Big Sky Stargazing

01/09/2023

Did you know that September is an awesome time to join us on a stargazing tour. The nights are still long and dark with warmer spring temperatures. It's the most accessible time of year to see the Milky Way core (the centre of our home galaxy) as it will pass almost directly overhead shortly after nightfall, before slowly descending into the western sky throughout the course of the night.

📸 courtesy of one of our amazing astronomy guides .nti on IG

05/06/2023

When our team aren't guiding tours of the night sky, they're busy capturing it. In winter the centre of our Milky Way galaxy, the brightest part of our Milky Way will be visible during all our stargazing tours.

Here, resident astronomer captured the rising of the Milky Way above the Burnett Mountains. As it gets dark the centre of our Milky Way galaxy starts to shine.

18/05/2023

The views at night are just as spectacular as they are during the day in Aoraki/Mount Cook. Join us for some winter stargazing and explore the night sky with our resident astronomers.

18/04/2023

Did you know that we have an indoor 360-degree digital dome planetarium at in Aoraki/Mount Cook? So, rain, hail or shine, you can still immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky, and take a journey through the Milky Way from the comfort of your seat.

31/03/2023

At Big Sky Stargazing base this week the team were treated to a stunning light show courtesy of the Aurora Australis. Our resident astronomer caught it all on camera. 😍😍

23/03/2023

As the seasons change here in Aoraki/Mount Cook, so do our times for our Stargazing tours. Our daily trips will now depart at 9.30pm and 11.30pm.

Located in the largest Gold Status Dark Sky Reserve, and nestled among the mountains, our Star Base uses red light exclusively to minimise our impact on the night sky. Join us and our expert guides for a journey through the cosmos.

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12/01/2023

Who else agrees?!

Check out this article from nzherald.co.nz 'NZ’s best places for stargazing and sleeping under the stars'. https://bit.ly/3X0PhXo

Of course the Mackenzie Region is included with our famous Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, home to "some of the world’s clearest, most spectacular night skies."

Here are a few options for a stargazing experience here in the Mackenzie:

• Private astronomy & astrophotography with Alpha CruX - Stargazing & Astrophotography
• Family-friendly tours with hot chocolate & marshmallows by the fire with Chameleon Stargazing
• Stargaze amongst mountains in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park with Big Sky Stargazing (or if bad weather then inside New Zealand’s first 360-degree digital Dome Planetarium)
• Lake Tekapo's Dark Sky Project focuses on Māori astronomy and its significance to planting, lunar cycles, and navigation. They also offer tours from the University of Canterbury’s astronomy research facility at Mt John Observatory.

More info here: https://www.mackenzienz.com/explore/stargazing-and-astrophotography/

📸 = Big Sky Stargazing

08/12/2022

We operate our tours year-round, so long as the weather is in our favour! The times of our tours vary depending on the season and content is crafted based on the time of the month and what's happening in the night sky at that time. One question we get is, 'what can you see through the telescope on a full moon?' Our answer is - so much! We can get some incredible visuals of the moon and the craters within it, global star clusters, open star clusters, and currently planets like Jupiter and Saturn - although the planets are not always in our night sky.

07/12/2022

Let's put those new navigation skills to the test! Who knows which direction's south?!

01/12/2022

Still searching for the perfect Christmas gift?

Don't worry, we've found it for you. Surprise your loved ones with a gift card for a Big Sky Stargazing, Mt Cook tour! Nothing says 'I'm thinking of you' more than gifting a unique and magical experience spent under the stars, in the world's largest gold tier dark sky reserve.

The Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook offer a range of accommodation packages, dining experiences and activities in Aoraki/Mount Cook. Contact our friendly Reservations Team to purchase your gift voucher today.

30/11/2022

Have you witnessed the aurora? This photo was taken on one of our Big Sky Stargazing tours last month by our resident astronomer .

