What’s On

Courtyard Telescopes 

There is nothing like seeing a deep-space object, or one of the planets in our Solar System with your own eyes. Viewing the rings of Saturn, the red glow of Mars or the shadowy craters on the Moon through a telescope is an unforgettable experience for kids and adults alike.

The Stardome’s courtyard telescopes are available every Thursday-Sunday*, to both the public and those attending evening shows. The telescopes are operated by our experienced team who can locate the wonders of the night sky for you and provide some background to what you are seeing – from beautiful planets, to star clusters and nebulae. Naturally, telescope viewings are subject to suitable sky and weather conditions.

The courtyard telescope experience is complimentary after the our 7pm and 8.30pm evening shows. If you aren’t coming to the show, but would still like to experience the telescopes, entry is included with the normal Space Gallery fee.

Don’t forget to wrap up in a warm coat, as stargazing at night can be a little chilly! For more details, or to check the viewing schedule on the night of your visit, please call ahead.

*Telescope viewings on Wednesday evenings are available as part of our evening show packages.

Space Gallery & Exhibits

Stardome’s space gallery & exhibits is an engaging experience to browse either before or after your planetarium show. 

• Learn more about the History of Spacecraft in the interactive toy brick display.
• Take a look at New Zealand’s most diverse display of meteorites including pieces of the Moon and Mars. .
• Find out how telescopes work.
• Check out the Space Tracker display and keep up with the latest space exploration missions. 
• Climb onto our weighing machine to find out how much you would weigh on other planets.
• Take a close look at the two replica NASA spacesuits and then take a photo as “Buzz” the astronaut.

Thank you to our supporters, Regional Facilities Auckland, Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, Sir Po-shing Woo, the Lion Foundation, Foundation North and the Chisholm Whitney Family Trust for funding the development of the new displays

Zeiss Telescope

PLEASE NOTE: the Zeiss is undergoing a major technical upgrade and is currently only open on certain evenings. Please call ahead to check if the Zeiss is operating before your visit. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. 

For an extra special experience, take a closer look at some stunning deep space objects through Stardome’s largest telescope, the Zeiss, in the beautiful, historic observatory dome. Open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday subject to suitable sky conditions, for individuals and groups of up to 15 people.

On a clear night, you can expect to see four or five deep-space objects, accompanied by engaging commentary from a Stardome team member. An unforgettable experience for adults and children. This experience is best suited for those aged 8 and over.

Make an enquiry

Do you have a question?

Please complete the contact form with as much information as you can and our friendly team will be in touch as soon as they can.