Good Heavens

25/02/2025

Come stargazing with us! ✨️

There is so much to look at in the Southern night sky above New Zealand. 🤩

Awareness of the magnitude of our galaxy and the treasures it holds can increase the enjoyment we get from looking up.

Did you know for instance that Alpha Centauri is our next closest star after our Sun? And that this multiple star system is 4.3 light years away?

Knowing some of the myths of our ancestors increases our connection with them and with the stars. ✨️

We love being mesmerised by the beauty, the stories and some if the facts of our home galaxy and getting lost in the stars with you. 😍

22/02/2025

Keep shining! 🤩✨️

“It’s a quiet night tonight, isn’t it, Piglet?” said Pooh, gazing up at the stars.
“It certainly is,” said Piglet, his little paw resting on his friend’s.

“What do you think the stars talk about?” asked Pooh. “When we’re not listening, I mean.”
Piglet thought for a moment. “I think they talk about light,” he said. “About how even in the darkest skies, they shine as best as they can, no matter how small they are. Because they know someone, somewhere, is looking up and needs to see them.”

Pooh smiled. “That’s a lovely thought, Piglet. Do you think we’re like that too? Little stars, shining for each other?”
Piglet nodded. “Yes, Pooh. I think that’s what we’re meant to do. To be a little light for someone, even when the night feels very big and very dark.”

Pooh sat quietly for a moment, then said, “If that’s true, Piglet, then I think you’re the brightest star I know. Even on my gloomiest days, you make me feel like everything will be alright.”
“And you’re mine, Pooh,” said Piglet, softly. “Because with you, I always feel safe, even when the woods seem scary, or the path isn’t clear.”

The two friends sat together under the stars, wrapped in the kind of quiet love that doesn’t need grand gestures or fancy words. Just presence. Just care. Just two lights shining for each other in the great big world.
“What do you think we should do tomorrow?” asked Pooh after a while.
“I think we should just keep shining,” said Piglet.

And so they did. Together. Always.

12/02/2025

In a male dominated field like astronomy, it's important females are acknowledged and celebrated.

"Representation matters — some of them told me that they only applied because they saw that others like them were successful in this sector too," she said. During those simulated missions, "the more diverse a crew was, the more successful a mission ended up being — the team got along better, was able to problem solve more efficiently and they were also more productive with their research projects."

"The idea that they can somehow obliterate these sources is dead wrong — scientists in general and astronomers in particular are not going to take these threats lying down."

09/02/2025

Just checking... can you hear the stars? 🤩✨️🙉

In The Lost World of the Kalahari, Laurens van der Post recounts his time living among the indigenous people of the Kalahari Desert. He describes their shock when they discovered that he couldn’t hear the stars.

At first, they assumed he was joking or lying. But when they realized he truly couldn’t hear them, they were deeply saddened. To the Bushmen, being unable to hear nature was the most serious affliction a person could have—a sign of profound disconnection from the world around them.

04/02/2025

How lucky are we, stargazers, on Aotea Great Barrier Island?

When I looked closely at the third photo, I spotted some dark figures in the waves. Not visible to the naked eye on the night.

How cool!

22/01/2025

Some cool new findings from Gaia about our Milky Way. 🤩

22/01/2025

Aotea Great Barrier Island is a fab place for a stargazing and beach holidays. Only 1/2 hour's flight from Auckland.

Want to see what Stuff says?

Underrated alternatives to traditional hot spots in NZ, Australia and the Pacific Islands make for cruisy breaks without the crowds.

10/01/2025

Great article!

NZ is such a great place to come stargazing and the beaches of Aotea Great Barrier Island offer a horizon to horizon view of the Milky Way!

In combination with our subtropical climate, and our adventure filled motu, it's one of the best places in the world to see the stars! ✨️

Here's how to make the most of it. 👇

08/01/2025

If you haven't seen a Starlink sky train yet, this could be your chance 🤞

The newest Starlink satellite train will be passing over again on Wednesday night 8th January and *may* be visible from (updated) 10:10pm. This may be a better pass due to sunlight reflection angles but the Moonlight will be even brighter than last night.

The satellite train will disappear into the shadow cast by the Earth from 10:13pm.

Please refer to the map to check on the direction you need to look.

You might want to set a reminder alarm on your phone.

The chart shown is from the Heavens-Above website.
https://heavens-above.com/gtrack.aspx?satid=72001&mjd=60683.3846055629

08/01/2025

Set your alarms. One of our stargazers saw a Starlink train last night. Here's another chance tonight. Visible with the naked eye, going by the map, looking South! 🤩

The newest Starlink satellite train will be passing over again on Wednesday night 8th January and *may* be visible from (updated) 10:10pm. This may be a better pass due to sunlight reflection angles but the Moonlight will be even brighter than last night.

The satellite train will disappear into the shadow cast by the Earth from 10:13pm.

Please refer to the map to check on the direction you need to look.

You might want to set a reminder alarm on your phone.

The chart shown is from the Heavens-Above website.
https://heavens-above.com/gtrack.aspx?satid=72001&mjd=60683.3846055629

08/01/2025

Do you want to know how the planets are aligning this month? They always are, kind of. Here's a bit more info.

Totally worthwhile to come and have a look! 🤩 So if you're ready to book you can do so on www.goodheavens.co.nz

https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/planets-align-space-20017654.php

The planets Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are visible in the sky every night in January.

17/12/2024

Our new brochure is available from the Visitor Info Site at Claris Airfield. 🤩

13/12/2024

With Earth's moon 95% waxing gibbous, it's Moon Ealk Time tonight.🌖

Good Heavens' Moon Walks are very similar to our Look Up and Get Lost experiences. We just like our stargazers to be aware that during our Moon Walks, it's the time of the month when our sky is not super dark.

During a Moon Walk the Earth's Moon is more than 50% illuminated by our Sun, and fainter objects, like the Milky Way and the Magellenic Clouds, recede into the background, while the Moon takes centre stage.🌗🌖🌕

We will still gaze at and chat about the brightest stars and constellations and the planets just the same. 🤩

So when you want to book in for a Look Up and Get Lost experience, but there is nothing scheduled on your preferred date, check if it's perhaps Moon Walk time.

04/12/2024

When the body needs feeding, these are your Aotea Great Barrier Island options. 🤩

Check out the latest Summer 2024/25 Dine out guide below - giving you all the opening days, times and bookings details when dining out on the island

👇👇👇👇

28/11/2024

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24/11/2024

How lucky are we, to be living in a Dark Sky Sanctuary and take folk stargazing every clear night!