What is the Aurora Australis? "The Aurora australis (also known as the southern lights, and southern polar lights) is the southern hemisphere counterpart to the aurora borealis. In the sky, an aurora australis takes the shape of a curtain of light, or a sheet, or a diffuse glow; it most often is green, sometimes red, and occasionally other colors too." - www.universetoday.com

24/11/2022

Can you locate the Southern Cross? Can you navigate south? We know sometimes it's hard to remember facts from our tours, so here's a really helpful resource we found from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

There are three ways to locate due south using the Southern Cross: 1. Draw an imaginary line from the top of the cross to the bottom and extend it 4.5 times. Drop a vertical line from this point, which is the South Celestial Pole (SCP), to the horizon – that place is due south.

12/09/2022

September 2022 is Jupiter's time to shine! 🤩

If you've noticed a bright golden beacon in the North-Eastern evening skies recently, you might have found Jupiter. It's exceptionally bright, so if you're out stargazing in the late evening, you can't miss it!

This month, on the 26th, Jupiter will reach opposition - where the Earth passes between Jupiter and the Sun. Around this time, Jupiter appears a little larger and brighter in the skies. Through one of our telescopes, you'll often notice its four Galilean moons, and sometimes even the striped pattern of Jupiter's atmosphere!

Saturn reached opposition just last month too - and it's still looking fantastic! 🪐🪐

📸 Joseph Pooley - World Photography - thank you!

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

30/08/2022

Nestled in the mountains of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, our Star Base is a fantastic place to explore a truly dark night sky.

We exclusively use red lighting in our building, to minimise our impact on the night sky and help our guests' eyes fully adjust to the dark - and after a few minutes, you'll be amazed by how much more you can see!

From our Star Base, the snow-capped mountains of the National Park can be seen clearly even at night, as they reflect the light from countless stars in the Milky Way! If you look closely, you might spot the summit ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook 🤩

Last night we had perfect conditions for stargazing - this picture was taken during our stargazing experience yesterday by our guide Kate.


Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

05/08/2022

Happy birthday Curiosity! 🥳🥳

Today marks 20 years since the successful landing of the Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars!

One of Curiosity's tasks throughout it's long mission has been to investigate the possibility of water on Mars, or evidence of it's existence in the past. And it's been successful - we now think that whilst a small amount of water is present today, billions of years ago Mars was a much wetter place. Curiosity's home, the sediment-rich Gale Crater, may once have been the site of an ancient Martian lake.

Finding water, both past and present, on Mars remains an exciting prospect for humans; it shows us that one of the crucial ingredients for life as we know it can exist, and in abundance, beyond our own home.

Here in our planetarium dome at Big Sky Stargazing, we can take our guests on a virtual journey down to the Martian surface to visit the Curiosity rover - come and see us to learn more!

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS


Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

22/07/2022

Here at Big Sky Stargazing, we're excited to see the planets returning to the evening skies!

For the last couple of weeks, guests on our later tours have been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Saturn in our telescopes. Saturn is rising a little earlier each night, giving us a better chance to check out its rings!

Next month, on the 14th of August, Saturn will reach opposition - this means it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, and visible for most of the night.

If you'd like to find Saturn over the coming weeks, you can see it shining as a yellow point of light in the constellation Capricornus. To distinguish Saturn from the stars in this part of the sky, look out for a point of light that doesn't twinkle much; whilst stars often appear to twinkle due to our atmosphere, planets rarely do.

Keep an eye out for more planets to come!

📸 Joseph Pooley - World Photography - thanks for the stunning image!



Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

19/07/2022

How incredible are the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope! 🤩

This image shows a part of sky close to our hearts here at Big Sky Stargazing – a section of the Carina Nebula, a complex cloud of gas and dust in the Milky Way. From the dark skies of Aoraki/Mount Cook, it’s possible to see the Carina Nebula with the naked eye throughout the year!

Although with the naked eye we see a dusty glowing patch, the cutting-edge technology of JWST reveals this nebula in an unprecedented amount of detail. Amongst the gas and dust in the lower section of the image, you can notice some infant stars glowing as red dots. The cameras on JWST make use of infrared light, allowing us to peer inside this ‘stellar nursery’ and witness the formation of new stars. In doing so, we can get closer to understanding how our star, the Sun, formed around 4.5 billion years ago.

Over the coming years, JWST will continue to observe the sky from its home 1.5 million km away from the Earth. We hope it will help us piece together a greater understanding of the universe, and we'll be looking forward to seeing what it reveals next!

