Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

On This Programme

The Milky Way, as seen from the Mt. John Observatory.

History of Astronomy in New Zealand

Four centuries after Galileo Galilei first pointed his home-made telescope towards the night sky, the world is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. To mark the event, Our Changing World talks to astronomers and cosmologists in New Zealand about some of the most exciting research projects in the Southern Hemisphere.

In this first part of the series, astronomers Grant Christie, from Auckland's Stardome Observatory, and Alan Gilmore, from the University of canterbury's Mt John Observatory (pictured on the right) near Lake Tekapo, discuss the early days of optical astronomy in New Zealand.

Both images are courtesy of Fraser Gunn.For further information visit www.mackenziesky.co.nz

Looking north from the Church of the Good Shepherd throughout the night. Visible constellations include Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo. The bright star appearing in the upper right corner in the middle of the animation is planet Saturn.They are compositions of hundreds of still photographs, taken and compiled together by Fraser Gunn.

This video is used with permission and is subject to strict copyright conditions. Copyright Fraser Gunn. For further information visit www.mackenziesky.co.nz.