New Zealand Astronomy in the 1990s

Abstract

AbstractThere has been a dramatic increase in astronomical research output in New Zealand over the last decade. This is set to increase with the advent of a number of new pieces of astronomical hardware over the last five years. These include the 1m telescope and associated instrumentation at Mount John and the JANZOS collaboration, with its instrumentation on Black Birch. Black Birch is also the site of the US Naval Observatory’s southern hemisphere astrometric station, where, using a transit circle instrument, they are collecting data which will form part of the International Reference Star Catalogue. As well as these ‘professional’ programs there is also a large network of amateur astronomers, who can provide extremely useful input into certain astronomical programs at the various observatories around the country and the world.A brief overview of the existing New Zealand astronomical scene will be followed by discussion of a number of new initiatives being proposed, which includes an automatic patrol telescope being developed by Carter Observatory, an expansion of the JANZOS collaboration and initial discussion about the possibility of an eastern arm for the Australia Telescope some where in New Zealand. In addition, for programs which require a long timebase of observations, extreme southerly latitudes or longitudinal coverage, New Zealand could provide a unique opportunity.