Tag Archives: Mt John Observatory

124-Year-Old Telescope to be Restored in NZ

124-Year-Old Telescope to be Restored in NZ

One of the world’s most famous Victorian telescopes will be restored and available for public viewing in autumn 2019 at Lake Tekapo after spending five decades in storage. Dallas Poll, who is restoring the 124-year-old…

Lake Tekapo An Ultimate Retreat For Star Gazers

Lake Tekapo An Ultimate Retreat For Star Gazers

“The past few years have seen a rise in astro-tourism with travellers seeking out destinations with the clearest, darkest skies to marvel at galaxies and constellations,” as reported in an article in

Finding the Middle of Nowhere

Finding the Middle of Nowhere

For those looking for an off-the-beaten-path excursion in New Zealand, Emily Dayton of the San Diego Reader recommends visiting Lake Tekapo. “The small town is a cluster of homes and motels at the south…

Streaking Star Trails

Streaking Star Trails

A long-exposure image of star trails streaking over Lake Tekapo features on the National Geographic website. The lake was one of the first sites designated as a Starlight Reserve as part of a UN-supported initiative to…

A Star Among Men

A Star Among Men

Frank Bateson, one of the world’s most respected astronomers, has died in Tauranga aged 97. Born in Wellington in 1909, Bateson was the internationally acknowledged expert on variable stars (those which intermittently vary in brightness)….