Course Outline Tekapo
Registrations closed - sold out
Dark Sky Project, Lake Tekapo | 26th-28th May 2023
The course is designed for people with an interest in improving their knowledge of Astronomy, Astrotourism, Astrophotography, Stargazing/Outreach & NZ’s Dark Sky Movement.
Places at the course are limited to 24 – 30 people. The fee for this course is $295, which includes:
- Maori astronomy and Matariki
- Astrophotography
- Notes for astro-tour guides
- The lives of the stars : star formation, evolution and star death
- Useful books, publications and software for night sky guides
- Naming of stars and celestial objects
- Maori astronomy and Matariki
- Astrophotography
- Notes for astro-tour guides
- The lives of the stars : star formation, evolution and star death
- Useful books, publications and software for night sky guides
- Astrophotography
- How to start an astrotourism business
- Practical observing with a small telescope
- Grand astroquiz for all
Day/Time | Module | Instructor |
---|---|---|
Friday
2 December 2pm | Course registration opens in Commodore’s Room, RNZYS | |
2:30 – 2:45 pm | Welcoming address, Commodore’s Room | John Hearnshaw |
2:45 – 4:00 pm | Introductions for participants | |
4:00 – 5:15 pm | Overview of astro-tourism and dark sky places in New Zealand | Nalayini Davies |
5:15 – 6:30 pm | How binoculars and telescopes work and how to use a telescope | John Drummond |
6:30 – 7:30 pm | Reception in Members’ Lounge, RNZYS | |
7:30 – 8:30 pm | Dinner Break | |
8.30pm | Astro-Tour with telescopes: location One Tree Hill Domain near Stardome Observatory (weather permitting) and/or The Lives Of The Stars | Gareth Davies John Hearnshaw |
Saturday 3 December 9am | Our place in the Universe | Nalayini Davies |
10.30am | Morning tea/coffee break | |
11am | Coordinates and time in astronomy | John Hearnshaw |
12.30pm | Lunch Break | |
2pm | Principal objects to look at for astro-tourists | Alan Gilmore |
3pm | Afternoon tea/coffee break | |
3.30pm | The astronomy equipment for you | Gareth Davies |
4:15 pm | Techniques of astro-photography | John Drummond |
5:00 – 6:15 pm | Workshop: Option 1: Hands-On Astro-photography Option 2: Setting up an Astrotourism business and Undertaking Outreach Sessions | John Drummond Nalayini Davies & Gareth Davies |
6:15 – 6:30 pm | Astronomy outreach – 20 tips to remember | Gareth Davies |
6:30 pm | Dinner Break | |
8.30pm | Astro-Tour with telescopes: location One Tree Hill Domain near Stardome Observatory (weather permitting) and/or The Lives Of The Stars | Gareth Davies & Alan Gilmore John Hearnshaw |
Sunday 4 December 9am | Naming of stars and celestial objects | John Hearnshaw |
10.30am | Morning tea/coffee break | |
11am | Maori astronomy and Matariki | TBA |
11:50am | Beauty in the Stars: A Journey through the Cosmos | Steve Chadwick |
12.45pm | Lunch Break | |
2pm | Notes for astro-tour guides | Alan Gilmore |
3pm | Afternoon tea/coffee break | |
3.30pm | Useful books, publications and software for night sky guides | All Instructors |
4.30pm | Presentation of AAA Certificates to participants | |
5pm | Close |


AAA is grateful to the Dark Sky Project for sponsorship and providing the venue for this course. We are also grateful to the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve for sponsorship funding.
