The Sutherland Astronomical Society has an extra reason to be excited about public open nights being staged this weekend at the Green Point Observatory.
Members have more information than ever to share with visitors after a tour to the US in August to view the total solar eclipse and visit space exploration facilities.
Green Point Observatory, at the corner of Green Point Road and Caravan Head Road, Oyster Bay, will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday, September 29-30, from 6 pm to 11 pm.
Entrance fees are $12 for adults, $5 for children and concession card holders and $25 for a family.
Visitors are advised they can view moon craters, Saturn, star clusters and nebulae through the 41cm Selby telescope operating in the observatory dome, the 35cm Napier telescope under the roll-off roof, and a variety of telescopes on the field.
There will also be astronomy lectures, a barbecue, hot and cold food and drinks, books, posters and gifts on sale.
It has been a big year for the society, with 50th anniversary celebrations in March, followed by the US tour, in which 45 members and guests took part.
The group watched the eclipse on an airfield at St Joseph, just north of Kansas City.
They were among about 25,000 people at that site – one of several in the area, which offered one of the best views.
“Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t good for the eclipse,” said Rolando De Michiel, who has been a member of the society since 1986.
”We had very cloudy conditions and a little rain beforehand, but the sky opened up for a few seconds and we did get totality.
“I was talking to a local man who said it was unseasonal weather, and normally there is little rain or cloud.”
Mr De Michiel said, despite this disappointment, it had been a very good tour.
“With eclipses, you have to say, ‘I am going on a holiday and if I see the eclipse it’s a bonus’,” he said.
Mr De Michiel said the 14-day tour took in the Kennedy Space Centre, which was “phenomenal”, Space Centre Heuston and the Mount Wilson Observatory, where they saw the telescope Hubble looked through and concluded the universe was expanding.