Star-Gazing

Christchurch Arts Centre. Jan. 2009. Ajr

Among the many gorgeous Victorian Gothic Revival buildings of the old Canterbury College, University of New Zealand – now the Christchurch Arts Centre – the Townsend Observatory is the one that captures my imagination the most. It was designed by Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort (1825-1898) and was completed in 1896. Now fully restored, the Townsend telescope is again operational and you can climb the winding staircase on clear Friday nights (early April-late September) to check out the moon, planets and stars. I must keep that in mind when I’m in the mood for a wild Friday night on the town. www.artscentre.org.nz