International Observe the Moon Night

Caroline Williams Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Kia ora Tāmaki Makaurau. Saturday is International Observe the Moon Night and to mark the occasion, a historic telescope used during some of the first human missions to the moon will be open to the public at Auckland's Stardome Observatory and Planetarium (670 Manukau Road, Epsom).

The EWB Zeiss telescope was used to manually track Apollo missions when Houston didn't have radio contact with its spacecraft and astronauts.

The public are invited to use the telescope to view the moon on Saturday until 10.30pm at the stardome at 670 Manukau Road, Epsom.

“It will be five days after the new moon, so looking up from the Southern Hemisphere, we will easily be able locate the various maria, or seas, on the eastern half of the near-side of the moon. These are the Sea of Serenity, Sea of Tranquillity, Sea of Crises, Sea of Fecundity, and Sea of Nectar,” Stardome telescope operator Daley Panthagani said.

Entry costs $2 per adult and $1 per child. The Stardome will also be putting on educational shows about the moon for additional fees. For more info visit www.stardome.org.nz...