22/09/2026
A clear night in Aoraki / Mount Cook, with the only natural light coming from the stars above. Once your eyes fully adapt to the darkness, you’ll be surprised by just how bright starlight can be, casting enough light onto the ground to see what’s around you, especially when the Milky Way core is visible 🌌
Look closely and you might spot the kiwi standing upright in the sky, a local asterism known as the Galactic Kiwi. Can you see it?
And that red light? It’s the only artificial light in the area, from one of our stargazing guides enjoying the view. Red light is used during night sky observation because it has far less impact on our night vision than white light.
💡 Did you know? White light causes our pupils to constrict, making it harder for our eyes to stay fully adapted to the dark.