Pleasing planetary plethora
Pleasing planetary plethora
It's late on Monday afternoon and I've just woken up after one of the most memorable nights of skywatching in my half-century on this planet.
Sky watch
A spectacular eclipse of the moon
A spectacular eclipse of the moon
SKY WATCH: Saturday's eclipse of the moon should be a stunning sight even to the naked eye, writes Ian Griffin.
One moon, five planets
One moon, five planets
Stargazers across Otago get to enjoy a celestial treat this week. For the first time in quite a while, it's possible to see all of the naked-eye planets and the moon simultaneously.
Sky watch: Another flight to the lights
Another flight to the lights
The nights are very long this time of year, making them a real drawcard for amateur and professional stargazers alike.
Sky watch: In search of Saturn
In search of Saturn
There is a surfeit of planets on parade in the evening sky at the moment, Ian Griffin writes.
A tour of tonight's northeastern sky
A tour of tonight's northeastern sky
There has been a run of clear nights in Dunedin recently, and with the sun setting a few minutes after 5pm this week, you don't have to stay out very late to enjoy some fine views of the night sky.
Star clouds of the Milky Way
Star clouds of the Milky Way
SKY WATCH: Over the past week, material from a large hole in the sun's outer atmosphere has been streaming earthwards at high speed, creating relatively dim, but enjoyable, displays of the Aurora Australis across Otago.
A survey of the northern sky
A survey of the northern sky
SKY WATCH: This week, Ian Griffin woud like you to join him on a whistle-stop tour of the northern sky.
Extraordinary auroral adventure
Extraordinary auroral adventure
SKY WATCH: It's a truth universally acknowledged that a stargazer in possession of a long-range airliner must be in want of an aurora.
Earthshine at the equinox
Earthshine at the equinox
Ian Griffin is preparing for the second ''Flight to the Lights''.
How faint can you see?
How faint can you see?
SKY WATCH: How good is your sight when it comes to seeing stars? Ian Griffin has a challenge for you.
Farewell to Matariki
Farewell to Matariki
SKY WATCH: This week, head out to bid farewell to Matariki (also known as the Pleiades), which will be swept up in the bright sunset as the sun moves north.
Satellite flashes over Hoopers Inlet
Satellite flashes over Hoopers Inlet
On February 1, the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Fehi combined with a king tide to create havoc across New Zealand.
Plethora of planets on parade
Plethora of planets on parade
This week, I'd like to encourage you to get up early to a plethora of planets on display in the morning sky. With sunrise about 6.45am here in Dunedin, the best time to head out is around 5am, when...
Lunar eclipse a beautiful show
Lunar eclipse a beautiful show
Sky Watch: The total lunar eclipse, weather permitting, will be a beautiful sight, Ian Griffin writes.
By the dark of the moon
By the dark of the moon
At 3.18pm this afternoon, the moon is new. This means that for the next few days there will be little or no moonlight to interfere with stargazing.
Cosmic trio gather in Libra
Cosmic trio gather in Libra
I hope that at least least some readers got to enjoy the close conjunction between Mars and Jupiter early last Sunday.
SKY WATCH: Celestial spectacle in pre-dawn sky
Celestial spectacle in pre-dawn sky
SKY WATCH: The new year starts with a bang for stargazers in this part of the world, writes Dr Ian Griffin.
Dog day nights
Dog day nights
To the ancient Greeks and Romans, who lived in the northern hemisphere, the ''dog days'' of summer were so called because they occurred around the time when Sirius of the greater dog constellation appeared o rise just before the sun.
Pigafetta's work not recognised
Pigafetta's work not recognised
SKY WATCH: This week, Ian Griffin looks at the Magellanic Clouds.