Dunedin Astronomical Society

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The Dunedin Astronomical Society Incorporated (DAS) is an amateur astronomical group operating out of the Beverly-Begg Observatory in 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:

• 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Current Activities 3 Contact information 4 References

[edit] History

The Dunedin Astronomical Society was established in the early 1900s and affiliated with the Otago Institute. 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 was chosen instead and construction of the observatory was completed in 1922.

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.

In 2002 the society gained access to a cottage near Middlemarch for use as a dark sky site.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Contact information

An answer phone message giving current contact information is available at +64 3 477 7683

[edit] References

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