Extreme Life Forms Found at Carter Observatory

21 September 2012
Extreme Life Forms Found at Carter Observatory

Carter Observatory is playing host to a number of extreme life forms over the next three months. Through a series of events from September to November, we’re exploring life in its various forms - on Earth, in space and the potential for life to exist on other planets.

During the school holidays (29 September – 14 October) kids have the opportunity to explore extreme life around our exhibition, hunt for aliens and help them to land in the habitable zone! Spot prizes are on offer for kids that dress up as aliens when they visit Carter during the school holidays.

Steve Wheeler, author of Burnt Ice will take a look at how extreme we are going to have to become in order to survive the universe outside the Goldilocks zone. He’ll be speaking at a special “Goldilocks & The Mermaid” public event on Wednesday 19 September starting at 7pm. Bookings are essential so reserve your place today by contacting Carter Observatory.

As part of the Spring Festival being held at the Wellington Botanic Garden, local artist Michaela Mills explores the life of Joseph Banks, (the botanist who accompanied Captain James Cook on board the ship Endeavour) in an exhibition titled “Voyage to the Southern Seas”.

She’ll be talking about this exhibition in our public evening event on Wednesday 17 October starting at 7pm. Entry is free to star pass holders and normal entry applies to all others. The evening includes a planetarium show and bookings are essential.

Michaela will also run a special “Voyage to the Southern Seas” workshop from 1.30pm-4pm on Sunday 7 October. Aimed at children between 7 and 13 years of age, the workshop will teach them some simple art and illustration techniques. Entry is $10 for star pass holders and $20 for others. Entry includes admission to the observatory and a planetarium show along with the workshop.

Carter’s newest planetarium show, ‘We Are Aliens,’ will be launched on Wednesday 21 November. This first showing will be followed by a talk on “Life in the Universe” by Carter Observatory’s Education and Public Programmes Manager Dr Claire Bretherton and will examine the search for life beyond our own planet.

“Humans have a natural curiosity about the potential for life to exist outside of Earth,” says Dr Claire Bretherton. “The more we learn about extreme life on our own planet, the broader our search becomes for life elsewhere in the Universe”.

Also coming up is a Solar Eclipse that will be observed between 9.26am and 11.48am on Wednesday 14 November. Locals are invited to visit Carter to witness this partial eclipse of the Sun, when the Moon will obscure approximately 76% of the Sun as seen from Wellington. Carter’s historic Thomas Cooke Refractor will be set up for viewing on the day. If you have the special solar glasses bought to witness the Transit of Venus in June you’ll be able to use these again or you can buy them at Carter prior to the eclipse.

In preparation for this significant event, Carter will be holding a special “Countdown to the Solar Eclipse” public evening on Wednesday 31 October starting at 7pm. It’s a perfect theme for Halloween as these events were observed with fear and awe in ancient times. You’ll learn not only how to safely observe this event, but also how eclipses occur, the types of eclipses and why they don’t occur at every New or Full Moon, along with some of the history and cultural significance around them. Normal admission applies and bookings are essential.

For the most up to date information on what’s going on at Carter Observatory, check out the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/carterobservatory) or website (www.carterobservatory)

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