Earth & Sky Mt John Observatory, Lake Tekapo, Mackenzie Country
Located only 15 minutes drive from the Tekapo township, Mt John Observatory has an uninterrupted 360° view of the Southern Alps including Mt Cook, lakes, rivers, ancient glacial deposits and vast tussock grasslands - plus it sits below one of the clearest skies in the world.
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Cowan's Hill Star Tour Designed for those on a budget or short of time - Cowan's Hill Observatory is 5 minutes drive from Tekapo. You will be able to use binoculars and telescopes to view objects of interest in the southern night sky with the assistance of a trained astronomy guide. Marvel at the our nearest galaxies, the constellations of Orion the Hunter and Scorpius. You may also see star clusters such as the Jewel Box, planets, nebulae and immense clouds of gas & dust. Mt John Tours Choose from one of our amazing guided day or night tours * Scenic Day Tours include the history of the observatory, a description of its research and a chance to see research telescopes. * Dusk to Darkness Tours allow you to observe the subtle changes of sunset from the Astro Café - greet the emerging stars during twilight with the help of powerful telescopes. * Family Tours are a fun and educational outing designed for all ages - treat your family to a bit of stargazing through professional telescopes and a chance to see the MOA, NZ's largest telescope. Held during holiday periods only. * Stargazing Tours are held in the evening with guides to help you navigate the southern night sky using green laser pointers, powerful telescopes and binoculars. Learn Astro-photography and capture the beauty of the night sky with your own camera. Science Research Operated by the Dept of Physics & Astronomy, University of Canterbury, the Observatory enables us to explore the centre of the Milky Way and the two nearby galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds. Work includes anaylsis of the night time star glow to measure windspeed & air temperature 100km up - relevant to studies of the Antartica ozone hole. There are 4 primary telescopes on the mountain which are used by researching astronomers and physicists from both NZ and all over the world. Astro Café at Mt John (Day Café) Shelter from the elements and enjoy a lunch or coffee while taking in the stunning vista of the Mackenzie Basin. The café has a glazed roof and glass walls with views on all sides while the doors and windows can be opened to the terrace, weather permitting.
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