Phone: +64 (0)3 6806960 Fax: +64 (0)3 6806950
Mt John Astro Café day & night camera
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| (Local New Zealand date & time displayed.) |
We also thought it would be fun for you to observe us at work during our Mt John Stargazing Tours each night! The best time to see us (weather permitting) is between 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm (local NZ time).
Why's the image in black & white?
A typical colour webcam is ideal for imaging daylight scenes, but it's too insensitive to capture even the brightest stars at night. Our special B/W video camera can show you both. In fact, our camera is so sensitive that magnitude +8 stars can be recorded under optimal conditions, and when the Moon is in the night sky the observatory dome will appear brightly lit as if it were daytime!
How does it work?
A monochrome Mintron 12V1-EX integrating video camera automatically adjusts to the enormous brightness range from day to night. Every 30 seconds a video capture device attached to an Apple eMac computer sends an image wirelessly 2.5 kilometres from the summit of Mt John via our office in Tekapo township to a UK-based server before it appears on this webpage.
Where's it located?
The camera's located at 43°59'07" South, 170°27'52" East, 1031m altitude (ASL) and currently points approximately north (azimuth 345°, to be precise) from the Astro Café, showing the dome of our primary 16-inch telescope. The expanse of water you can see in the middle distance during the daytime and in strong moonlight is Lake Alexandrina.