Monday, July 03, 2006

Searching for planets

Here’s an interesting fact. Approximately 150 extra-solar planets have been detected since 1995 and each one has involved New Zealand astronomers in the MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) project. This project is based at Mt John Observatory at Lake Tekapo, three hours south of Christchurch.

Visitors to Tekapo can take a day or night tour of the facility through Earth and Sky Tours. Not only informative, the tours offer panoramic views of the Mackenzie Country. As the song goes, ‘on a clear day, you can see forever…'