Carter Observatory, Wellington

Carter Observatory, located in Wellington Botanic Gardens, has been the country's first national observatory since it opened in 1941. It's named after Charles Rooking Carter, a philanthropist who left money for its creation when he died in 1896. This long-term investment, managed by the Royal Society of New Zealand, eventually paid off, leading to the observatory's establishment. Its journey started with the Carter Observatory Act in 1938 and the creation of its governing board in 1939, opening its doors amid World War Two.

The observatory, designed by William Gray Young in a simple yet elegant Georgian Revival style, was originally focused on space research, like studying asteroids and planets. Thanks to donations, it got better equipment and a library, becoming New Zealand's official national observatory in 1977 and expanding its research. However, as city lights grew, the observatory shifted its focus to public education about space, a change that became official when the Wellington City Council took over in 2007. This shift led to a major makeover, turning the observatory into a modern attraction with interactive displays and a digital planetarium, reopening in 2010.

Now, Carter Observatory is a lively place for education, aiming to share stories of the Southern sky from New Zealand's unique viewpoints on culture, heritage, and science. It's a symbol of New Zealand's space exploration history and a center for learning and discovery, welcoming both locals and visitors to uncover the mysteries of the universe.