Southland Astronomical Society facts for kids
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| Formation | January 1, 1961 |
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| Type | NGO |
| Location |
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Region served
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Invercargill, New Zealand |
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Membership
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~35 |
| Affiliations | Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand |
| Website | Southland Astronomical Society |
The Southland Astronomical Society is a special group of people who love looking at the stars. It is the southernmost astronomy club in the whole world! This means it's located further south than any other similar group.
The society is based in Invercargill, a city at the very bottom of New Zealand's South Island. It has about 35 members who are all amateur astronomers. An amateur astronomer is someone who studies space as a hobby, not as a job.
Contents
What the Society Does
The Southland Astronomical Society is a very active group. They do many exciting things related to space and stars.
Exploring the Night Sky
- Deep Sky Observing: Members use telescopes to look at objects far away in space. These include galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
- Astrophotography: They take amazing pictures of the night sky. This can include photos of the Moon, planets, or even distant galaxies.
- Aurora Observation: Sometimes, they watch for the aurora. This is a beautiful natural light display in the sky, also known as the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis).
Sharing Knowledge
The society also focuses on teaching others about space.
- They work with different groups and school children.
- They help young people learn about planets, stars, and the universe.
- This helps more people get excited about astronomy.
Their Own Observatory
The Southland Astronomical Society has its own special place for looking at the stars.
The Telescope
- They operate the Southland Astronomical Society Observatory.
- This observatory is located at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.
- Inside, there is a large telescope.
- It is a 30 cm (12 inch) Cassegrain telescope. This type of telescope uses mirrors to gather light and make distant objects appear closer.
Public Viewing Nights
- During the winter months, from April to September, the observatory is open to the public.
- People can visit on special viewing nights.
- This is a great chance for everyone to look through the telescope.
- It's a wonderful way to see planets, the Moon, and other celestial objects up close.
Meetings and Resources
The society also has regular meetings and resources for its members.
Monthly Meetings
- Members meet once a month.
- They talk about different topics related to astronomy.
- They also listen to presentations from experts or other members.
- These meetings help members learn new things and share their discoveries.
Library and Newsletter
- The society has a small library.
- This library is full of books and magazines about astronomy.
- It has both new and old publications.
- They also publish a monthly newsletter for members. This newsletter shares news and updates about the society's activities.