You can check out the other images released so far by visiting www.nasa.gov/webbfirstimages 🤩🤩

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

10/07/2022

Did you know that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is home to between 200 and 400 billion stars? Although each of these stars is another Sun, they can be very different to our own, and are much further away! It's the combined light of many of these stars that we see as the glow of the Milky Way in the sky.

This picture was taken on one of our stargazing experiences by our guide Kate. On suitable nights, we do our best to take a picture of our guests under the night sky 🤩

How many stars can you count in this one?

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

23/06/2022

Wondering how you can find Matariki in the sky at this time of year?

A couple of hours before Sunrise, take a look towards the North East from somewhere with a clear horizon. There’s lots to see in the sky here at the moment, and the bright planet Venus will be one of the most eye-catching lights. A little below and to the North, you can find the glowing cluster of Matariki rising.

Matariki (or the Pleiades, M45, seven sisters or Subaru in other cultures) is an open cluster of young stars in the constellation Ta**us. They feature in many stories and traditions around the world due to their distinctive appearance, and here they can be used to herald the arrival of the Māori New Year. The timing of Matariki is based partly on a lunar calendar, so the dates shift a little each year, but on June 24th this year it is being celebrated as a public holiday nationwide. This period has a different meaning for everyone, but many use it as a time of reflection and remembrance, as well as to gather and feast with Whanau.

As well as Matariki, you can look out for 5 planets (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Mercury), a crescent Moon, and the constellation of Orion (the Pot) in the dawn sky too. In some places, the bright star Puanga (Rigel) in Orion can also be used to herald the arrival of the New Year.

Happy stargazing! 🌟🌟

21/06/2022

Matariki will be celebrated around Aotearoa as a public holiday for the first time this year and we’ve got some special planetarium shows to acknowledge this significant event, whatever the weather may bring.

This Friday 24th & Saturday 25th schedule:

3:30pm: Space Travelers Matariki Special
Featuring award winning animations, this experience is suitable for all ages and gives an insight into some of the stories of Māori astronomy.
As well as taking a guided flight through the solar system, learn where to find constellations in the sky, and how to find Matariki before sunrise.

5pm: Galactic Journey Matariki Special
In this guided experience, we’ll take you on an enchanting journey through the cosmos, from our own Solar System to the edge of the Milky Way.
With our virtual view of the night sky, we can show you the highlights of the night sky at this time of year, including where to look for Matariki just before sunrise, and an up-close view of this beautiful star cluster!

12/06/2022

It's mesmerizing watching how the night sky changes as the Earth rotates! 🤩

At the beginning of this stunning time-lapse taken by Igor, you can see moonlight illuminating the mountains. This glow comes from light that has travelled a long way - roughly 150 million kilometres from the Sun to the Moon, and a further 380 000km after being reflected from the Lunar surface, down to us on Earth.

As the Moon sets, the textures in our Milky Way become the star of the show. As well as billions of stars, our galaxy is home to many interstellar clouds, or nebulae. Some of these are opaque to visible starlight, appearing as dark clouds weaving through the Milky Way, whilst others are bright and have a colourful glow. The Lagoon Nebula (M8) is one of these, a pink glowing patch rising partway through the time-lapse. Can you spot it? 🌟🌟

Want to look deeper into the galaxy? Join us on a stargazing experience!

Thank you for another beautiful capture of our night skies.

10/06/2022

Who's excited for some snow this weekend? ❄❄❄

Here in Aoraki Mount Cook, we've got some very wintery scenes outside with more snow still falling - perfect weather to sit back and relax in our planetarium! Regardless of the weather, our planetarium experiences allow you to immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky, and take a journey through the Milky Way from the comfort of your seat.

Here's a glimpse at a 360-degree view of the Carina nebula - one of the largest cloud complexes in the Milky Way, and just one of the spectacular places you might learn about under our dome. Thanks for the picture Brad!

Stay warm out there!

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

28/05/2022

Have you noticed a bright star twinkling in the evening sky recently?

Sirius (Takurua in Maori astronomy) is the brightest true star in the night sky. Labelled in the picture, you can find it in the western sky after sunset at this time of year. Sirius is about twice as heavy as our own Sun, and significantly hotter, causing it to glow a bright white colour in the sky.

