Omaka Observatory

01/08/2024

Reminder Club Meeting on Saturday. 6pm Junior session, 7pm guest speaker with a talk on String Theory

06/07/2024

Here is the night sky guide for July. While the nights may be extra cold at the moment, it's a fantastic time for a bit of stargazing with beautiful views of the Milky Way in the early evening.

26/06/2024

Watching Matariki rising above the cloud at Rārangi this morning. Thanks Marlborough Youth Trust for a great event

12/06/2024

Thursday 27th June we will be supporting Marlborough Youth Trust in their Matariki celebrations from 6am at the Millenium Rock in Rārangi. This event is open to all and free of charge.

11/06/2024

Weather permitting we will have telescopes set up at the Matariki Night Market at The Vines Village. Join us at the event on Saturday 22nd June, 4:30-7:30pm.

Although the Matariki star cluster is only visible in the early morning, once the sky is dark we will have some great views of the Moon and other constellations.

10/06/2024

Here is the June Night Sky Guide. We're getting some incredible views through the telescopes at the moment.
Bookings can be made at www.omakaobservatory.co.nz

11/05/2024

Amazing view out there tonight. Pop on a jacket and enjoy the sight!

02/05/2024

Next Observatory Club meeting, 6pm Saturday May 4th Blenheim Club (92 High Street), its an interstellar look at space in popular culture.

01/05/2024

Here is the night sky guide for May. It's a great time for viewing as Orion sets in the western sky and Scorpius rises in the east.
There are spaces available on our tours for this weekend, bookings can be made at http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/

26/04/2024

We finally have a completely clear sky forecast. Spaces are available on our 8pm tour tonight.
Bookings can be made at http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/

05/04/2024

Reminder society meeting tonight

04/04/2024

Here is the night sky guide for April. The clocks are changing this weekend and longer nights are ahead so some great time for stargazing coming up.

The bright "star" you see towards the west at sunset is Jupiter and it will be setting earlier as the month goes on. Any early risers will be able to see Mars, Saturn, and Venus shining brightly in the east just before sunrise, along with the slightest crescent moon over the next few days.

There will also be some nice passes of the ISS in the early mornings for the rest of this week.

Unfortunately we have had a bit of bad luck with cloud cover recently but fingers crossed for more clear nights. Bookings for tours and star parties can be made at http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/

01/02/2024

We are back after our summer break. Observatory tour dates now loaded for Feburary and March see https://omakaobservatory.co.nz/astro-tourism/ for more details. If you haven't been out to see the nights sky nows a great time to come out. Jupiter and Orions Nebula being highlights of the nights sky.

View planets, distant galaxies at the Omaka Crater Observatory in Marlborough for professional star gazing and Astronomy Tours.

12/12/2023

☄EARTH NOW INTERSECTING METEOR SHOWER☄

8pm has passed and Earth is now predicted to be entering the meteor stream ejected from comet 46P/Wirtanen for the first time!

Cloud is clearing across the country and we recommend heading outside and taking a look🔭

11/12/2023

While meteor showers are not uncommon, Tuesday night's event promises to be unique.

04/12/2023

Here is the night sky guide for December. Our nights are getting shorter but there is still some great viewing as Orion returns and two great looking planets are visible, Jupiter and Saturn.

We have a few public sessions left before the summer break and private star parties are available at http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/

28/11/2023

Christmas is coming THIS SAT 2ND DEC to Blenheim CBD!! Pure Events Marlborough have even more Christmas themed floats to delight your littlies this year and we’re going to be part of it too! Get ready for a fun packed Christmassy day with Mistletoe Market starting from 9am, followed by a pre-parade concert at 2.30pm in the forum - visit from Santa, music and kids activities. The Parade will be kicking off from Blenheim School at 3.30pm, following its usual route!! Keep an eye out for our space themed entry.

09/11/2023

Currently got spaces on our tour this Saturday night and the weather is looking good. Should be able to see Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune through our scopes as well as a host of nebula and other deep space objects. Book here http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/astro-tourism/

04/11/2023

Here is the November Night Sky Guide.

While we have to stay up a little later for night sky viewing, we sure do have some great views with two great planets up at the moment. Jupiter has returned and is visible throughout the entire evening. Saturn will be visible until the early morning.

06/10/2023

We're at Feast Marlborough with some fun food and astronomy activities. We'll also have the portable VR kit set up from about 5:30 then as soon as it gets dark the telescope will be set to Saturn

04/10/2023

October Club meeting Tuesday 10th October from 7pm, see notice below, all welcome.

02/10/2023

Here is the night sky guide for October.

Now is the perfect time to see Saturn and some great deep sky objects in the Milky Way! Make the most of crisp clear nights this month by booking a tour with us http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/

The most recent Starlink trail is passing over us in the early mornings over the next few days so early risers may be in for a treat. If you look up and towards the east around 5:12-5:15am you might be able to catch sight of them before they disappear.

The ISS and Tiangong will also be making some passes in the mornings over the next week.

29/08/2023

Reminder for tonight's event we have Professor Jan J. Eldridge presenting "Building on the Shoulders of Giantesses". Come along to learn how women astronomers have made vital contributions to unlocking the secrets of the universe.

It's also looking like a beautifully clear night so we will have the telescope out to look at Saturn.

Classroom One, Bohally School 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

26/08/2023

Looking for something to do tonight? The forecast is for clear skies and we have spaces available on our 8pm tour. Now is a great time to view Saturn through the telescopes as it nears opposition and we will also have the moon scope out.
Bookings can be made at http://omakaobservatory.co.nz/