Star gazers measure Oxford’s night sky in quest for dark park status
Star gazers are peering into Oxford’s dark sky. Local Democracy Reporter DAVID HILL visits the group to speak about their quest for dark sky park status.
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A group of volunteers are looking to the stars in a bid to gain dark sky park status for a conservation area in North Canterbury.
The newly formed Oxford Dark Sky Group is close to submitting an application with the International Dark-Sky Association.
To complete the application, volunteers travel to the Oxford Forest Conservation Area to measure the dark sky.
My daughter, Sasha, and I met volunteers Raul Elias-Drago and Susi Schulze at the Oxford Area School Observatory at 11.30pm on a recent Friday, before heading out to the conservation area.
We take our first readings on the dark sky reader after stepping out of the car at the Coopers Creek car park.
As Elias-Drago explained, we need readings of magnitude 21.2 or higher to support the application.
Stellar magnitude is what astronomers use to measure the brightness of star or object in space. The brighter the object, the lower magnitude.
The Sun has an apparent magnitude of -27, while Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is -1.46. Venus at its brightest is -5 and the International Space Station can reach a magnitude of -6.
Most people can see up to magnitude 6 with the naked eye on a clear night.
A magnitude of 21.2 is optimum for stargazing, as the sky is dark enough to see distant objects and get a clear view of the centre of the Milky Way through a telescope.
Our first set of readings were around 21.16 to 21.18.
Undeterred we drove further into the conservation area to take readings at different locations.
It was a partially cloudy night, but as we ventured further and the sky got darker our readings were consistently well over 21.2 and as high as 21.48.
On clear nights, Elias-Drago said he picked up readings as high as 21.66 and 21.76.
A $500 grant from the Oxford-Ohoka Community Board allowed the group to buy a dark sky reader.
The newly formed Oxford Dark Sky Group has 22 member organisations, including schools, community groups, sports club, the Oxford Promotions Action Committee (representing local businesses), the Department of Conservation and the Waimakariri District Council.
Elias-Drago said the ultimate goal is to become a dark sky reserve.
The first step is to obtain dark sky park status for the 11,350 hectare conservation area.
‘‘We can use that to generate momentum and then continue the conversation with the council and local businesses, generate some funds and come back to addressing the lighting in the township.’’
A dark sky reserve would include the conservation area as the core and the township and surrounding area as the periphery.
Elias-Drago said there were questions around lighting in the town and changes to the Waimakariri District Plan would need to be considered.
He said good lighting policies could reduce light pollution, improve melatonin levels in humans and improve animal welfare.
A study commissioned by Enterprise North Canterbury, the council’s economic development arm, earlier this year suggested a dark sky reserve could generate $5.4 million in additional spending in the town, and create up to 24 jobs.
After taking measurements in the conservation area, we took a set of readings at the observatory to compare.
Even with a street light outside the observatory and a partially cloudy sky, those readings were only just below 21.2.
The Oxford Dark Sky Group has received an award in the inaugural Waimakariri Zone Committee's environmental awards. (The Waimakariri Zone Committee is a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Waimakariri District Council.)
■Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
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