About the Tauranga Astronomical Society

The Tauranga Astronomical Society observatory was completed in 2010. It is located in the northeast corner of a redeveloped community complex in Ferguson park, Otumoetai. The building is also the home for Matua Scouts, Guides and Brownies as well as the Otumotai soccer club and Albion cricket club.

The observatory houses a new 14 inch Meade LX200-ACF telescope.

Public Meetings

Public meetings are held in the Observatory meeting room, Ferguson park, Tauranga. These are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm. Presentations are given on current astronomical topics. All those interested in astronomy in the Bay of Plenty district are invited to attend. Weather permitting, there may be opportunities for telescope viewing sessions.

Viewing Nights

Public viewing nights are now being held at the observatory, Ferguson Park, on the second Tuesday of the month, commencing from 7.30pm. Admission is $5.00 for visitors. School age children are free

Tauranga

Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand. It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963. Tauranga City is the centre of the fifth largest urban area in New Zealand, with an urban population of 118,200 (June 2009 estimate).

The city lies in the north-western corner of the Bay of Plenty, on the south-eastern edge of the Tauranga Harbour. The city extends over an area of 168 square kilometres (65 sq mi), and encompases the communities of (west to east) Bethlehem, Matua, Otumoetai, Greerton, central Tauranga, Maungatapu, Welcome Bay, Mount Maunganui, Bayfair and Papamoa .

Tauranga is one of New Zealand's main centers for business, international trade, culture, fashion, and horticultural science. It is an important economic hub as the home of largest export port in New Zealand, the Port of Tauranga. Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest growing cities, with a 14 percent increase in population between the 2001 census and the 2006 census.

Although Tauranga had several active groups of amateur astronomers for many years, the formation of the Tauranga Astronomical Society in 2002 provided an organisation to develop interest in astronomy in the Western Bay of Plenty.

The steering committee of the Society was formed in 2001 by Mr Dennis Twiss, who was elected as the first patron of the Society. The inaugural AGM was held on 19 May 2002 at the Bureta Park Hotel, Tauranga. The inaugural committee was elected and the aims and objectives of the Society were confirmed.