Haven’t you wondered what secrets the night sky holds above Wellington? Space Place at Carter Observatory is where those mysteries begin to unravel. The Carter Observatory sits atop the Wellington Botanic Garden. It offers stunning views and a portal to the cosmos.
Originally, this site was home to the Wellington City Observatory. Locals nicknamed it “The Tin Shed” in 1924. The Carter Observatory replaced it and officially opened in 1941. Today, Museums Wellington manages Space Place. It serves as a public museum and planetarium. Its focus lies on space and New Zealand astronomy.
Inside Carter Observatory, you will find a digital planetarium. It is complemented by a historic 9 3/4-inch Cooke refractor telescope. Evening visitors can observe the Solar System and deep-sky objects. Heritage New Zealand recognizes it as a Category 2 Historic Place.
The Carter Observatory name honors Charles Carter. He gifted his estate to establish an astronomical observatory near Wellington. Parliament established the Carter Observatory in 1937. World War II caused some delays. It is considered the fifth observatory in Wellington.
For decades, Carter Observatory served as New Zealand’s National Observatory. Research initially focused on solar investigations. Later, research expanded to variable stars, galaxies, comets, and asteroids. The Carter Observatory helped amateur astronomers with their research.
In 2010, Parliament repealed the Carter Observatory Act. The Wellington City Council took over the site’s responsibilities. In 2015, the Carter Observatory rebranded to Space Place. This change reflected its focus on public education and tourism.
Space Place houses two telescopes in its main building. There is also a planetarium. The Thomas Cooke telescope is the primary telescope for public observing. This telescope was made in 1867. It weighs two tonnes. The Ruth Crisp telescope is a 16-inch Cassegrain reflector. It arrived as a donation in 1968. Space Place manages the Thomas King Observatory nearby. The historic Dominion Observatory is also nearby.
The Thomas Cooke telescope was manufactured in York, England. Astronomers Edward Crossley and Joseph Gledhill used it for research. In 1879, a clock drive was added. In 1896, the original lens was replaced.
Reverend Dr David Kennedy purchased the telescope in 1905. He shipped it to New Zealand. He photographed Halley’s Comet in 1910. The Wellington City Council purchased the telescope in 1923 for £2000. It was transferred to the Carter Observatory. The Cooke telescope was used for solar astronomy research. In 1968, the Carter Observatory helped record an occultation of Neptune by the Moon. In 2001, the lens was replaced.
Ruth Crisp donated the Ruth Crisp telescope in 1968. It was used for research at Black Birch in the South Island. Later, it moved to Wellington. In 2005, improvements were made to the installation.
The Golden Bay Planetarium became part of the Carter Observatory in 1991. In 2010, a Sky-Skan digital fulldome planetarium system was installed. The planetarium seats 66 people.
The nearby Thomas King Observatory is also managed by Space Place. It was last refurbished in 2001. It housed a 5-inch Grubb telescope. It was used for night observations and solar viewing.
So, step inside Space Place at Carter Observatory. Explore the wonders of the universe. Discover the stories written in the stars.