FROM ECLIPSES TO ROVERS: Cosmic School Holiday Fun at Te Whatu Stardome
These school holidays, Te Whatu Stardome is blasting off with a programme that’s truly out of this world. From coming together to witness a rare celestial spectacle to hands-on robotics workshops and a galaxy of family-friendly films, there’s something for every young astronaut and stargazer.
Things kick off on the very first morning of the break, Monday 22 September, with a partial solar eclipse visible across Aotearoa. Here in Tāmaki Makaurau, the sun will rise already in eclipse at 6.10am, reaching maximum coverage of around 60% just before 7am before ending just after 8am.
Te Whatu Stardome and the Auckland Astronomical Society will be hosting a free public viewing party atop Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill from 6am (weather permitting), complete with telescopes, solar glasses, and astronomers ready to answer all your eclipse questions. It’s the first time New Zealanders have seen an eclipse of this magnitude since 2012 – so set those alarms early and don’t miss it. Check our Facebook for weather updates and remember that it is never safe to look directly at the eclipse without proper eye protection. Check out how to view it safely here.
Plus check out Stardome’s regular Southern night sky update for all the southern hemisphere astronomical events to keep an eye out for in the coming month.
The cosmic fun continues the very next day with our Mars Rover Robotics Workshops. Across four hours, participants will build and code their very own LEGO rover before driving it across a Martian terrain, finishing the day with a planetarium show included in the session. The workshops run on Tuesday 23 and Tuesday 30 September and are limited to just 14 students per session, so early booking is essential. These are drop-off sessions, so parents do not have to attend.
And if it’s big-screen spectacle you’re after, Te Whatu Stardome’s immersive planetarium has a stellar line-up ready to rocket families into the holidays. Highlights include T.REX, narrated by Sam Neill, which brings dinosaurs back to life in breathtaking 360-degree detail; 3-2-1 Liftoff!, a playful space adventure perfect for younger tamariki; and Astronaut, an edge-of-your-seat journey into what it takes to launch into space.
For something closer to home, Ngā Tohunga Whakatere - The Navigators shares the stories of Māori, Pasifika and European voyaging traditions, while live presenter-led shows like Our Sky Tonight and Looking Up! connect audiences to the constellations visible above Auckland each evening.
With eclipses on the horizon, rovers ready to roll, and cosmic films lighting up the dome, these school holidays are set to be astronomical.
TICKETING INFO
School Holiday Shows: $12 flat rate (including Saturdays)
Sunday Saver: $12 adult, $10 child
Annual Pass Holders: Free entry to all school holiday shows, excluding workshops.
Children 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Bookings are highly recommended as shows often sell out. All sessions are subject to availability.
Visit www.stardome.org.nz for full schedule and bookings.