Whakatane Astronomical Society

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

22/04/2026

Fingers crossed that the skies are clear tonight!

10/04/2026

Artemis crew is nearly home!
You can watch their return trip home

Around the Moon and back. Watch the Artemis II astronauts come home.NASA's Artemis II mission is splashing down in the Pacific Ocean at about 8:07 p.m. EDT o...

04/04/2026

Another fascinating astronomical event coming our way!

Update Wednesday 8 April 2026 - C/2026 A1 (MAPS) disintegrated on April 4, 2026 during its perihelion transit. The video shows the comet falling towards the Sun and the reappearance of its debris after the passage https://static.theskylive.com/website/thesylive-article-media/2026/02/c2026a1-maps-latest-updates-and-insights/c2026a1-disintegration-lasco-c3.webm
There won't be much to see in our evening skies.
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Just a heads up. Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is a sun-grazing comet hurtling close to the Sun this weekend. If it doesn't disintegrate and makes it to the other side, it could put on a spectacular show from April 7 over the next fortnight. Every night it will appear higher in the sky making it more visible but it will be dimming at the same time. Get those cameras ready just in case!

Please do NOT look for the comet with binos or a telescope till after the Sun has gone below the horizon to avoid the possibility of damage to your eyes.

There is a second comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS which will be visible from April 30 onwards, however this is expected to be dimmer so it may not be as spectacular. It is rare to see two comets in a month so take the opportunity! ☄️
NZ IAU Astronomy Outreach IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach