Where to go?
In Wellington, you need to be mindful of hills when choosing your stargazing location. To see Matariki and Puanga, you will need a clear view of the Eastern horizon and high altitude. The less light pollution from the city, the better.
Most of the Wairarapa valley and near Lake Wairarapa will all have good visibility.
We recommend:
- Te Ahumairangi hill. Great visibility. Some mana whenua use the top of this maunga as a location for their marking of the New Year, but it may be closed to the public on certain days.
- Castlepoint, Wairarapa – great visibility.
- Riversdale Beach, Wairarapa – great visibility.
- Flat Point, Wairarapa – great visibility.
- Mount Climie, Upper Hutt.
- Mount Victoria Lookout.
- Brooklyn Wind Turbine – though light pollution may be an issue.
- Massey Memorial, Miramar Peninsula – though may not be elevated enough above the hills.
- Boulder Hill, Lower Hutt – though light pollution may be an issue.
- Ataturk Memorial, Breaker Bay – though light pollution may be an issue.
When to go?
Matariki and Puanga will begin to be visible above the horizon from late June to xxx?
The stars will be visible in the early morning, between 5am-7am.
Where to look?
Look East.
To find Matariki, look for Tautoru Orion’s Belt and Taumata-Kuku Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus. Draw a horizontal line through Tautoru and Taumata-Kuku. Matariki is the small cluster of stars above and to the left of Taurus.
To find Puanga, look for Tautoru Orion’s Belt. Puanga is the bright star above and to the left of this group.
Tools and Equipment
- Matariki and Puanga are visible to the naked eye, though binoculars are excellent if you have them. In some ways they are superior to a telescope, as they allow you to zoom in while leaving the entire cluster viewable.
- Stellarium is a great app to help you find the stars with your smartphone. Learn more here.
- Red light – cover your torch with red cellophane to protect your night vision and make stargazing easier.
- Warm layers – check the weather forecast ahead of time and dress appropriately.
Safety
Before you go, let someone know where you plan to go and what time you aim to return. If you plan to walk to a viewing area, it’s best to scope it out first in the daylight to identify any hazards.
