As a member, you're able to get involved with the various astronomy-related things that other members help arrange. Below are some of the things you can do, and how to do them.
If you'd like to join the Wellington Astronomical Society, please click here.
Borrowing a telescope
We have the following telescopes available for hire to members:
- Four 6" Newtonian Reflectors on Dobsonian mounts (easy to use and portable)
- 3-1/2" Questar with sun filter
Please note that due to the nature and expense of the equipment involved, we impose several rules for telescope rentals:
Rules for telescope rentals
- Current WAS members can borrow telescopes from the Society for a period of up to three calendar months.
- Telescopes can be booked by contacting Chris Mongatti.
- Upon collection of the telescope, payment of a deposit of $20 is required. The deposit will be returned if the telescope is returned undamaged, with nothing missing, and on time.
- Telescopes must be returned at the end of three months (or earlier). The borrower should contact Chris Mongatti at this time to arrange return of the telescope. A grace period of one week is permitted for this.
- Late returns beyond the period of grace, or damage to the telescope, will incur loss of the $20 deposit.
- The telescopes are valuable assets, and borrowers are expected to treat them carefully.
- The telescopes are for the benefit of all WAS members. These rules are designed to ensure that as many members as possible have access to the telecopes.
Star parties
Members hold organised group observing parties about three times a month at different locations around the Wellington region. Some nights are subject to bad weather, but usually the others make up for it.
Each month, we usually hold two star parties. One is an observing get-together at the Gifford Observatory in central Wellington. The other is at our dark site observatory at Murphy's Road, Pauatahanui . The dates of each of these events can be found in the newsletter.
Because the details sometimes change and often the weather is unpredictible, please feel welcome to contact us if you're planning on coming along.
Astronomical events like meteor showers and occultations don't usually fit in with our schedule, so we sometimes arrange other events on nights that aren't Saturday. Please keep an eye on the newsletter and watch your email (if you're signed up to the mailing list) for information about these.
Local observing groups
Several members have also arranged their own local observing groups, which help people living nearby each other get together informally to do observing, and essentially enjoy themselves. Presently there are observing groups in:
- Southern suburban Wellington (Brooklyn, Island Bay, Seatoun, etc)
- Kapiti
- Levin
- Khandallah/Ngaio/Johnsonville
- Lower Hutt
The observing groups are organised and run completely on the initiative of the people involved in them, although astronomical society resources are available within reason. If you'd like to get involved with a group in your area, please ask thecontact person of the specific group for more information. Participating in observing groups is a very good way to meet other astronomers who live nearby.
If there isn't a group in your area and you'd like to start one, there are several ways you can let everyone know about it. You can contact the newsletter editor and have an announcement of the group printed in the next newsletter. You canarrange to announce the group at an upcoming society meeting. You should also have it announced and documented on the website and announcements email list.
Using the observatories
You're also encouraged to use the observatories at other times once you've been trained to do so. If you are interested in learning to use the observatory telescopes, please contact Ross Powell on (04)389-9765 for the Gifford Observatory, and John Field on 021-255-1904 for the Pauatahanui observatory.
We are now assisting Carter Observatory by providing volunteers for their public nights, to support the Carter staff. This will include some training on using the Carter telescopes. If you are interested, please contact Gordon Hudson, our President who can place you on the volunteers list, and will also bend your ear on what will be expected of you.
Society email lists
We have a mailing list, so that you can receive updates and announcements about events from different people in the society via email. This is especially useful for learning about events that don't make it into the newsletter, such as aurora, which only have a few days warning.
If you'd like to subscribe to this mailing list, please send a blank email message toannounce-subscribe@was.org.nz You can unsubscribe at any time by sending a blank email to announce-unsubscribe@was.org.nz from the address that is receiving the email.
If you have something astronomy related that you would like to announce to other people subscribed to the list, you can email it to announce@was.org.nz. Please note that the list is moderated, so any postings are first sent to a moderator to be approved before they are circulated to everyone else. If you're not sure whether you should post something or not, please contact one of the list moderators.
Observing group lists
Several of the local observing groups also have their own mailing lists for group communication. If you'd like more information about getting involved in a group in your area, please ask the specific observing group contact person for more information.
Using the library
We have a growing collection of astronomy-related newsletters, magazines and other space-related media from which members can borrow. The library is open during meetings. Please contact the librarian for more information.
Discount magazine subscriptions
Several members of the Wellington Astronomical Society participate in the club plan for Sky & Telescope magazine, which is popular among members. Through the plan, members are able to get a 25 percent discount off subscriptions.
For more information about how to join in and subscribe at a discount, please contact the library.
Contributing to the newsletter
Eleven times a year, members receive a newsletter from the society, courtesy of their mailbox. The newsletter is full of articles by members, and developing news about the society in general.
Letters, tips, and small articles are welcome for publication. The deadline for submissions is the 12th of the month, and it's sent around 10 days before meetings.
Contributions by email are preferred, sent to the newsletter editor. If this is not possible, they can be mailed to The Editor, Wellington Astronomical Society, PO Box 3126, Wellington.
Publication is at the discretion of the editor, but every effort will be made to include submissions.
