Every year, as the winter sky deepens and a small cluster of stars reappears on the horizon before dawn, something stirs in people across Aotearoa. Matariki has returned.
But what are these stars, really? Where do they come from? Why do we see them when we do — and why does that cluster of stars matter to cultures right around the world?
Join us for an evening that bridges science and culture, as we explore one of the night sky's most celebrated star clusters. This presentation will take you from the basic science — what the Matariki stars actually are, their distances, their nature, and why they rise when they do — through to the rich tapestry of names, stories and traditions that different cultures across the globe have woven around them for thousands of years.
You will leave knowing exactly where to find Matariki in the sky, what you are looking at when you do, and why people from Aotearoa to Athens to the Amazon have looked up at this same cluster and found meaning there.
This event is a fundraiser supporting the restoration of our observatory roof — a small contribution to keeping the stars accessible to our community for generations to come.
All are welcome. No prior knowledge of astronomy is needed — only curiosity.