Kōaka - Stargazing in Spring

Couple standing under the Southern Hemisphere night sky during an astro portrait session." Alt Tag 2: "Client gazing at the stars with the Milky Way shining above during an AuthenticAs Starry Night Adventure.
 

Nau mai, haere mai ki te tātai aroraki o Kōaka –Welcome to Stargazing in Spring

We’ve just sailed past the Equinox, a time when both poles of the Earth are equidistant from Tamanuiterā (the Sun). For many cultures, this marks the beginning of a new season. In the Southern Hemisphere, we welcome Kōaka (Spring).

Astronomically speaking, the Southern Lakes region has so much to offer during this time. For a few hours after sunset, Te Matau-a-Māui – Scorpius sets in the eastern sky, alongside the center of our galaxy. This area, one of the most stunning parts of the night sky, offers perfect compositions for Astro Portraits.

 
Client enjoying an astro portrait session beneath Scorpius and the Lagoon Nebula.
 

Temperatures are slowly rising, but it's still cool enough for beautifully crisp skies. Perfect for immersing yourself in te Taiao (the Environment) as you explore the wider universe. Our Unistellar eVscope thrives in these conditions, capturing breathtaking deep-space images in minutes. Right now, we’re loving the Lagoon Nebula – M8. The massive stars embedded within it give off ultraviolet radiation that ionizes the gas, making it shine. At just 5,200 light years away, it’s even visible to the naked eye in the dark skies of the Southern Lakes.

From our latitude (around 45 degrees south), some of the Universe’s most incredible sights are circumpolar—meaning they never set and are visible every night. You’ll start by observing with your naked eyes, then through binoculars, before we use the telescope to shoot a long-exposure image that develops before your eyes.

On this journey, you’ll discover the Magellanic Clouds, the Carina Nebula & Wishing Well in Carina, and Te Pae Māhutoka (the Southern Cross) identified using Te Taura o te Waka o Tamarēreti (The Anchor Line/The Pointers).

 
 

This is also one of the best times to catch an Aurora. While it's not guaranteed,  the odds are in your favor!

 
 

Of course, there’s a trade-off as we approach the Summer Solstice—nights get shorter and our start times later. In early spring, we’ll meet you around 7:30 pm, and closer to the solstice, around 9:30–10 pm.

To learn more about your own AuthenticAs Starry Night Adventure, explore the stories of our past adventures on our website. We can’t wait to welcome you beneath the Southern Night Sky, and don’t forget this includes your unforgettable Astro Portrait session!

 
Capturing the night sky in spring: stargazing adventure with clients.
Astro, LifestyleSimon Williamsstargazing, astro portraits, southern hemisphere, night sky photography, astrophotography, spring stargazing, Scorpius constellation, Southern Lakes stargazing, Equinox astronomy, Magellanic Clouds, Carina Nebula, Unistellar eVscope, deep space observation, Māori astronomy, Te Matau-a-Māui, circumpolar constellations, Southern Cross, Southern Hemisphere dark skies, Aurora Australis, Raumati stargazing, astro tourism, Te Taiao, spring astrophotographyComment