STARGAZING IN NEW ZEALAND |
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Collected in a transit van the Japanese astronomer takes us out of the village and across two rutted fields to his tiny observatory. It is a clear, cold evening; the heavens are looking beautiful; we are shown the stars as they appear before our naked eyes. He points out the constellations and the planets, Jupiter and Saturn; deep inside the milky way helps us to clearly see the position of the Southern Cross. Whilst observing the sky we catch site of the Mir spaceship one week before it is due to splash down somewhere in the sea between here and Chile. Inside the observatory a large telescope is trained on Jupiter. Through it we can plainly view swirling gas clouds and four moons one to the norwest; three almost in a so'west line. Outside in the field smaller telescopes are set up. we behold Saturn, its magnificent rings resplendent. All I can say is "Wow!" We also look closely at the Jewel-box constellation and the Orion nebulae. Reluctantly we return to the warmth of our lakeside lodge dreaming of uncountable stars. |
GERALD ENGLAND |