Canterbury Astronomical Society

08/09/2026

Amazing! 🤩
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19BuJ263KY/

08/09/2026

Get out and look now!!

Jupiter - Moon Close To Each Other

A conjunction of the Moon (Marama) and Jupiter (Pareārau, Hine-i-tīweka) takes place on Wednesday September 9, 2026, bringing the waning crescent Moon and the brilliant gas giant close together in the morning sky.
The pair will rise in the NE around 5:30 am with sunrise around 6:30 am so you will have about an hour to see them together before Jupiter starts to dim in the sunlight.
Have a look at Mars (Matawhero) too, the red-orange coloured planet slightly to the left and higher up.
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

08/09/2026

😍✨🌌
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BnoJuZqSs/

September - Best Time to see the Zodiacal Light!

September is an excellent month to see the Zodiacal Light from Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly in the western evening sky. The best time is during te dark, moonless September evenings where it can appear as a broad, faint column extending upward from the western horizon. The first 7–10 days after New Moon (~ 11-20 September) are generally favourable for zodiacal-light viewing once the Moon has set.

It looks like a soft, hazy pyramid or column of light rising from the horizon ands follows the ecliptic (the flat plane of our solar system). In September evenings in Aotearoa New Zealand, it extends past Mercury and Venus toward the star Antares in constellation of Scorpio.
It is created by sunlight reflecting off tiny interplanetary dust grains left behind by comets and asteroids.

Direction: West
When: About 1–2 hours after sunset, once twilight has faded
Appearance: A very faint, broad triangular/conical glow rising from the western horizon
Best location: A genuinely dark-sky site, away from city lights

Image credit - Tristian McDonald, over Treble Cone looking over Lake Wanaka, October 2025
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

04/09/2026

4th September 2026 OPEN
Very limited tickets be quick!!!!
Bookings via eventbrite Astroblast! Canterbury Astronomical Society's Public Open Nights 2026.
Come explore the night sky with us this evening!
Please keep these tips in mind when planning your visit:
Timing is Everything: Gates open at 7:20pm, and the program begins promptly at 7:30pm. Please arrive on time so you don’t miss anything!
Plan Your Trip: Check Google Maps in advance. We are located on a 100kph road, so please take care and stay on the grass verges when walking to the gate.
Ticketless Entry: We have a guest list at the gate to check you in manually.
Keep it Dark: To protect everyone’s night vision, no white lights or flashing shoes are allowed on site - sorry kids!
Red-light torches are more than welcome!
Dress for Success: It gets chilly at night - layer up and wear your warmest gear.
We are now open until mid October for each clear friday night🔭✨🪐
Public Safety Warning! We do not allow transfer of tickets so don't follow any scammer messages on here about tickets sales - if you need to contact us please reach out via Eventbrite! Don't get scammed!

28/08/2026

28th August 2026 OPEN
You still have time to buy tickets for tonight.
Bookings via eventbrite Astroblast! Canterbury Astronomical Society's Public Open Nights 2026.
Come explore the night sky with us this evening!
Some tickets are still on sale for tonight
Please keep these tips in mind when planning your visit:
Timing is Everything: Gates open at 7:20pm, and the program begins promptly at 7:30pm. Please arrive on time so you don’t miss anything!
Plan Your Trip: Check Google Maps in advance. We are located on a 100kph road, so please take care and stay on the grass verges when walking to the gate.
Ticketless Entry: We have a guest list at the gate to check you in manually.
Keep it Dark: To protect everyone’s night vision, no white lights or flashing shoes are allowed on site - sorry kids!
Red-light torches are more than welcome!
Dress for Success: It gets chilly at night - layer up and wear your warmest gear.
We are now open until mid October for each clear friday night🔭✨🪐
Public Safety Warning! We do not allow transfer of tickets so don't follow any scammer messages on here about tickets sales - if you need to contact us please reach out via Eventbrite! Don't get scammed!

21/08/2026

21st August 2026 OPEN
You still have time to buy tickets for tonight.
Bookings via eventbrite Astroblast! Canterbury Astronomical Society's Public Open Nights 2026.
Come explore the night sky with us this evening!
Some tickets are still on sale for tonight
Please keep these tips in mind when planning your visit:
Timing is Everything: Gates open at 7:20pm, and the program begins promptly at 7:30pm. Please arrive on time so you don’t miss anything!
Plan Your Trip: Check Google Maps in advance. We are located on a 100kph road, so please take care and stay on the grass verges when walking to the gate.
Ticketless Entry: We have a guest list at the gate to check you in manually.
Keep it Dark: To protect everyone’s night vision, no white lights or flashing shoes are allowed on site - sorry kids!
Red-light torches are more than welcome!
Dress for Success: It gets chilly at night - layer up and wear your warmest gear.
We are now open until mid October for each clear friday night🔭✨🪐

Public Safety Warning! We do not allow transfer of tickets so don't follow any scammer messages on here about tickets sales - if you need to contact us please reach out via Eventbrite! Don't get scammed!

14/08/2026

14TH August 2026
Tonights event is CANCELLED, We are closed. Weather forecasts are unfavorable for veiwing.😶‍🌫️💭☁
Please rebook for another Friday this season. Tickets are available via eventbrite. We run our winter season until 9th October 2026
Have a great weekend and keep warm. We look forward to seeing you soon 🔭🌙💫⭐️🔭

12/08/2026

Shhhhh! Don't speak too loudly, but the weather for this Friday, is looking hopeful with light clouds! And no moon in the night sky. Come Join us for an evening under the stars as you and your family discover the wonders of our Southern night sky with our skilled amateur astronomers. Your night sky tours starts with a welcome talk starting at 7.30pm, followed by a guided laser tour of the night sky and telescope viewing until 9pm. Gate opens 7.20pm sharp - no early admission/or gate sales. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite https://cas2026.eventbrite.com/
Opening are always dependent on the weather, so please check our page or our website www.cas.org.nz before heading out to the observatory. We will post a status update on our page and our website before 4:00pm confirming whether we are open or closed. Full refunds are automatically done if we are closed due to the weather.

07/08/2026

7TH August 2026
Tonights event is CANCELLED, We are closed. Weather forecasts are unfavorable for veiwing.🌧️🌨️☔️
Please rebook for another Friday this season. Tickets are available via eventbrite. We run our winter season until 9th October 2026
Have a great weekend and keep warm. We look forward to seeing you soon 🔭🌙💫⭐️🔭

06/08/2026

How very cool!! ☄️ https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bg8bp2bxK/