Carter Observatory

Wellington New Zealand

$Cook Refractor Telescope, Carter Observatory$ Carter Observatory is New Zealand's longest serving national observatory. It re-opened after an extensive refurbishment and is an outstanding visitor experience using the culture. heritage and science of the Southern Skies to excite, engage and inspire. Carter showcases a vastly improved astronomy learning experience, designed by award winning exhibition company Story! Inc. New displays, interactive exhibits and a digital planetarium bring the depths of space to life. This new resource will significantly increase visitation, both from residents and visitors to Wellington, and create a world class, self sustaining education and tourism facility. The facility is accessible throughout the refurbished sections and all of the new displays, the historic telescope rooms are only accessible by steps.

MAORI NAME
The Maori name gifted to Carter Observatory by the mana whenua of Wellington is, "Te Ara WhAnui ki te Rangin meaning the expansive pathway to the heavens. Carter Observatory has a strong relationship with the tangata whenua of the Wellington Region and will be developing ongoing programmes and initiatives with them around special space events such as Matariki (the Maori New Year), Mata Ora and Maori cosmology.

GETTING THERE
The easiest way to get to the observatory is via the Cable Car from the Central Business District. Be sure to board the tram via the upper doors (see our cable car page for details) Leave the tram on the right hand side and follow the path from the observation area. It is a 5 minute roll up a gentle slope to the Observatory. If you are driving there is a marked disabled bay outside the entrance. A further couple of unmarked bays are available by prior arrangement. The entrance is level with a wide doorway.

Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
The new exhibition uses a full range of interpretive media from graphics to digital animation and interactivity - used together to bring space science to life. Maori, Polynesian and Western astronomy is interpreted together to produce an experience different to anything else anywhere in the world. Telescope viewing is available weather·permitting. Visitors will be able to conclude their experience at the at the Observatory shop.

The journey begins in the foyer: large-scale, evocative images of New Zealand's involvement in space science are displayed on a digital screen. Entering the first gallery, visitors are placed in the context of the Universe: discovering its
fabulous complexity, beautiful simplicity, and immense size and scale. This is an image-rich environment that weaves concepts and text in a manner that informs the uninitiated and engages the more knowledgeable. Visitors are led on a journey of discovery that gives them a realistic perspective of their place in the Universe.
Woven throughout is Maori and Pacific Island astronomy, such as Te Ikaroa I the Milky Way, Papatoanuku I the Earth. The moment a visitor makes their way into the exhibition they are immersed in the Big Bang and the creation of the Universe through to today's worlds, from 10 and Te Kore through to the separation of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, as the two concepts intertwine to convey the same story. As the visitor proceeds through the galaxies and the stars, solar systems are introduced along with extraordinary new knowledge recently gained on our own Solar System: that life forms have existed, or could exist beyond Earth. Movement through the gallery is open and the displays are at a level that they can be easily seen from a wheelchair. Take a roll through the black hole.

Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery

Emerging from the walk-through 'black hole' into the next gallery, the fragility of life in our and other solar systems is discussed along with our fascination with comets and meteors. A digital orrery, dominates this gallery: this interactive model of our Solar System (Rerenga 0 Tama-nui-te-Ra) captures the imagination, and is a great tool for engaging children. In this gallery, Carter celebrates Kiwi pioneers of astronomy: from Charles Rooking Carter to Professor John Hearnshaw, New Zealand consistently punches above its weight, contributing to significant advances in this exciting field of endeavour. As with the first gallery this one is fully accessible.

Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery

Nearby, an audio-visual theatre runs films about the Southern Skies. Next door, the Library displays Carter's collection of astronomy texts gathered from around the world and across the centuries.
The exhibition concludes in Carter Observatory's historic telescope dome. This houses Carter's amazing Cooke telescope, as well as its artifact collection, and explains the heritage of this iconic building, and those who have worked and researched here. As stated at the outset the only way into this building is via six steps so there is no wheelchair access.

Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery

THE PELORUS TRUST PLANETARIUM
All visitors are offered the chance to experience a show in Carter Observatory's digital full dome planetarium.
The planetarium is equipped with a new Sky-Skan projection system: a combination of hardware and software that uses real space data to create an amazing full-dome experience. New seating, lighting and sound systems ensure a high-quality auditorium is available for families, schools and corporate guests. Two wheelchair positions are available within the Planetarium, however, all of the seating is removable and if you have a group requiring more wheelchair positions talk to the observatory in advance.

Accessible facilities are available in the observatory off the main galleries. A nice touch is the way the disabled signage was made inclusive.

Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery


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	Carter Observatory Wellington New Zealand $Cook Refractor Telescope, Carter Observatory$ Carter Observatory is New Zealand's longest serving national observatory. It re-opened after an extensive refurbishment and is an outstanding visitor experience using the culture. heritage and science of the Southern Skies to excite, engage and inspire. Carter showcases a vastly improved astronomy learning experience, designed by award winning exhibition company Story! Inc. New displays, interactive exhibits and a digital planetarium bring the depths of space to life. This new resource will significantly increase visitation, both from residents and visitors to Wellington, and create a world class, self sustaining education and tourism facility. The facility is accessible throughout the refurbished sections and all of the new displays, the historic telescope rooms are only accessible by steps. MAORI NAME The Maori name gifted to Carter Observatory by the mana whenua of Wellington is, "Te Ara WhAnui ki te Rangin meaning the expansive pathway to the heavens. Carter Observatory has a strong relationship with the tangata whenua of the Wellington Region and will be developing ongoing programmes and initiatives with them around special space events such as Matariki (the Maori New Year), Mata Ora and Maori cosmology. GETTING THERE The easiest way to get to the observatory is via the Cable Car from the Central Business District. Be sure to board the tram via the upper doors (see our cable car page for details) Leave the tram on the right hand side and follow the path from the observation area. It is a 5 minute roll up a gentle slope to the Observatory. If you are driving there is a marked disabled bay outside the entrance. A further couple of unmarked bays are available by prior arrangement. The entrance is level with a wide doorway. Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE The new exhibition uses a full range of interpretive media from graphics to digital animation and interactivity - used together to bring space science to life. Maori, Polynesian and Western astronomy is interpreted together to produce an experience different to anything else anywhere in the world. Telescope viewing is available weather·permitting. Visitors will be able to conclude their experience at the at the Observatory shop. The journey begins in the foyer: large-scale, evocative images of New Zealand's involvement in space science are displayed on a digital screen. Entering the first gallery, visitors are placed in the context of the Universe: discovering its fabulous complexity, beautiful simplicity, and immense size and scale. This is an image-rich environment that weaves concepts and text in a manner that informs the uninitiated and engages the more knowledgeable. Visitors are led on a journey of discovery that gives them a realistic perspective of their place in the Universe. Woven throughout is Maori and Pacific Island astronomy, such as Te Ikaroa I the Milky Way, Papatoanuku I the Earth. The moment a visitor makes their way into the exhibition they are immersed in the Big Bang and the creation of the Universe through to today's worlds, from 10 and Te Kore through to the separation of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, as the two concepts intertwine to convey the same story. As the visitor proceeds through the galaxies and the stars, solar systems are introduced along with extraordinary new knowledge recently gained on our own Solar System: that life forms have existed, or could exist beyond Earth. Movement through the gallery is open and the displays are at a level that they can be easily seen from a wheelchair. Take a roll through the black hole. Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery Emerging from the walk-through 'black hole' into the next gallery, the fragility of life in our and other solar systems is discussed along with our fascination with comets and meteors. A digital orrery, dominates this gallery: this interactive model of our Solar System (Rerenga 0 Tama-nui-te-Ra) captures the imagination, and is a great tool for engaging children. In this gallery, Carter celebrates Kiwi pioneers of astronomy: from Charles Rooking Carter to Professor John Hearnshaw, New Zealand consistently punches above its weight, contributing to significant advances in this exciting field of endeavour. As with the first gallery this one is fully accessible. Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery Nearby, an audio-visual theatre runs films about the Southern Skies. Next door, the Library displays Carter's collection of astronomy texts gathered from around the world and across the centuries. The exhibition concludes in Carter Observatory's historic telescope dome. This houses Carter's amazing Cooke telescope, as well as its artifact collection, and explains the heritage of this iconic building, and those who have worked and researched here. As stated at the outset the only way into this building is via six steps so there is no wheelchair access. Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery THE PELORUS TRUST PLANETARIUM All visitors are offered the chance to experience a show in Carter Observatory's digital full dome planetarium. The planetarium is equipped with a new Sky-Skan projection system: a combination of hardware and software that uses real space data to create an amazing full-dome experience. New seating, lighting and sound systems ensure a high-quality auditorium is available for families, schools and corporate guests. Two wheelchair positions are available within the Planetarium, however, all of the seating is removable and if you have a group requiring more wheelchair positions talk to the observatory in advance. Accessible facilities are available in the observatory off the main galleries. A nice touch is the way the disabled signage was made inclusive. Click on an image for a larger view or view our full photo gallery