Orchiston W. Exploring the History of New Zealand Astronomy: Trials, Tribulations, Telescopes and Transits

Springer, 2016. - 688 pp.Dr. Orchiston is a foremost authority on the subject of New Zealand astronomy, and here are the collected papers of his fruitful studies in this area, including both those published many years ago and new material. The papers herein review traditional Maori astronomy, examine the appearance of nautical astronomy practiced by Cook and his astronomers on their various stopovers in New Zealand during their three voyagers to the South Seas, and also explore notable nineteenth century New Zealand observatories historically, from significant telescopes now located in New Zealand to local and international observations made during the 1874 and 1882 transits of Venus and the nineteenth and twentieth century preoccupation of New Zealand amateur astronomers with comets and meteors.
New Zealand astronomy has a truly rich history, extending from the Maori civilization in pre-European times through to the years when explorers and navigators discovered the region, up to pioneering research on the newly emerging field of radio astronomy during WWII and in the immediate post-war years. A complete survey of a neglected but rich national astronomical history, this does the subject full and comprehensive justice.Pre-European Astronomy in The Pacific
The Skies Over Aotearoa/New Zealand: Astronomy from a Maori Perspective.
Mahutonga: Did Proto-Polynesian Astronomers Record the Supernova of AD 185?
Cook Voyage Astronomy and New Zealand
Astronomy on Cook’s First Voyage: Mercury Bay and Queen Charlotte Sound, 1769–1770.
Astronomy on Cook’s Second Voyage: Dusky Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound, 1773–1774.
Astronomy on Cook’s Third Voyage: Queen Charlotte Sound, 1777.
Fundamental Astronomy: Of Telescopes and Observatories
The ‘Cook’ Gregorian Telescope in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Stephen Carkeek, the Wellington Time Ball, and New Zealand’s Oldest Surviving Observatory.
The Historic Astronomical Observatories in the Wellington Botanic Garden: A Brief Introduction.
The Thames Observatories of John Grigg.
The Wanganui Refractor and Its Remarkable English Equatorial Mounting.
Joseph Ward: Pioneer New Zealand Telescope-Maker.
From Crossley to Carter: The Life and Times of an Historic Cooke Refractor.
Transits of Venus: The Quest for the Astronomical Unit
The 1874 and 1882 Transits of Venus: An Overview.
Refining the Astronomical Unit: Queenstown and the 1874 Transit of Venus.
Stunning Spectacles: Eclipses, Comets and Meteor Showers
The 1885 Total Solar Eclipse: An Amazing Public Spectacle.
John Grigg, and the Genesis of Cometary Astronomy in New Zealand.
C.J. Westland and Comet C/1914 S1 (Campbell): A Forgotten Episode in New Zealand Cometary Astronomy.
A Catholic Approach to Astronomy: The Remarkable Record of Ronald A. McIntosh.
Other Notable Astronomers and Their Activities
Great Comets, and Wellington’s Earliest European Astronomers.
Henry Severn: Thames’ Talented Transitory Astronomer.
John Grigg, and His Pioneering Astronomical Photography.
Opening a New Window on The Universe: Early New Zealand Radio Astronomy
Dr Elizabeth Alexander and the Mysterious ‘Norfolk Island Effect’.
John Bolton, Gordon Stanley, Bruce Slee and the Riddle of the ‘Radio Stars’.