Dunedin Astronomical Society
Encyclopedia
The Dunedin Astronomical Society Incorporated (DAS) is an amateur astronomical group operating from the Beverly-Begg Observatory
Dunedin
, New Zealand
. It is affiliated with the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
and with the Otago Institute.
The objectives of the society are to:
Membership of the society is open to anyone interested in astronomy.
In 1911 the Society affiliated with the Otago Institute to become the Astronomical Section of the institute. The following year a membership of 254 was reported in the transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand (of which the Otago Institute was the Otago branch).
For a short time around 1915 the society had a "Telescope House" on Tanna Hill in the grounds of the Otago University. However the University required the land for a building project and the society had to look elsewhere for a permanent home. A site near the Dunedin Botanic Gardens
was selected, but construction was delayed by World War I
. In 1920 the current site for the Beverly-Begg Observatory
in Belleknowes was chosen instead and construction of the observatory was completed in 1922.
In 1948 the Telescope Makers' Club asked to make use of the Society's facilities and subsequently joined with the Society.
In the 1960s the society built an annex on to the observatory to provide a more convenient area for meetings, talks and telescope construction.
The Dunedin Astronomical Society became an incorporated society in 2000 and was registered as a charitable society by the New Zealand Charities Commission in 2009.
In 2002 the society gained access to a cottage near Middlemarch
for use as a dark sky site.
.
The main centennial events however started on Monday the 27th of September 2010 when a public meeting was held by the Society in the same room that was used for the meeting that established the society 100 years to the day previously. The minutes of the original meeting were read and a motion was passed taking the minutes as a true and accurate record (although none of those present at the 2010 meeting had been present at the previous meeting). Motions honouring the past officers of the Society and the association the Society had enjoyed with the Otago Institute were passed with acclimation. A talk was then given by amateur astronomer Dr. Grant Christie of Auckland
's Stardome Observatory
concerning the changes in our understanding of astronomy and the universe during the last 100 years.
During the following weekend a tour by bus of various sites of historical astronomical interest was conducted and culminated with the unveiling of a plaque on the University of Otago's Consumer and Applied Sciences (formally the Home Science building) near the site of the Society's first meeting and the site of the original "Telescope House".
During winter months (when daylight savings time is not in force) the society opens the Beverly-Begg Observatory
to the public on Sunday nights starting at 7:30 pm.
The society also makes access to the observatory available to education and private groups by arrangement.
Society members make regular use of The Cottage, a farm cottage near Middlemarch
that is available for use as a dark sky site.
Beverly-Begg Observatory
The Beverly-Begg Observatory a New Zealand astronomical observatory, situated on Robin Hood Park in the Belleknowes part of Dunedin's town belt. It was established in 1922 by the Dunedin Astronomical Society and is the home of the group...
Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is affiliated with the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand is the New Zealand national astronomical society. It is an association of professional and amateur astronomers with the prime objective to the promotion and extension of knowledge of astronomy and related branches of science.- History :The society was...
and with the Otago Institute.
The objectives of the society are to:
- Promote astronomy and telescope making
- Maintain the Beverly-Begg Observatory and provide regular public viewing nights and astronomical instruction for privately arranged groups
- Aid members by providing a regular programme of lectures and practical demonstrations on astronomical and telescope making topics
- To provide access to astronomical equipment owned by the society to members and to upgrade such equipment as the society deems appropriate
Membership of the society is open to anyone interested in astronomy.
History
The Society was established on Monday the 27th of September 1910 by a meeting in "The Chemistry Room" of the University of Otago as the "Otago Astronomical Society". R. Gilkison was elected president with Rev. P. W. Fairclough and J. M. Garrow elected as vice-presidents. Thompson Lamb was Hon. Secretary and W. S. Wilson Hon. Treasurer.In 1911 the Society affiliated with the Otago Institute to become the Astronomical Section of the institute. The following year a membership of 254 was reported in the transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand (of which the Otago Institute was the Otago branch).
