Latest news with #ShelleyTopp
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Aurora captured over Oxford
By Shelley Topp An Oxford Area School Observatory astrophotographer has captured a magical image of the township bathed in the beauty of the Aurora Australis. Gary Naulls took the photograph just before midnight on June 1 at his Ashley Gorge Road home overlooking the township. He set his Canon RP mirrorless camera, fitted with a Sigma 40mm prime lens up inside before heading out into the chilly darkness. ''I set the exposure to M (manual), focus is set to manual as well. ''I used the lens near or at full aperture. In this case, I was at f1.8, with ISO set to 1600,'' he said. He uses a cable release to shoot the images and a tripod for stabilising his camera, but said sitting it on a solid surface would work just as well. ''This aurora was pretty bright, so I was using a shutter speed of 3.2 seconds. ''Sometimes I use a longer shutter speed, but there is a limit before the stars start to trail and turn into eggshaped objects. ''This will also depend on the focal length of the lens being used. I focus using live view on a bright star, and once I am happy with the focus, I compose the image, and take the image. ''The aurora is in a southern direction, so aim your camera in that general direction, and off you go.'' To keep track of when Auroroa Australis, which is also known as the Southern Lights in the southern hemisphere, might be coming out to play Gary has downloaded two free apps to his mobile phone. ''One is called AuroraNotifier, and the other is called Aurora,'' he says. The apps send alerts when there is a chance of seeing an aurora, at any time, during the day, in the middle of the night, and while it is raining. ''There is a Kp scale that ranges up to Kp 9.0. At the moment it is Kp 0.67. Once the Kp value goes past 5.0, I will go out and try some test shots to see if the camera can see any aurora activity,'' he says. Sometimes there is nothing, other times the aurora is visible. ''It is not a continuous light show. ''It will flair up, it will die down, and then it will flair up again. ''You just have to be patient, sometimes it will fall flat, other times it will be very active.'' Although perseverance is required to capture aurora magic, owning an expensive camera and lense is not necessary. ''Try your mobile phone,'' Gary says. ''I have seen some fantastic pictures taken with phones. ''You don't need to own a camera.'' Although auroras, which are known as Aurora Borealis in the northern hemisphere, happen all year round around the world, in New Zealand the best time to see them is during June and July.
Otago Daily Times
16-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Giant redwood, cabbage tree cluster in running for national title
By Shelley Topp Rangiora Borough School's giant redwood and a cluster of cabbage trees in Burnside have been named as finalists in the NZ Tree of the Year competition. The redwood tree was named Waimakariri Tree of the Year earlier this year, while the enduring cluster of tī kōuka/cabbage trees at Burnside High School - known as Te Herenga Ora - has been called a "silent sentinel of history". The towering Sequoiadendron giganteum in Rangiora, which is believed to have been planted in about 1860, and Te Herenga Ora are two of the six finalists chosen by a panel of judges. It is now up to the New Zealand public to choose which one of them will become 'Tree of the Year NZ 2025'. The competition is organised by the NZ Notable Trees Trust as a celebration of the "beloved trees that shape our landscapes, memories, and communities", says trustee Brad Cadwallader. "It was inspired by the long-running European Tree of the Year and shares stories of trees that hold cultural, historical, and personal significance." Rangiora Borough School principal Shane Buckner said it was exciting to learn the "beautiful tree" was a finalist in the national competition. The tree has become a living symbol of continuity, pride and belonging at the school. "It has featured in many designs over the 150 years Rangiora Borough School has been part of the community," Buckner said. "Our updated uniform has a stylish representation of our tree in the side panels of the shirt, and our children wear this with pride." The tree is the "focal point" of the school with a stage built around its trunk dedicated to the tamariki of Rangiora Borough School. Pupils can "sing, dance and play on for many generations to come" on the stage in memory of the late Alan Sutton who was principal at the school from 2001-2021. "The stage area provides a number of opportunities for our children to gather and use in a variety of ways, from performance or just for relaxing," Buckner says. He is hoping Canterbury residents will support the school by voting for its tree in the national competition. The Waimakariri competition was run by the Waimakariri District Council greenspace team. Council senior ranger biodiversity Mike Kwant is also calling on the Canterbury community to vote for the giant redwood. "We are thrilled that our Rangiora Borough School giant redwood has been selected as a finalist," Kwant says. "I am sure you all will be keen to promote this Waimakariri District tree by voting for it, and sharing this around the traps to get as many votes as we can muster." Meanwhile, the NZ Notable Trees Trust said what makes Te Herenga Ora truly remarkable is its living legacy. "It is not just a single tree but a self-sustaining cluster, constantly renewing itself as older trees pass and new ones take their place. "This cycle of renewal ensures that the landmark remains intact, a testament to endurance, resilience, and the deep-rooted connection between land and people."
