A tour of some observatories large and small around the country, and some kiwis with a passion that burns bright for the sky at night.
Arthur Samuel Atkinson looking through a telescope ca 1885. He was a journalist, lawyer, philologist, astronomer, and naturalist. He lived at Nelson in a house called "Fairfield". Photographs relating to the Fell and Atkinson families. Ref: PA1-q-074-20-4-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22303374
Halley's Comet as photographed on May 4, 1910. (Evening Post, 01 February 1941). Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/20083475
Astronomers at the observatory camp in Cawthron Park, Nelson 1914. Frederick Nelson, 1881-1962 :Negatives of the Nelson district. Ref: 1/1-009995-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22732359
Canterbury University College, Christchurch, showing observatory. 1920s. Harding, William James, 1826-1899 :Negatives of Wanganui district. Ref: 1/1-000567-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22466645
Meteorological Enclosure, and Dominion Observatory on the Observatory Reserve, Botanic Garden, Kelburn, Wellington, 10 August 1945. New Zealand Meteorological Service :Photographs of meteorological observatories. Ref: 1/2-055883-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23191415
Carter Observatory, Wellington. 1941. Exterior view, with the suburb of Northland in the background. Photograph taken by an unidentified staff photographer for the Evening Post. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: PAColl-8557-19. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23142813
A man with a lens for the observatory photographed circa 24 October 1951 by an Evening Post photographer. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: 114/371/03-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22903836
Television astronomer Peter Reid with telescope, photographed by K E Niven & Co of Wellington. Commercial negatives. Ref: 1/2-213284-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22838047
'Comet Tours' - Halley's Comet brochure - Tourist and Publicity Department - 1986. Image: Archives New Zealand (CC BY-SA 2.0)
New Plymouth Observatory. Image: Kete New Plymouth (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 NZ)
New Plymouth Observatory. Image: Kete New Plymouth (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 NZ)
Mount John Observatory. Photo: Nick Thompson. (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Mount John Observatory. Photo: Peter Kurdulija. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The University of Canterbury’s Mt John Observatory at Lake Tekapo is a centre of astronomical research and training, and now also part of the Aoraki-Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. Image: Fraser Gunn
Beverly-Begg Observatory taken from Robin Hood park and looking toward Otago Harbour in Dunedin. Photo: Peter Jaquiery (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Stu Parker's observatory. Photo: Stu Parker
The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.
