Dunedin Astronomical Society
Dunedin's Moment in the Shadow
Experience the Solar Eclipse!
When?
The afternoon of 22 July 2028
Dunedin, located on the southeastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, is known for its vibrant culture, stunning natural landscapes, and strong academic presence. It is a city that values community and learning, making it the perfect place to experience and celebrate this awe-inspiring event.
As the eclipse proceeds, the sky will become dark, and a bright corona created by the hot gases in the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere will become visible around the Moon. In ordinary daylight, the corona of the Sun isn’t visible, but it can be seen during a total solar eclipse and looks like a white pearly-coloured halo. Experiencing the Sun’s corona appear around the black shadow of the Moon is the highlight of a total solar eclipse.
During totality, some stars and planets may become visible, the air temperature drops, and animals, birds – and people – may change their behaviour.
We look forward to sharing this extraordinary event with you and making it a memorable experience for everyone in Dunedin. Don't miss your chance to witness a total solar eclipse in one of the world’s friendliest cities.
About the Dunedin Astronomical Society
The Dunedin Astronomical Society is open to anyone with an interest in astronomy. We hold regular meetings with a main meeting on the first Tuesday of each month (except January). The Beverly-Begg Observatory is open to the public from 7pm on Sunday nights from the end of daylight savings in April, until the beginning of daylight savings in September. Although the observatory is open regardless of weather, we can only view astronomical objects when the sky is reasonably clear! However, at any time, you may contact us to organise a private viewing.
We host group nights for schools, clubs or anyone else who would like a private session at the observatory. See our Public Outreach page for details. Along with this, we try to host a weekly astronomy group for school students during term time.
We run an Astronomy 101 course which includes content on visual observing, using a telescope, general astronomy, and astrophotography. Check out our gallery to see some photos our members have taken.
The society owns and operates a variety of telescopes, mounts and other equipment, some of which is available for lending to members. We use a Dark Sky site near Middlemarch which has a small farm cottage with accommodation for around 10 people.
The Dunedin Astronomical Society is affiliated with the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and with the Otago Institute. DAS also has an agreement of understanding with the Otago Museum to share resources relating to Astronomy.