James Cook Observatory

James Cook Observatory was an astronomical observatory on Titirangi (Kaiti Hill) in Gisborne, on New Zealand's North Island, notable for once being the most eastern astronomical observatory in the world.

About James Cook Observatory

The observatory officially opened on 9 October 1971 and served the Gisborne community for decades as a place to observe the night sky from its hillside site above the city.

History

In 2019, James Cook Observatory was demolished after its structure was declared earthquake-prone, bringing an end to nearly five decades of operation on Kaiti Hill.

Location & getting there

The observatory stood on Titirangi (Kaiti Hill), a prominent hill overlooking Gisborne on New Zealand's North Island, a site historically significant both for its views and for its place in local Māori and colonial history.

Visiting James Cook Observatory

Because the observatory was demolished in 2019, it can no longer be visited as a working facility. Kaiti Hill itself remains accessible as a lookout point over Gisborne.

See your named star from here

Though the observatory building is gone, the same eastern skies it once studied still stretch above Gisborne every clear night. After you name a star with Star Register, you can look for it from Kaiti Hill or anywhere nearby using its exact coordinates. Browse the star catalogue to find yours.