Hāwera Observatory

In King Edward Park in the town of Hāwera, New Zealand, the Hāwera Observatory has been the home of the Hawera Astronomical Society since it was founded in 1926, welcoming visitors to open nights and by request ever since.

About Hāwera Observatory

The observatory is administered and maintained by the Hawera Astronomical Society, which was founded on 29 September 1926 by George Mortimer Townsend. The society meets at the observatory on the second Wednesday of every month and also runs a youth club that meets fortnightly.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's equipment spans more than a century of telescope-making: a 5-inch Cooke refractor made in 1905, a 280mm Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain GOTO telescope, a 200mm Celestron reflector, and 580mm Dobsonian telescopes.

Location & getting there

Hāwera Observatory sits within King Edward Park in the town of Hāwera, on New Zealand's North Island.

Visiting Hāwera Observatory

The observatory holds open nights and can also be opened by public request through its Facebook page. Membership in the Hawera Astronomical Society costs NZD $15 a year for individuals or $20 for a family, and the society welcomes newcomers to its monthly meetings.

See your named star from here

From a 1905 refractor to modern Dobsonians, the Hawera Astronomical Society has the range of telescopes to track down a specific point in the sky, which is exactly what a named star's coordinates give you. Name a star with Star Register and bring its right ascension and declination to an open night. Browse more named stars in our catalogue.