Sometimes, Sirius is known as the 'Dog Star', forming part of the constellation Canis Major or the 'Big Dog'. Can you see the shape of the dog setting towards the mountains?

This picture was taken earlier this month during one of our stargazing experiences by our guide Kate. Join us on a tour to find out more!

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

03/05/2022

🌟Milky Way season is here! 🌟

Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible on dark nights as a glowing band in the sky all year round - but we think it's most impressive in autumn and winter when we can see the centre of our galaxy rising above the mountains. The galactic centre is seen as a bright glow in the sky, home to billions of stars and the mighty Sagittarius A* - a supermassive black hole.

To see the Milky Way clearly, you need a dark location - so come and join us at Big Sky Stargazing, in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky reserve!

This picture was taken from our stargazing patio during one of our tours, by our guide Kate.

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

20/04/2022

Who's excited for winter?! ❄️

Here in Aoraki/Mount Cook, the days are getting cooler and the nights are getting longer - which means winter is just around the corner! We're excited to have more hours of darkness to share the wonders of the night sky with you.

The crisp nights at this time of year often bring perfect stargazing conditions - and we provide cozy jackets and hot chocolates to make sure everyone stays warm!

Come and join us at Big Sky Stargazing, and be amazed! ✨

📸 Joseph Pooley - World Photography

📍 Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

01/02/2022

Have you ever seen the stars of Matariki shining in the sky? ✨

Summer is a great time to look for this cluster of stars, also known as the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters, or Subaru, in other parts of the world. Although only a handful of stars can be seen with the naked eye, the cluster contains hundreds of young stars in total!

In this beautiful time lapse by , Matariki can be seen setting behind Mount Sefton, whose glaciers glow under the starlight.

Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

09/01/2022

Do you have any travel plans for 2022?

Come and join us under the starry night skies of Aoraki Mount Cook! Nestled amongst the mountains and within the largest dark sky reserve in the Southern Hemisphere, our guides will take you on a journey through the cosmos you're sure to remember.

📸 Joseph Pooley - World Photography


Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

05/12/2021

Wondering what's happening in the night sky this month? Here are some highlights our guides will be looking out for in December 2021:

✨ December brings us 2 meteor showers - the Phoenicids and the Geminids. The Geminids is often one of the best meteor showers we see, bringing on average 120 meteors per hour.

✨ Keep looking out for the planets! Venus shines brightly in the West after sunset at the moment, and can even be seen during the day following the Sun across the sky. Jupiter is visible overhead after sunset as a golden light, and Saturn shines with a fainter orange colour between Venus and Jupiter.

✨ Look out for Matariki in the East after sunset, near to the famous hunter Orion. Matariki (or the Pleiades, Seven Sisters) is used in many parts of Aotearoa to mark the arrival of the Māori New Year.

Want to find out more? Join us for a tour!

📸 Joseph Pooley - World Photography


Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook

07/11/2021

Last Thursday, during one of our stargazing tours at our Starbase located at Aoraki Mt Cook Airport, our customers were pleasantly surprised by a very bright aurora. This atmospheric dancing light is caused by particles from our Sun that interact with the molecules in our atmosphere above the poles. Large solar flares produced on the surface of the Sun often results in these auroras on our planet.

On the Southern hemisphere these dancing lights are called Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. And last night was one of the brightest aurora we have seen in past 5 years in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.

Did you see it?

Big thanks to our very own for the amazing timelapse.

24/10/2021

There's often a lot more to the night sky than first meets the eye!

From the pristine skies of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, you might notice more detail in the sky than usual. The supergiant star Antares, whose bold red colour is visible here, can be seen shining in the west after sunset at this time of year, forming the beating heart of Scorpius.

It's not just stars visible in the night sky though - look out for dark dust lanes weaving through the glow of the Milky Way. Emerging from the lower right of the time lapse, you can notice the friendly shape of the Galactic Kiwi, formed by the dark Pipe Nebula.

This stunning time lapse was captured by from our stargazing site in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

Hermitage Hotel Aoraki Mt Cook