Beverly-Begg Observatory

Beverly-Begg Observatory has hosted stargazers in Dunedin, New Zealand, since 1922, and remains the home base of the volunteer-run Dunedin Astronomical Society.

About Beverly-Begg Observatory

The observatory sits in Robin Hood Park, in the Belleknowes area of Dunedin's town belt on New Zealand's South Island. It was established in 1922 by the Dunedin Astronomical Society (DAS), which still runs the site and uses it as its clubhouse.

History

Founded over a century ago, the observatory has served as the long-term home of the Dunedin Astronomical Society, one of New Zealand's amateur astronomy groups, giving generations of locals their first look through a telescope.

Location & getting there

Robin Hood Park sits within Dunedin's town belt, the green corridor that wraps around the city centre, making the observatory an easy walk or short drive from central Dunedin.

Visiting Beverly-Begg Observatory

The observatory opens to the public from 7:30pm on Sunday evenings, from the end of daylight saving in April through to its start again in September, with entry priced at NZ$10 for adults and NZ$5 for children. Volunteers from the Dunedin Astronomical Society run a laser-guided tour of the night sky and let visitors look through the telescope, weather permitting; schools and clubs can also arrange private group nights.

See your named star from here

Southern Hemisphere skies over Dunedin reveal a different slice of the night than the northern sky, and the volunteers here can help point a telescope toward the exact right ascension and declination of a star named through star-register.eu. Browse the star catalogue or see our naming packages.