Carter Observatory

Carter Observatory, now known as Space Place at Carter Observatory, is a historic observatory at the top of the Wellington Botanic Garden in Wellington, New Zealand.

About Carter Observatory

Space Place is a public museum and planetarium with a focus on space and New Zealand astronomy, managed by Museums Wellington, part of Experience Wellington. The site is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place.

History

The site was originally home to the Wellington City Observatory, nicknamed "The Tin Shed", established in 1924. That building was later demolished and replaced by Carter Observatory, which officially opened on 20 December 1941.

Telescopes & research

The observatory houses a digital planetarium alongside an historic 9¾-inch Cooke refractor telescope, through which evening visitors can observe Solar System objects and deep-sky targets.

Location & getting there

Carter Observatory sits at the summit of the Wellington Botanic Garden in Wellington, New Zealand, easily reached on foot from the garden's cable car terminus.

Visiting Carter Observatory

As Space Place, the site operates as a public museum and planetarium, with evening sessions offering views through the historic Cooke refractor. Check current opening hours and show times on the official Space Place website before visiting.

See your named star from here

The same 9¾-inch Cooke refractor that has shown Wellington visitors the night sky since 1941 could, in principle, be aimed at any star's coordinates — including one named through Star Register. Name a star as a gift, or browse the star catalogue to see stars already registered.