Ward Observatory facts for kids

Ward Observatory

The Ward Observatory is a special place in Whanganui, New Zealand, where people look at stars and planets. It's called an astronomical observatory. It was built in 1901 and is looked after by the Wanganui Astronomical Society. The observatory is named after Joseph Ward, who was a very important astronomer. He was the first president of the society and led the observatory for a long time. Inside, there's a huge telescope, 9½ inches (24 cm) wide. It's the biggest telescope of its kind in New Zealand that hasn't been changed since it was made.

Discovering the Ward Observatory

Building a Star-Gazing Home

The Ward Observatory was designed by a person named A. Atkins. He followed Joseph Ward's ideas for how it should look and work. Building the observatory cost £290 back then. It was officially opened on May 25, 1903, by Richard Seddon, who was like the prime minister of New Zealand at the time.

The Amazing Telescope

The large telescope inside the observatory was bought second-hand from England for £450. It's a special type called a refractor telescope, which uses lenses to make distant objects look closer. This telescope is very heavy, weighing about three tons (that's 3,000 kilograms!). It's still used today for looking at the night sky.

Important People Behind the Stars

Before and during World War I, the Astronomical Society was very busy. Joseph Ward was the main director of the observatory. Charles Whitmore Babbage, who was the grandson of the famous inventor Charles Babbage, helped out a lot too. He was the society's president, secretary, and treasurer.

Joseph Ward and his helper, Thomas Allison, worked hard to find and list over 200 "double stars." These are two stars that appear very close together in the sky. Eighty-eight of these are still known today as "Ward doubles" because of their work! Joseph Ward also held public viewing nights twice a week, so anyone could come and look through the telescope.

A Gift for the City

In 1926, the Astronomical Society gave the observatory to the Wanganui City Council. This meant the city owned it, and it didn't have any debts. After Joseph Ward passed away, his son, William Herschel Ward, became the honorary director from 1927 to 1959. Since 1984, the Ward Observatory and its telescope have been recognized as a very important historical place by Heritage New Zealand.

Visiting the Observatory

The Ward Observatory is located in Cooks Gardens in Whanganui. You can get to it from St Hill Street. If you want to look through the telescope, the observatory is open to the public on Friday evenings after it gets dark. You can also arrange a special visit with the Astronomical Society. School groups can also make appointments to visit and learn about the stars.