Possum Observatory

Possum Observatory sits at Patutahi, about 12 km west of Gisborne City in New Zealand's Gisborne District, on New Zealand's dark, clear East Coast skies.

About Possum Observatory

The observatory was originally built in 1981 by Bill McLaughlin under the name Te Whare Whetu ("The Star House"). Following McLaughlin's death, John Drummond inherited the facility and renamed it Possum Observatory in 1995, later adding a roll-off roof observatory building.

History

Since McLaughlin founded the site in 1981, it has grown from a private amateur set-up into a working research and education facility, with Drummond expanding both the instruments and the observatory's public programme.

Telescopes & research

The primary instrument is a 16-inch f4.5 Newtonian reflector, backed up by an 80mm refractor, a 200mm Vixen Newtonian, and a 410mm Dobsonian reflector. Working with Ohio State University, Possum Observatory has helped co-discover exoplanets using the microlensing method, including some of the earliest known Earth-mass planets found in binary star systems.

Location & getting there

The observatory is at Patutahi, roughly 12 km west of Gisborne City, in the Gisborne District on New Zealand's North Island. Use the map and directions on this page to plan your route.

Visiting Possum Observatory

Possum Observatory has run astro tours since 2020, alongside visits for school groups and a 6-week astronomy course. Check the official website for current tour dates and booking details.

See your named star from here

With four working telescopes and a team experienced in exoplanet research, Possum Observatory is well equipped to point toward the exact coordinates of a star you've named with Star Register on a clear Gisborne night. Explore our naming packages or browse the catalogue.