For a short time around 1915 the society had a "Telescope House" on Tanna Hill in the grounds of the Otago University. However the University required the land for a building project and the society had to look elsewhere for a permanent home. A site near the Dunedin Botanic Gardens
Dunedin Botanic Gardens
The Dunedin Botanical Gardens are located at the northern end of central Dunedin, in the South Island of New Zealand. They are located close to the University of Otago and one of the city's most historic cemeteries, the Northern Cemetery, on a spur of Signal Hill and on the river plain immediately...
was selected, but construction was delayed by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1920 the current site for the Beverly-Begg Observatory
Beverly-Begg Observatory
The Beverly-Begg Observatory a New Zealand astronomical observatory, situated on Robin Hood Park in the Belleknowes part of Dunedin's town belt. It was established in 1922 by the Dunedin Astronomical Society and is the home of the group...
in Belleknowes was chosen instead and construction of the observatory was completed in 1922.
In 1948 the Telescope Makers' Club asked to make use of the Society's facilities and subsequently joined with the Society.
In the 1960s the society built an annex on to the observatory to provide a more convenient area for meetings, talks and telescope construction.
The Dunedin Astronomical Society became an incorporated society in 2000 and was registered as a charitable society by the New Zealand Charities Commission in 2009.
In 2002 the society gained access to a cottage near Middlemarch
Middlemarch, New Zealand
Middlemarch is a small town within the limits of Dunedin city in New Zealand with 300 inhabitants. It lies some 80km to the west of the city centre, at the foot of the Rock and Pillar Range of hills in the broad Strath-Taieri valley, through which flows the middle reaches of the Taieri...
for use as a dark sky site.
Centennial Celebrations
In 2010 DAS celebrated its centennial year with range of activities. As a part of the celebrations through the year the RASNZ Conference was hosted by the Society at the Otago MuseumOtago museum
The Otago Museum is situated in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was founded in 1868 and has a collection of over two million artefacts and specimens from the fields of natural history and ethnography...
.
The main centennial events however started on Monday the 27th of September 2010 when a public meeting was held by the Society in the same room that was used for the meeting that established the society 100 years to the day previously. The minutes of the original meeting were read and a motion was passed taking the minutes as a true and accurate record (although none of those present at the 2010 meeting had been present at the previous meeting). Motions honouring the past officers of the Society and the association the Society had enjoyed with the Otago Institute were passed with acclimation. A talk was then given by amateur astronomer Dr. Grant Christie of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
's Stardome Observatory
Stardome Observatory
Stardome Observatory is a public astronomical observatory situated in Cornwall Park in New Zealand's largest city, Auckland....
concerning the changes in our understanding of astronomy and the universe during the last 100 years.
During the following weekend a tour by bus of various sites of historical astronomical interest was conducted and culminated with the unveiling of a plaque on the University of Otago's Consumer and Applied Sciences (formally the Home Science building) near the site of the Society's first meeting and the site of the original "Telescope House".
Current activities
DAS meets twice a month through most of the year with meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month (except January and December). The first meeting of each month generally features an astronomy related talk presented by a society member or an invited speaker. The second meeting of each month focuses more on practical astronomy in the form of an observation session (if the weather is kind), or discussion and examination of astronomical equipment and techniques.During winter months (when daylight savings time is not in force) the society opens the Beverly-Begg Observatory
Beverly-Begg Observatory
The Beverly-Begg Observatory a New Zealand astronomical observatory, situated on Robin Hood Park in the Belleknowes part of Dunedin's town belt. It was established in 1922 by the Dunedin Astronomical Society and is the home of the group...
to the public on Sunday nights starting at 7:30 pm.
The society also makes access to the observatory available to education and private groups by arrangement.
Society members make regular use of The Cottage, a farm cottage near Middlemarch
Middlemarch, New Zealand
Middlemarch is a small town within the limits of Dunedin city in New Zealand with 300 inhabitants. It lies some 80km to the west of the city centre, at the foot of the Rock and Pillar Range of hills in the broad Strath-Taieri valley, through which flows the middle reaches of the Taieri...
that is available for use as a dark sky site.