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Press release
24th Sept. 2009 ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY captures a KIWI in the MILKY WAY — A 100% PURE KIWI DARK SKY.
When viewing this region with the naked eye it is difficult to locate the bird, whereas the images produced with Fraser’s camera allow greater light and colour into the image giving the kiwi more definition as seen in the accompanying photo (mouse over the image left to see the kiwi in outline).
This is such a great discovery for Lake Tekapo, which is bidding to become one of the first World Heritage Starlight Reserves in the world. How appropriate that a kiwi stands in amongst the stars that Lake Tekapo is striving to protect and that it has been discovered from Mt John.
Astrophotography has been offered as an extra activity with the stargazing tours for six weeks and the response has been outstanding. For customers who have an SLR-type camera it means that with hands-on instruction they can obtain their own starlight pictures, including the recently discovered kiwi.
Earth & Sky, which has been operating educational Stargazing Tours for the past five years, is noticing a considerable increase in activity and awareness of the public, both locally and internationally. Visitors keen to discover the wonders of the southern night sky are finding Mt John an ideal location, regarded world-wide as one of the most beautiful, easily accessible observatories in the world.