Good Heavens

31/05/2026

Antares (or Rehua in Maori) is playing hide and seek the evening of 31 May. Antares is a super-giant red star, around 700 times the size of our Sun, but as it's far far away, around 550 light-years, it appears much smaller than our Moon. It's red as it's cooling down, while it's burned through most of it fuel and coming to the end of its life.

Astronomy, NOW! 👀

Eastern Australia and New Zealand dwellers enjoy an occultation of Antares by the Full Moon on 31 May.

From Wellington, New Zealand, Antares moves behind the Moon at 19:35 NZST, reappearing at 20:41.

📷 Credit: Astronomy Now/Greg Smye-Rumsby

29/05/2026

We love winter evenings! 🤩️ With the core of the Milky Way high up in the sky till the end of September and darkness falling early it's a magical time to look up and get lost in the stars. ✨️

21/04/2026

Looking out for these tonight! ☄️

👉Fireballs Are on the Way! ☄️

Get set for one of April’s most stunning night-sky events — the Lyrid Meteor Shower! 🌠

During the night of April 21–22, you’ll be able to see bright, fast meteors racing across the sky. In dark, clear conditions, there could be around 15–20 meteors each hour, along with a few brilliant fireballs that shine even brighter than the rest.

🌌 Tips for the best view: • Watch after midnight when activity is highest
• Choose a spot far from city lights
• Allow 15–20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark
• No special equipment needed — just look up and enjoy

This is a perfect chance to unwind under the stars and enjoy a natural light show in the sky.

📍 Are you planning to watch it? Tell us in the comments!

04/04/2026

A breathtaking Moon Walk 🌕 last night.

A Moon Walk is such a treat! Visually very different from our Dark Sky Experience, if you love to see the moon light sparkle on the ocean around Great Barrier Island, this is the Experience for you.

This light play is mesmerising and once you've seen the moon through the telescope, you'll gain a whole new appreciation of this celestial beauty.

Our Moon is very bright when full, so that the Milky Way is barely visible.

If you'd rather see the Milky Way than the Moon 🌌 we recommend you come at a time of the month when the moon is not largw in the evening sky.

Our booking schedule will help you determine when to come.

Please contact us if you would like advice around the perfect timing for your Good Heavens stargazing experience. ✨️

01/04/2026

18/03/2026

And finding them in the Southern Hemisphere sky.

When you remember what the stars were like when you were a child, lying on the grass in your backyard, but light pollution has taken the magic of the night sky where you live.

You've come to Aotea in search of that beauty, that starry magic, to reminisce.

And you find so much more than you expected. You stand in awe, overwhelmed by the beauty of the Southern Sky and all the wonder it holds. ✨️

17/03/2026

Some days are just perfect.

I was lapping it up around Medlands Beach today. After a fab stargazing experience last night, with some children and a super enthusiastic urban international crowd, i had another chance tonight while Deb is away at school camp.

The forecast for tonight was better then tomorrow's, so I brought tomorrow's private experience forward to today.

We try to ensure our stargazers enjoy the best conditions for their stargazing experience and we ask them to let us know which nights they are available during their island holiday.

More available nights means a better chance of a clear sky!

Tonight conditions where perfect. While there was some cloud at sunset, the sky cleared beautifully to reveal the darkest and most sparkly of skies for our stargazers from the US. They were blown away and said this sky and their stargazing experience was beyond what they had hoped for.

It's such a priviledge and joy to share the beauty of our Dark Sky Sanctuary sky with stargazers who know what it means to lose the darkness of the night to light pollution. ✨️

13/03/2026

Your Great Barrier Island weekend getaway!

Fly with Barrier Air , stay at XSPOT , pop into Good Neighbours Food at the Aotea Brewing Comp for food and a beverage and stargaze with Good Heavens . Check out this Barrier post for more itinerary suggestions. ✨️

25/02/2026

🌘 3 March 945pm - 4 March 323am 🌒

24/02/2026

A total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and Earth's shadow covers the Moon.

Will you watch the Moon turn red when the eclipse reaches totality?

For all you night owls here are the specifics. Safe the date. 🤩

Key Times (NZDT) - Tuesday 3 March / Early Wednesday 4 March 2026

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 9:44 pm (Tue)

Partial Eclipse Begins: 10:50 pm (Tue)

Total Eclipse Begins (Totality): 12:04 am (Wed)

Maximum Eclipse: 12:33 am (Wed)

Total Eclipse Ends: 1:02 am (Wed)

Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 3:23 am (Wed)