Day/Time | Module | Instructor |
---|---|---|
Friday
26 May 2pm | Course registration opens in Dark Sky Project, 1 Motuariki Lane, Lake Tekapo | |
2.30pm | Welcoming address, Dark Sky project (Zone 1) | John Hearnshaw |
2.45pm | Introductions for participants | |
3.30pm | Afternoon tea/coffee break | |
4pm | Overview of astro-tourism and dark sky places in New Zealand | Nalayini Davies |
5pm | How binoculars and telescopes work and how to use a telescope | John Drummond |
6pm | Reception in Dark Sky Project | |
6.45pm | Dinner Break | |
8.15-10.15pm | Astro-Tour with telescopes: location Cowans Hill, crater 3
(weather permitting; use own transport) and/or Great Astro-quiz | Adrien Barrajon et al Gareth Davies |
Saturday 27th May 8.45am | Coordinates and time in astronomy | John Hearnshaw |
9.45am | Astro equipment for you | Gareth Davies |
10.15am | Morning tea/coffee break | |
11am | Maori astronomy and Matariki | Victoria Campbell |
11.50pm | A display of time-lapse night-sky videos | Fraser Gunn |
12.40pm | Lunch Break | |
2pm | Principal objects to look at for astro-tourists | Alan Gilmore |
3pm | The astronomy equipment for you | Gareth Davies |
3.30pm | Afternoon tea/coffee break | |
4pm | Techniques of astro-photography | John Drummond |
4.45pm | Workshop: Option 1: Hands-On Astro-photography Option 2: Setting up an Astro-tourism Business | John Drummond Nalayini Davies |
6pm | Astronomy outreach – 20 tips to remember | Gareth Davies |
6.45pm | Dinner Break | |
8.15-10.15pm | Astro-Tour with telescopes: location Cowans Hill
Observatory, Crater 3 (weather permitting, use own
transport) and/or Great Astro-Quiz | Adrien Barrajon et al. Gareth Davies |
Sunday 28th May 9am | Naming of stars and celestial objects | John Hearnshaw |
10am | 20 tips to remember | Gareth Davies |
10.30am | Morning tea/coffee break | |
11am | Some examples of astronomical research | Adrien Barrajon |
12pm | Our place in the Universe | Nalayini Davies |
1pm | Lunch Break | |
2pm | Notes for astro-tour guides | Alan Gilmore |
2.45pm | Stellar evolution – the lives of the stars | John Hearnshaw |
3.45pm | Afternoon tea/coffee break | |
4.15pm | Useful books, publications and software for night sky guides | All Instructors |
4.45pm | Presentation of AAA Certificates to participants | |
5pm | Close |
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THE COURSE
Thank you all so much for a wonderfully inspiring and informative course last weekend. Jami and I thoroughly enjoyed it, we are super stoked to have had such amazing, acclaimed instructors to learn from. Feeling lucky and blessed, now just waiting for the clouds to part so that we can put this knowledge into practice.
Karen (Tiggy) Reid, PihaMartinborough, July 2022
Thank you and the rest of the team for a splendid course into Astrotourism – I found it immensely beneficial and well balanced. The presenters were very knowledgeable and generous in sharing that knowledge – it was also great fun!
JeffTwizel, October 2021
I just wanted to say how much we appreciated the 3-day course over the weekend. It was just so great to have so many experts in their field in the one place. There was such a broad range to topics discussed in the right amount of detail. I just didn’t want it to stop. I would like to do the same course again in a year and will be certainly be recommending it to others!
MikeTwizel, October 2021
I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the course in Twizel. It was inspirational to listen to such experienced and motivated speakers. Each talk was riveting for me as a complete beginner and the topics covered were the appropriate range and scope for us. It was great to be able to network with other budding astro tourism folk but I also enjoyed the randomness of the collection of people there.
LizTwizel, October 2021
I had a fantastic time with you all, and feel like I learned a tremendous amount. The breadth of knowledge that you shared was tremendous, and the opportunity to spend some time with like-minded folks from around the country was truly invaluable.
The material covered was excellent, and the level of information was never too esoteric to comprehend, too basic for the level of knowledge I already have, nor too quickly presented, so very well done there. I think the pacing was excellent, and you all have wonderful presentation styles.
The material covered was excellent, and the level of information was never too esoteric to comprehend, too basic for the level of knowledge I already have, nor too quickly presented, so very well done there. I think the pacing was excellent, and you all have wonderful presentation styles.
JamesTwizel, October 2021
More than met my expectations. Plus everybody I spoke to was very pleased with it.
I loved that in trying for broad appeal and as an introduction you didn't "dumb
it down."
GailTwizel, October 2021
Thanks for a great course and the opportunity to learn from people who are so knowledgeable and passionate about astronomy. Liz and I both learnt an incredible amount and really enjoyed it.
GarryTwizel, October 2021
What an incredible course, thank you so much. My prime objective was to help me gain confidence and build a more robust way to extend the Astrophotography packages we currently offer. I feel so much more confident now in what to offer. This course ticked all the boxes I had and also many, many more that I didn’t know needed ticking. Thank you so much. You’ve helped me unlock even more of the night sky. You’ve started something very worthwhile and beneficial to Aotearoa and its tourism industry.
SimonTwizel, October 2021
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