The Carter Observatory in the Botanical Gardens in Wellington has recently reopened after a two year, $6 million makeover. It is New Zealand’s longest-serving national observatory, opened in 1941, and is a Category II registered historic place.

The name commemorates Charles Rooking Carter, who gifted his estate to what later became the Royal Society of New Zealand for the purposes of establishing an astronomical observatory in or near Wellington. Parliament established the Carter Observatory in 1937; it opened in 1941, following some delays caused by the beginnings of World War II.

The observatory became a base for astronomical research in New Zealand. Research began with solar investigations and when new staff joined during the 1970s it expanded to variable stars, galaxies, comets and asteroids. The observatory has had formal research programmes and assists amateur astronomers to perform their own research.

The Carter Observatory became New Zealand’s National Observatory in 1977. In recent years, its role “shifted from a focus on research to increasingly concentrate on public education about space” ^[1].

The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology commissioned astronomer Professor Mike Bessell, Australian National University, to review Carter Observatory’s ability to carry out its functions as New Zealand’s National Observatory, to explore New Zealand’s requirements and the opportunities in the National Observatory area, and assess the roles of the various players within the sector. Professor Bessell’s report was published in February 2005 .

Carter is open 7 days a week from 10am until 5pm, with late night stargazing every Saturday until 9pm (weather-permitting!).

The Carter Website is here.

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