7 Jan 2026

Summer stargazing

From Summer Times, 9:40 am on 7 January 2026

Turn your attention skywards. With our clear skies and lack of light pollution, Aotearoa has become a top global destination for stargazing. 

If you find yourself under the stars these holidays, astronomer and head of Dunedin's Tūhura Otago Museum, Ian Griffin, is here to tell you what to look for. 

A long-exposure landscape shot of the night sky with the Milky Way fringed by the dark silhouettes of trees.

Many parts of New Zealand enjoy uninterrupted views of the Milky Way at night – but in urban areas, stargazing is increasingly hampered by light pollution. Photo: Eyrie Photography