Welcome to the website for the Hawke’s Bay Astronomical Society.
The HBAS is an active club with a strong membership base. Discussions at our meetings are lively and cover everything from the oldest origins of the universe, to the latest data from unmanned probes in the far reaches of the solar system. Our monthly meetings are held at the Hawke’s Bay Holt Planetarium in the grounds of Napier Boys’ High School, off Chambers Street, Napier (map).These take place at 7:00 PM on the second Wednesday of every month, with the exception of January, when we are all at Stardate.
A range of equipment is owned by the club, including a six inch refractor, 80mm Vixen refractor with solar filter, eight inch table top Schmidt Cassegrain and a lovely hand made 16 inch reflector. These instruments are complimented by personal equipment owned by the members themselves.
We are currently working to establish a dark-sky observatory in the hills west of Napier. Once operational, Pukerangi will host three telescopes and eventually, an astrograph for photographic purposes. Go to the Pukerangi page to read some exciting news about our new observatory.
Membership subs (now due for payment as of May 2012) & donations can be made via internet banking through Westpac – HB Astronomical Society Inc 03-0698-0025233-00. Please include your name as reference. All donations of $5 or more are tax deductable. Download a membership form here.
Upcoming Events: (last Update: 19/05/2012)
Next Monthly Meeting
The society will next meet on Wednesday 13th June, 7:00 PM at the Planetarium. Bring a gold coin for your raffle entry to be drawn on the night. There will be an interesting (and often, tasty) selection of prizes for the winners to choose from.
Transit Of Venus
On June 6th, the planet Venus will pass directly in front of the sun. Weather permitting, the astronomy society will have a small presence on the grounds of the Planetarium. Some telescopes, fitted with safe solar filters, will be there for viewing this event. This is the last opportunity anyone alive today will have to view a transit of Venus… The next one will be in the year 2117.
The Transit starts with first contact at 10:15 AM and lasts until final contact at 4:44 PM. There may also be a possibly to see some sunspots. For more information, contact the Plantearium, or view this link from NASA.
Please note: Do not stare directly at the sun or use any un-filtered telescope to view the sun – permanant damage may be done to your eyes.
Visiting Lecturer
We are pleased to announce that Clive Ruggles will be visiting us as part of a New Zealand tour. Clive will be speaking on the subject of archaeoastronomy; the study of ancient beliefs and practices related to the sky. His work in South America hit the headlines in March 2007 with the publication in the journal Science of his work with Peruvian archaeologist Ivan Ghezzi on the Thirteen Towers of Chankillo, a 2300-year old solar observation site. Clive Ruggles is Emeritus Professor of Archaeoastronomy at the University of Leicester, UK.
The lecture will take place at 7.00PM on June 18th at the War Memorial Conference Centre, Napier. Entry is $5. Bookings not required.
Download the poster.
Movie Night
June’s sci-fi movie is actually a 1966 TV series, “The Ark (Doctor Who)“. Movie starts 7PM on Friday the 15th at the planetarium.
Free entry (recommended $5 donation). All money raised will go to the observatory fund.
www.holtplanetarium.org.nz/
