Canterbury Astronomical Society

Welcome to the website of the Canterbury Astronomical Society.

Relax and take a look around our site. Hopefully it can answer any questions you have about us, and can assist you in discovering more about the exciting world of amateur astronomy.

Each month we have a number of meetings you can come along to...

During the winter months we hold public open nights at our observatory, where you can have a look through our telescopes.
Bookings are now open for the 2012 open night season. Please visit the Open Nights page for available dates and more information.

Open nights are held on Friday evenings and, for 2012, run through to September 28th. For $10.00 per adult or $7.00 per child (ages 5 to 15), you can come out to the Society's West Melton observatory, look through our professional quality telescopes, and enjoy the night sky. Visit the Open Nights page for more information.

A monthly society meeting, starting with a practical astronomy session for all ages and experience levels, followed by the main members' meeting with a guest speaker.

Volunteers wanted

The 2012 Open Night season is fast approaching and the society needs members to volunteer to help with assisting on open nights. Open nights will be held most Friday nights from 13th April through to 28th September. If you think you may be able to assist or would like to know more about what is involved, please let us know by emailing the open night organisers at bookings@nullcas.org.nz. Even if you are only able to assist on one night, your help is greatly appreciated.

Members of all experience levels are welcome, open nights are a great opportunity to learn more of the night sky, to learn how to operate the society's telescopes, or to show off your own telescope. The regular helpers are already looking forward to the open nights beginning again, they provide a great excuse to get out and spend more time observing, and sharing our hobby with other people is a lot of fun.

Email bookings@nullcas.org.nz if you would like to help, or would like to know more about what is involved.

Coming attractions:

Stardate South Island 2012 will be held from Friday 17th February to Monday 20th February 2012.

Stardate South Island will be held on 17-20 February 2012, at the usual venue - the Presbyterian Church camp at Staveley, inland mid-Canterbury.
- Special Guest: John Drummond, Astroimager
  John's images of the cosmos have appeared internationally, he is a contributing editor to the Australian Sky and Telescope magazine and a director of the astrophotography section of RASNZ.
- Costs for the weekend are:
  - $12.50 per night per person from school age on and free per child under 5 years
  - Payment can be made when you arrive.
Speakers and presentation topics will be announced when available.

For more information and to book your place, visit http://www.treesandstars.com/stardate/.

Practical Astronomy: The February Practical Astronomy meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21st at 7:00pm.

Location to be confirmed, check here after February 8th for details.
- Topic to be announced
Practical Astronomy meetings are open to non-members and members of the society.
Click here for more information.

CAS Members' Meeting: The February CAS Members' Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21st at 8:00pm.

Location to be confirmed, check here after February 8th for details.
- Agenda to be announced
Click here for more information.

CAS Members' Night: The February CAS Members' Night will be held on Saturday, February 25th, at the West Melton Observatory

All members welcome. Never visited our observatory before? See the map for directions.

Transit of Venus: Venus on the Sun, Wednesday 6th June, 2012, 10:09am to 4:49pm.

The previous transit of Venus occurred in June 2004, and after this year's transit there won't be another until 2125. Keep a look out here for what events CAS has planned for this last-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Venus pass across the face of the Sun!

Also see the calendar for other upcoming events.

Keep up to date with Royal Society of New Zealand events here.

APanel - Observing Conditions for West Melton

APanel (Astroweather Panel) is a numerical weather forecast designed for astronomical purposes. The image below is a prediction for the observing conditions at West Melton. Please visit http://7timer.y234.cn/ for more information, or click the image to download PDF instructions for how to read APanel. CAS does not guarantee the accuracy of the predictions made by APanel.

MAP: How to get to the West Melton Observatory.