2026 Programme

Thursday, 15 January

From 2:00 pmArrival and set up. No official programme.

Friday, 16 January

6:00 pmDIY Sausage sizzle – Gold coin donation
7:00 pmOfficial opening and housekeeping matters – Remco Mensert (HBAS)
7:10 pmWeather forecast for the weekend – Paul Mallinson
7:30 pmIts 5 year mission – Remco Mensert
8:00 pmThe Cosmic Web, a wonderous maze – Bethany Jones
8:30 pmNight Sky Workshop – Andrew Buckingham
9:00 pmSupper & Telescope set up time
9:30 pmMovie: TBD

Saturday, 17 January

9:00 amChildren’s programme – Jackie and Ysabel Mackrill
10:00 amAstronomy Equipment Overview – Andrew Buckingham
10:30 amImaging with Smart Scopes – S50 and Celestron Origin – Robin Warnes
11:00 amElectronic Assisted Astronomy – Graham Dawson
11:30 amCK-2 DIY Strain Wave Mount – Martin Howard
NoonDIY Sausage sizzle – Gold coin donation
1:00 pmBuy, Sell and Swap table (also Sunday)
1:30 pmComets from Carterton – Paul Mallinson
2:00 pmI’ve discovered a comet from New Zealand! Only six New Zealanders can officially say this. – John Drummond
2:30 pmMy Journeys as Eclipse chaser since 1999 – Otto Gruebl
3:00 pmAfternoon tea
3:30 pmGalaxies are influenced by dark matter (DM) – Stuart Mossman
4:00 pmRunning parameters account for Dark Matter – Terry McMahon
4:30 pmTelescope trail
5:30 pmDinner (fish / burger and chips)
7:00 pmGroup photo (Meet in the hall) – Graham Palmer
7:15 pmAstro-Quiz – Graham Palmer
8:15 pmRaffle Draw
8:30 pmA Decade of Deep Sky Imaging – Matt Balkham
9:30 pmSupper & Telescope set up time
9:45 pmMovie: TBD

Sunday, 18 January

9:00 amChildren’s programme – Jackie and Ysabel Mackrill
10:00 amRocket launches – Keith Dyson
10:30 amFireballs Aotearoa – Steve Wyn-Harris
11:00 amVisualising the heavens – from Armillary Spheres to Planetariaums – Jeremy Robertson
11:30 amJust Six Numbers – Antony Gomez
NoonDIY Sausage sizzle – Gold coin donation
1:00 pmBuy, Sell and Swap table (also Saturday)
1:30 pmMy journey from astrophotography to citizen science – Ian Transom
2:00 pmBinoculars – Andrew Buckingham
2:30 pmHow does the Sun impact Climate Change? (or does it?) – Bruce Ngataeirua
3:00 pmClosing Central Star Party – Bruce Ngataeirua (HBAS)
3:15 pmAfternoon tea
6:30 pmPlanetarium Show @ Holt Planetarium https://www.holtplanetarium.org.nz
Chambers St, Napier (on the grounds of Napier Boys High School)
7:30 pmMovie: TBD

Monday, 19 January

9:00 am –Camp cleanup. Please help if you are available.