Phoenix Astronomical Society
The Phoenix Astronomical Society (located in the lower North Island of New Zealand) is an active and enthusiastic society whose aim is to make astronomy accessible to everyone whatever their level of interest and knowledge; to increase public awareness of astronomy and related sciences, and to share with others the mysteries and wonders of the universe of which we are all a part.
If you are thinking of becoming a member but you are not sure, contact the secretary@astronomynz.org.nz and we will send you a complementary electronic copy of our latest News Bulletin and free pass to one of our society meetings.
If you are thinking of becoming a member but you are not sure, contact the secretary@astronomynz.org.nz and we will send you a complementary electronic copy of our latest News Bulletin and free pass to one of our society meetings.
"Stardate May - Lunar Eclipse" May 7-9 at the clubrooms.
- learn about the Total Lunar eclipse coming your way on May 26, 2021
Meetings and Events
- learn about the Total Lunar eclipse coming your way on May 26, 2021
Meetings and Events
Subscriptions
The Phoenix Astronomical Society’s financial year ends on 31 March and subs become due on 1 April. The preferred means of communication with members is by email; none the less if you have advised a preference for receiving communication by post, this will be done.
Subs for 2021/22 are as follows:
TPAS Yearly Subscription Hard copy newsletter Email newsletter Bank reference
Family of 4 or more $75 $65 Fam4email
Family of 3 $70 $60 Fam3email
Family of 2 $65 $55 Fam2email
Single waged $55 $45 Wagedemail
Single un-waged $45 $30 Unwagedemail
Associate (outside Wellington
or Wairarapa) $45 $30 Associateemail
Institutional $55 $40 Instituteemail
All of the banks are moving away from using or accepting cheques, encouraging the use of internet banking. The TPAS bank account is: 03 0521 0205810 00. Some banks will make the payment through a teller transaction
Please clearly identify your payment as follows:
Particulars: your name and initials
Reference: As above, but if you require comms by post, replace 'email' with 'post', eg: Fam4post
Code: TPASSub22
If you have any query, please email to: secretary@astronomynz.org.nz ; or write to:
The Phoenix Astronomical Society, P.O. Box 156 Carterton, 5743.
The Phoenix Astronomical Society’s financial year ends on 31 March and subs become due on 1 April. The preferred means of communication with members is by email; none the less if you have advised a preference for receiving communication by post, this will be done.
Subs for 2021/22 are as follows:
TPAS Yearly Subscription Hard copy newsletter Email newsletter Bank reference
Family of 4 or more $75 $65 Fam4email
Family of 3 $70 $60 Fam3email
Family of 2 $65 $55 Fam2email
Single waged $55 $45 Wagedemail
Single un-waged $45 $30 Unwagedemail
Associate (outside Wellington
or Wairarapa) $45 $30 Associateemail
Institutional $55 $40 Instituteemail
All of the banks are moving away from using or accepting cheques, encouraging the use of internet banking. The TPAS bank account is: 03 0521 0205810 00. Some banks will make the payment through a teller transaction
Please clearly identify your payment as follows:
Particulars: your name and initials
Reference: As above, but if you require comms by post, replace 'email' with 'post', eg: Fam4post
Code: TPASSub22
If you have any query, please email to: secretary@astronomynz.org.nz ; or write to:
The Phoenix Astronomical Society, P.O. Box 156 Carterton, 5743.
Left: 10” Mead, Right: 23” scope
Phoenix Observatory
Nankivell Solar Observatory
The whole site for the Matariki Observatory has been cleared and levelled and now has an additional access road. Work on this project will continue when the Phoenix and Solar Observatories are fully functional.
- The observatory roof and roller system have been repaired.
- The mirrors for the 23” telescope are currently being re-aluminised which, when completed, will bring our largest telescope back into first-class working order. The 23” should be back on line by March. This work is being carried out and financed by Ian Cooper.
- The ‘Go-to’ telescope is in working order.
- The 10” Mead telescope has been returned to the observatory. It is currently on a portable mount and is to be mounted on one of the piers.
- A 4.5” refractor on a portable mount has also been placed in the observatory. This will replace for the time being the Peter Read refractor that was returned to Carter Observatory. We have however, a 6” Nankivell refractor currently in the store that will be mounted in the observatory at a later date. (The 10” Mead and 4.5” refractor have been supplied by Richard Hall.)
Nankivell Solar Observatory
- This observatory, which can now be used for astrophotography, will house our solar telescope. The roof and walls have been fully repaired and are now watertight.
- Cables have been laid to the observatory to operate an automated solar telescope. The live images will be transmitted to a large screen in our lecture theatre. A separate fund and fund-raising have been set up to purchase the solar telescope. We currently have about 90% of the funding required.
The whole site for the Matariki Observatory has been cleared and levelled and now has an additional access road. Work on this project will continue when the Phoenix and Solar Observatories are fully functional.
Radio Dish
Radio Astronomy
Another innovation to our observatory complex is radio astronomy. Data, sound and images will be transmitted to the lecture theatre. Observing programmes will include solar and Jovian radio activity, meteors and pulsars.
Another innovation to our observatory complex is radio astronomy. Data, sound and images will be transmitted to the lecture theatre. Observing programmes will include solar and Jovian radio activity, meteors and pulsars.
Solar telescope for TPAS
Lunt LS60THa telescope has arrived on site. It has a 60mm clear aperture, a focal length of 500mm and a bandwidth of <0.75 Angstrom.
The ‘tuning’ system on the Lunt LS60THa is different from the LS35THa and is unique to Lunt telescopes. It works by changing the air pressure within the telescope itself. This allows the Etalon surfaces to always remain at the same perfect angle to the light waves but changes the diffractive index of the air in the chamber and thus accomplishes the same result as the tilting system found on traditional solar telescopes. The system has to be set for your altitude. 94m above mean sea level at Stonehenge Aotearoa.
Also arrived on site is the DMK 41AU02.AS imaging camera. This is a monochrome camera which will be used in conjunction with the solar telescope.
There are various cables and connections that need to be purchased but the society has $400 in the savings account that can be used for these purposes.
All that remains is to set up the equipment and get viewing. Congratulations to you all for helping to achieve this goal.
Lunt LS60THa telescope has arrived on site. It has a 60mm clear aperture, a focal length of 500mm and a bandwidth of <0.75 Angstrom.
The ‘tuning’ system on the Lunt LS60THa is different from the LS35THa and is unique to Lunt telescopes. It works by changing the air pressure within the telescope itself. This allows the Etalon surfaces to always remain at the same perfect angle to the light waves but changes the diffractive index of the air in the chamber and thus accomplishes the same result as the tilting system found on traditional solar telescopes. The system has to be set for your altitude. 94m above mean sea level at Stonehenge Aotearoa.
Also arrived on site is the DMK 41AU02.AS imaging camera. This is a monochrome camera which will be used in conjunction with the solar telescope.
There are various cables and connections that need to be purchased but the society has $400 in the savings account that can be used for these purposes.
All that remains is to set up the equipment and get viewing. Congratulations to you all for helping to achieve this goal.
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Page Modified 20/04/2021
