In 1948, the Auckland Astronomical Society began fundraising for a public observatory in Auckland. By 1956 they had received a number of significant bequests and grants, inclusive of the donation of a substantial telescope by Mrs. Edith Winstone Blackwell. The Society founded the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust Board to provide for the construction and management of the new observatory.In 1960 One Tree Hill Borough Council provided a 21-year lease, which has been consequently extended, on a site in One Tree Hill Domain which is where the Observatory and Planetarium operates from today. In March 1967 the Observatory opened without a Planetarium, as at this stage the Auckland Museum was operating a Planetarium which had been donated by the Farmers Trading Company in 1958.
This Planetarium at the Museum closed in August 1989, which raised this issue of the Observatory also housing a Planetarium. A Fundraising effort was undertaken with a clear vision to provide the Country with the best facility the world had to offer.
Nearly $3 million was raised for the project with major funding coming from the Lotteries Commission, the ASB Community Trust and a loan from Auckland City Council; many donations were also received from the public of Auckland. The new planetarium opened in 1997 and remains the largest and most advanced in New Zealand.
To enable us to be able to provide the most up to date technology and the "best” experience an upgrade project was embarked on in 2007. A major fundraising effort was undertaken and the technology upgrade occurred in early 2008. The Stardome is now providing New Zealand with leading edge technology in our Planetarium. The upgrade project also encompassed an upgrade to the facilities, and is scheduled to be completed by October 2010.
Our core business is teaching astronomy science and the Stardome is able to offer visitors the experience of learning together with entertainment in a planetarium environment. Visitors are also offered the additional benefit of being able to use telescopes. The Stardome experience takes a learning, simulated environment and turns it into reality, this is a very unique combination and Auckland is one of the few cities worldwide that are able to offer both methods in one facility.
Edith Winstone Blackwell Zeiss Telescope
Manufactured by Carl Zeiss of Jena, East Germany, the Edith Winstone Blackwell Zeis Telescope was installed at the Auckland Observatory in early 1967, and is one of about 20 such telescopes built.Telescope Type: Cassegrain
Diameter of Primary Mirror: 0.5m
Effective Focal Length: 6.65m (focal ratio F13.3)
The very delicate reflective coating is aluminium deposited as a vapour in a vacuum chamber. It is only a few atoms thick, but when fresh reflects about 92% of incident light. The mount stands on a massive concrete pier beneath the floor that has three legs that go a further 6m down to solid rock (volcanic lava). The telescope tube weighs about 500kg; thankfully, so does the counterweight. The total weight of the telescope and mounting from the top of the concrete pier is 2,300kg.
If you would like the chance to view through the Edith Winstone Blackwell Zeiss Telescope, it is available for an additional fee on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings after select evening shows. Please see our evening show listings for more details.
The Stardome Observatory & Planetarium is proudly supported by:
