Telescopes, binoculars, and educational materials will help reveal the celestial wonders sparkling overhead in our 200,000-hectare sanctuary
Queenstown, Otago
In February 2025, Tāhuna Glenorchy became an official International Dark Sky Sanctuary as certified by Dark Sky International, preserving forever this rare place of awe in one of the darkest locations in the world.
Thanks to you—and over 100 generous donors and volunteers— generations to come will be able to marvel at the majesty of the night sky, as well as study the mysterious web of life below that depends on truly dark nights in order to thrive.
To celebrate and help reveal the marvels both above us and below, the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Skies Sanctuary is eager to build a sharable collection of modern portable telescopes, binoculars, and informative educational materials such as seasonal night sky maps both online and in print.
We need your help:
• Night sky telescopes will cost ~$4500 each – we hope to have two to start
• Field binoculars that are suited for night sky use will cost ~$1000 each – we’d like to have six to start, so groups can use them together
• Sharable maps of the night sky over Glenorchy and an online map of places in the Sanctuary to get the best views are anticipated to cost ~$1500
• Educational materials that help stargazers find specific planets or stars, explain colour, size, and their movements will take ~$2000
• Learning tools to support discovery and study of native nocturnal lifeforms such as bats, moths and more will cost ~$2500
• Signage: ~$2000
• Training up a set of expert night sky guides: ~$2000
Your generous gift will create a legacy of wonder!
Glenorchy Dark Skies is a community-led working group operating as part of the Glenorchy Heritage Museum Group, an incorporated society registered with NZ Charities Services to help locals & visitors learn more of GY’s unique natural & cultural heritage.
We're seeking support to pay for telescopes, binoculars, night sky charts, signage and other ways to help locals and visitors from around the world learn more about the starry skies above us and the native nocturnal life below here at the head of the lake.
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