Upcoming Celestial events
Te Rakaunui (full moon)
The Māori lunar calendar, or Maramataka, is used to determine the best time for many activities, including planting, harvesting, and fishing. The Maramataka is based on the phases of the moon, and the appearance of the full moon at different times of the year signals different activities, for example:
Pipiri (June/July): The full moon in this month signals the time to plant kumara (sweet potato).
Mahuru (April/May): The full moon in this month marks the end of the harvesting season.
Rākaunui: The full moon, when eel fishing is not productive because the bright moon light makes it hard for eels to hunt.
Te Rakaunui (full moon)
The Māori lunar calendar, or Maramataka, is used to determine the best time for many activities, including planting, harvesting, and fishing. The Maramataka is based on the phases of the moon, and the appearance of the full moon at different times of the year signals different activities, for example:
Pipiri (June/July): The full moon in this month signals the time to plant kumara (sweet potato).
Mahuru (April/May): The full moon in this month marks the end of the harvesting season.
Rākaunui: The full moon, when eel fishing is not productive because the bright moon light makes it hard for eels to hunt.
Te Rakaunui (full moon)
The Māori lunar calendar, or Maramataka, is used to determine the best time for many activities, including planting, harvesting, and fishing. The Maramataka is based on the phases of the moon, and the appearance of the full moon at different times of the year signals different activities, for example:
Pipiri (June/July): The full moon in this month signals the time to plant kumara (sweet potato).
Mahuru (April/May): The full moon in this month marks the end of the harvesting season.
Rākaunui: The full moon, when eel fishing is not productive because the bright moon light makes it hard for eels to hunt.
Lunar ecplise
Lunar eclipses are associated with Whiro-te-tipua, the lord of darkness:
Whiro: Whiro is a time of caution, when Whiro-te-tipua is at war with the moon.
Blood moon: A blood moon, also known as a marama kūtia, is a full moon that some say is a warning.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color.
Full lunar ecplise, where the moon appears red
Te Rakaunui (full moon)
The Māori lunar calendar, or Maramataka, is used to determine the best time for many activities, including planting, harvesting, and fishing. The Maramataka is based on the phases of the moon, and the appearance of the full moon at different times of the year signals different activities, for example:
Pipiri (June/July): The full moon in this month signals the time to plant kumara (sweet potato).
Mahuru (April/May): The full moon in this month marks the end of the harvesting season.
Rākaunui: The full moon, when eel fishing is not productive because the bright moon light makes it hard for eels to hunt.
Te Rakaunui (full moon)
The Māori lunar calendar, or Maramataka, is used to determine the best time for many activities, including planting, harvesting, and fishing. The Maramataka is based on the phases of the moon, and the appearance of the full moon at different times of the year signals different activities, for example:
Pipiri (June/July): The full moon in this month signals the time to plant kumara (sweet potato).
Mahuru (April/May): The full moon in this month marks the end of the harvesting season.
Rākaunui: The full moon, when eel fishing is not productive because the bright moon light makes it hard for eels to hunt.
C/2024 G3 ATLAS Comet
The C/2024 G3 ATLAS comet will be closest to earth on 14th January 2025 and may be visible in the night sky from then until the end of January.
Auahiroa and auahitūroa, meaning ‘long smoke trails’, and ūpokoroa, were common names for comets. One tradition from the Mātaatua tribes in the Bay of Plenty says that Te Rā (the sun) sent his son Auahi-tūroa, a comet, to give fire to humankind. Auahi-tūroa married Mahuika, who bore five children, Te Tokorima (the five fingers): Takonui, Takoroa, Māpere, Manawa and Toiti. Another account says that the demigod Māui retrieved fire from the fingernails of Mahuika, his grandmother, and planted it in trees such as kaikōmako, rimu and tōtara, which were used in traditional fire making. Fire is often known as Tama-a-Auahi-tūroa (son of Auahi-tūroa).
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over Nelson in September 2024
Venus Elongation
Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 47.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
There are several words in Te Reo for venus, including:
Rangitūahiahi : Venus as an evening star - the second planet from the sun in the solar system and the brightest celestial object after the sun and moon.
Kōpū : Venus as a morning star - the second planet from the sun in the solar system and the brightest celestial object after the sun and moon.
Meremere : Venus as an evening star.
Venus in the Western Sky after sunset
Quadrantids meteor shower
Meteors, or shooting stars, are matakōkiri, tūmatakōkiri, kōtiri and kōtiritiri. They have been interpreted in several ways – they were thought to convey fire to Earth, or to be stars that the sun or moon had struck down. Bright meteors were taken as a good omen, indicating future action. Duller ones were bad omens. Meteors also augured the death of great leaders and the rise of new ones.
The Quadrantids meteor shower is an above-average event, featuring up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is believed to be caused by dust particles left by an extinct comet, known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. This shower occurs annually from January 1–5, with its peak this year on the night of January 3 and the morning of January 4. With the crescent moon setting early in the evening, the skies will be dark, creating excellent conditions for viewing. For the best experience, find a dark location and watch after midnight. While the meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Boötes, they can be seen across the sky.
Maruaroa o Raumati (Summer Solstice)
Maruaroa o Raumati - the longest day of the year.
The Kamokamo is ready for harvest at the Summer Solstice
Maruaroa o Raumati is the Summer Solstice, named for the Goddess of Summer - Hine Raumati. At the solstice, she sends her husband, Te Ra, on a journey back to his winter bride, Hine Takurua. Flowers are abundant, the Pohutukawa is spectacular and some crops become ready for harvesting. The Kamokamo should be ready about now.
Te Rakaunui (full moon)
The Māori lunar calendar, or Maramataka, is used to determine the best time for many activities, including planting, harvesting, and fishing. The Maramataka is based on the phases of the moon, and the appearance of the full moon at different times of the year signals different activities, for example:
Pipiri (June/July): The full moon in this month signals the time to plant kumara (sweet potato).
Mahuru (April/May): The full moon in this month marks the end of the harvesting season.
Rākaunui: The full moon, when eel fishing is not productive because the bright moon light makes it hard for eels to hunt.
Geminids Meteor Shower
Meteors, or shooting stars, are called matakōkiri, tūmatakōkiri, kōtiri and kōtiritiri. They have been interpreted in several ways – they were thought to convey fire to Earth, or to be stars that the sun or moon had struck down. Bright meteors were taken as a good omen, indicating future action. Duller ones were bad omens. Meteors also augured the death of great leaders and the rise of new ones.
The Geminids, known as the king of meteor showers, can produce up to 120 meteors per hour at their peak on December 13-14. This year, a nearly full moon may obscure all but the brightest meteors. Viewing is best from a dark location after midnight, with meteors radiating from the Whakaahu (Gemini) constellation.
Takapō Trip
The project team travelled to Takapō for a wānanga on project progress and to formulate ideas for the upcoming mahi. Click here for more details and photos.
Project team at Takapō
Leonids Meteor Shower
Meteors, or shooting stars, are matakōkiri, tūmatakōkiri, kōtiri and kōtiritiri. They have been interpreted in several ways – they were thought to convey fire to Earth, or to be stars that the sun or moon had struck down. Bright meteors were taken as a good omen, indicating future action. Duller ones were bad omens. Meteors also augured the death of great leaders and the rise of new ones.
The Leonids is an average shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. This should be an excellent year for the Leonids. The thin, crescent moon won't be much of a problem and skies will be dark enough for what should be an great show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
