Whakatane Astronomical Society

23/09/2026

We're looking forward to recognising World Space Week with you - more details soon!

23/09/2026

Get to know equinoxes! Find out when the next equinox will be in 2026, why day and night are nearly equal at an equinox, and how it marks the change of seasons.

16/07/2026

Hopefully it will be clear enough later today for a good view of this spectacle! 🤩

08/06/2026

Here's some more detail! 🤩

The two brightest planets in our sky, Venus and Jupiter, are currently engaged in a cosmic dance in the evening sky after sunset, moving closer together over the coming week.

The pair will remain close throughout June, reaching conjunction on the evenings of 9–11 June, when they will appear just 1.5° apart. To see them, simply look to the west after sunset. Both planets will be easy to spot, shining brightly in the sky for several hours.

08/06/2026

Keep an eye on the western sky for this beautiful view!

Over the coming week, keep an eye out early evening around 6 pm low in the northwestern sky for the bright planet Venus (Kōpū or Meremere in the evening sky) as it races higher up to meet Jupiter (Hine-i-tīweka).
On Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 June, in a spectacular scene these two bright planets will lie close to each other.
Mercury (Whiro) is also rising towards Jupiter during this time.
Take the time to have a look as it will be over 3 years before these two bright planets come close each other again.
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

25/05/2026

A nice clear evening in Whakatane New Zealand for a change, with the Moon itching to be photographed, so I hu**ed the mount out followed by our 158mm William Optic scope and manged to get some images that I have processed since. North pole is down. I discovered the trouble I experienced my during the eclipse debacle was purely the the operator having a 'very Senior Moment!' My old camera is still a-ok.

14/05/2026

Public viewing night
Kia ora! Great weather for star gazing!
We will be open Friday 15th of May from 7.30pm.
Costs are $15 adults and $10 children. Family (2+2) is $40.00.

14/05/2026

If you are up early tomorrow morning before the Sun, be sure to catch this gorgeous trio in the dawn skies. You'll be able to spot Saturn, a thin crescent Moon, and Mars hanging low together in the eastern sky before sunrise. The best time to catch them will be around 6am.

To learn more about all of the happenings in the sky this May, be sure to check out our monthly series The Southern Night Sky!

30/04/2026

Public viewing night
Kia ora! Great weather for star gazing tonight!
We will be open Friday 1st of May from 7.30pm.
Costs are $15 adults and $10 children. Family (2+2) is $40.00.

22/04/2026

Kia ora! We will be open Friday 24th of April from 7.30pm. Costs are $15 adults and $10 children. Family (2+2) is $40.00.

Send a message to learn more