MATARIKI 2026

Join us at the Hamilton Astronomical Society to view Matariki on Friday morning, the 10th of July. The event will run from 5:30 am to sunrise at 7:30 am. Matariki rises just before the Sun at 5:10 am, and by 7:00 am, as the Sun rises, Matariki will no longer be visible. Fingers crossed for clear skies! Please note that if the weather is fine, it’s likely to be a very busy morning. We are a volunteer organisation with limited resources and we will do our very best to ensure everyone is able to view Matariki through a telescope or through binoculars.

The Zoo café will be open for hot drinks.

As the light from cars, mobile phones and torches will reduce the night vision of those viewing, we ask that you try to minimise their use around the viewing area and park in the carpark opposite the Zoo. A friendly reminder to dress warmly for a cold morning. A gold coin Koha / donation is much appreciated upon entry.

Reminder: Parking is available in the carpark opposite the Zoo.

We hope to see you there!

Monthly Members’ Night - second Wednesday of each month except January.

Tonight - A presentation, followed by informal chat over tea or coffee. Telescope viewing possible afterwards depending on weather and availablilty of scope operators.

Tonight’s Talk

Astronaut Radiation Exposure - What are the risks?

Speaker: Chris Benton (from Auckland Astronomical Society)

The recent NASA Artemis II mission marks the beginning of astronauts returning to the Moon, with plans to eventually build a Moon base and then move on to Mars by 2030 and 2040, respectively. How much radiation will Moon- and Mars-bound astronauts be exposed to, including traversing Earth’s Van Allen Belts, and what is their risk of radiation-related illness or diseases from such journeys? Come along for an in-depth discussion on what radiation is, where it comes from, how it affects the body, and how much is considered acceptable. Finally, we discuss current and future countermeasures, including important data from the 2022 Artemis I mission. Learn about NASA’s current research that benefits astronauts, cancer patients, and society in general. All attendees receive a comprehensive multi-page handout.

HAS Committee Meeting

Monthly Members’ Night - second Wednesday of each month except January.

Tonight - A presentation, followed by informal chat over tea or coffee. Telescope viewing possible afterwards depending on weather and availablilty of scope operators.

Tonight’s Talk

Data Centres in the Space

Speaker: Charlie Cooper (from Hamilton Astronomical Society)

Tonight’s talk includes:
> some background on data centres
> pros and cons of putting data centres in space
> the physics and engineering of these
> the current situation and future direction of data centres in space

HAS Committee Meeting

**Note that this will be at the Space Centre, not at the observatory.

Please check emails for details.

Monthly Members’ Night - second Wednesday of each month except January.

Tonight - A presentation, followed by informal chat over tea or coffee. Telescope viewing possible afterwards depending on weather and availablilty of scope operators.

Tonight’s Talk

Gamma Ray Bursts

Speaker: Nick Odom (from Hamilton Astronomical Society)

Gamma ray bursts were discovered serendipitously in the 1960s. They remained a mystery for many years. Since 1997 satellite technology has enabled their nature to be better understood, thereby providing insight into the most distant and energetic explosions in the universe.