New Zealand astronomy links

This has been a links page since 2003. Most of the addresses on the original list no longer work, so it has been rebuilt from scratch with current, checked addresses. Each link has a line on why it is useful to someone observing from Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have kept the list short on purpose. Every site here is run by a public body, a society, an observatory, a recognised dark sky place or a long-standing free tool, and each is one we would point a new observer to. Addresses change over time, so if one of these stops working, the organisation's name is usually enough to find its new home.

Local

Observatories, societies and dark sky places you can visit.

• Stardome Observatory: Auckland's public observatory and planetarium, with shows and telescope sessions in Tāmaki Makaurau.
• Space Place at Carter Observatory: Wellington's public observatory in the Botanic Garden, with planetarium shows and viewing nights.
• Wellington Astronomical Society: a long-running Pōneke society with meetings, viewing nights and help for beginners.
• Wairarapa International Dark Sky Reserve: information on the North Island's dark sky reserve, its stargazing spots and local operators.
• Dark Sky Project: tours at Takapō Tekapo and Mt John, in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie dark sky reserve.
• Aotea Great Barrier Island: visitor information for the island, an internationally recognised dark sky sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf.

National

Organisations and services that cover the whole country.

• Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand: the national body, with a directory of affiliated societies, conferences and observing sections.
• Dark Sky NZ: a dark sky project working to protect New Zealand's night skies from light pollution, including sky brightness measurement in Auckland.
• Department of Conservation: track, hut and campsite information for reaching dark sites in national parks and reserves.
• MetService rural forecasts: cloud and wind forecasts for rural areas, which is where most observing happens.
• NIWA: the climate and atmospheric science institute, which merged with GNS Science in July 2025 to form Earth Sciences New Zealand; still useful for climate data and background on our weather.
• New Zealand Space Agency: the government's lead agency for space policy, regulation of launches and the space sector, based within MBIE.

International

Space weather, data and sky tools we use regularly.

• NOAA aurora 30-minute forecast: a short-range map of the predicted auroral oval, southern hemisphere included.
• Bureau of Meteorology aurora page: Australian aurora watches and alerts, which apply equally well across the Tasman.
• NASA comets: clear background on what comets are and where they come from.
• Minor Planet Center comet ephemerides: positions and predicted brightness for currently observable comets.
• Heavens-Above: satellite and space station pass predictions for any location, including New Zealand towns.
• Stellarium: free planetarium software that shows the sky from your own location and date.

Related pages on this site

If you are just starting out, try Astronomy Day in New Zealand for how to find a public viewing night, or the aurora australis basics for the southern lights.