw

Alpha Centauri Might Have a Planet, Webb Telescope Finds Direct images from the James Webb Space Telescope show what could be a Saturn-mass planet around Alpha Centauri.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/real-life-vaticans-top-astronomer-guy-consolmagno-on-faith-science-and-searching-for-god/DMGYL3AYCBBIJBFLLQBMDLAUHE/

Vatican astronomer wants NZ to realise faith and science can be happy bedfellows 'My search for God … is what makes me want to be a scientist.'

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NEW STARLINK TRAIN ALERT ~6:15pm Thurs 31 July

Weather permitting, the newest Starlink satellite train (G10-29) *may* be visible tonight from around 6:15pm (depending on your location). Please allow a few minutes either side as this data may have changed since launch.

As seen from Tauranga, Starlink G10-29 will rise in the Southwest at around 6:15pm and will pass high across the sky as it passes over the Waikato. Starlink will be highest, almost straight up, at 6:18pm before heading Northeast.

Please refer to the map to check the direction you need to be looking as seen from your location. For observers in the South Island, Starlink will appear 2-3 minutes earlier, rising in the Southwest.

Due to a number of factors, there is no guarantee the satellite train will be visible - but if it is, it may be a spectacular sight.

You might want to set a reminder alarm on your phone! :)

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/568158/what-happens-if-asteroid-yr4-spares-earth-but-slams-into-the-moon?fbclid=IwY2xjawLz9YRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqTqjKQWQCG6rGWhP0Tk4nph2DFWNsrVQJ6ZnkFkZjrk9HIv9e8pMcadSask_aem_uDXsqREMHfzMTK3rMt7fVQ

What happens if Asteroid YR4 spares Earth, but slams into the moon? Asteroid YR4 could still pose a threat in late 2032 by slamming into the moon.

In the north-eastern sky shortly before sunrise at about 6:00am early risers will see a bright star. This is the plant Venus which is one of the brightest objects in the sky. The seven bright stars known as Matariki or Pleiades surrounded by a fuzzy bright cloud of nebulosity are now visible higher to the left of Venus.
The planet Jupiter can be spotted just appearing up above the horizon.
To the right is the grouping of stars commonly known to most New Zealanders as the pot. The pot is part of the constellation of Orion the hunter. In the head of Orion above the three bright stars is the Orion nebula, an area of star birth.
All these objects present well through a set of binoculars or a small telescope. The images are from Stellarium which is a free planetarium software that can downloaded from Google play to a cell phone.