Southern Stars:  Volume 47,  number 1.  March 2008.  Pp 1 - 20. Awarua Tracking Station. Radio Astronomy for the Masses: Radio Jove. Radio Astronomy for the Masses: Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances. The Development of the Astronomy Curriculum for New Zealand Secondary Schools. The Hα: Long Lived Prominences in January and February 2008. RASNZ Annual Report for 2007. Book Review - Astronomy Aotearoa.

Awarua Tracking Station.
R W Evans.
Followers of the launch of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Jules Verne on 2008 March 9 will have noticed the prominent part that the Awarua Tracking Station played in the spaceship's orbital insertion. Members of the Southland Astronomical Society have followed with particularly keen interest and excitement the establishment of the European Space Agency (ESA) tracking station on our doorstep.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 3 - 4

Radio Astronomy for the Masses: Radio Jove.
Stuart Weston, Tim Natusch
The NASA Radio Jove project presents opportunities for schools and the amateur to become involved with an international Radio Astronomy project. Some first hand experience is provided to assist perspective participants to this field. The establishment of a collaboration between NZ installations and The Swinburne RadioJove Solar/Ionospheric Observation, Education and Outreach program (SUT Melbourne Australia) and the suitability of Radio Jove as a tool for introducing Radio Astronomy and related technologies to Schools will be discussed.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 5-8

Radio Astronomy for the Masses: Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances.
Stuart Weston
We present an indirect method of recording Solar Activity through Sudden Ionic Disturbances (SID) and possibly Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) by the monitoring of Very Low Frequency (VLF) transmissions. Also the establishment of collaboration between New Zealand and the Stanford Solar Center, Stanford University, USA who provided a SID VLF Monitor and software. It is felt that this is another excellent tool and project for Schools to introduce pupils to Radio Wave Propagation, Solar Activity and Atmospheric Properties.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 9-11

The Development of the Astronomy Curriculum for New Zealand Secondary Schools.
Robert Shaw
On 26 February 2004, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority extended the secondary school science curriculum. They set out what would be assessed for three unit standards in a new Domain called Astronomy. This paper records the intention behind those standards, the mechanics of the process that established the standards, and how the Carter Observatory established an e-learning platform to make the standards available to every secondary school student in the country.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 13-15

The Hα: Long Lived Prominences in January and February 2008.
Harry Roberts
In January 2008 we had the first Cycle 24 sunspot group (see page 9). It caused some excitement but lasted only about 24 hours and wasn't seen by many astronomers. More spectacular events occurred in the H-alpha band in which was seen a burst of prominence activity in the mid to high latitudes.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 16-18

Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand Annual Report of Council for 2007.
President's Remarks, Treasurer's Report, Membership Report, RASNZ Publications, RASNZ Section Reports.
RASNZ Council Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 19-30

Book Review - "Astronomy Aotearoa - NCEA Level 1." by Robert Shaw reviewed by R W Evans.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Page 12

Southern Stars:  Volume 47,  number 2.  June 2008.  Pp 1 - 16. Harry William (1911-2008. Graham Blow, FRASNZ. Observations of Lunar Occultations of Double Stars. Protecting a most valuable heritage - the Starlight Reserve Initiative. Book Review - America in Space: NASA'S First Fifty Years.

Harry Williams (1911-2008).
Grant Christie.
The well known Auckland astronomical entity Harry Williams died peacefully on 2008 May 3rd. This obituary is based on the one the author wrote for the Journal of the Auckland Astronomical Society.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 3 - 4

Graham Blow FRASNZ.
At the 2008 AGM, Graham Blow was elected Fellow of the Society. Here is the supporting statement for the nomination of Graham Lindsay Blow as Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 5

Observations of Lunar Occultations of Double Stars.
Brian Loader.
Accurate times of lunar occultations of both components of a double star by two or more well dispersed observers will enable useful determinations of the separation and position angles of the pair to be made. Lunar occultations observations can also detect hitherto unknown double stars, or confirm or reject suspected close doubles. Results for observations of three double stars are presented.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 6 - 9

Protecting a most Valuable Heritage - the Starlight Reserve Initiative.
Graeme Murray.
This is the text of Graeme Murray's After-dinner Speech at the Royal Astonomical Society of New Zealand's 2008 Conference at Lake Tekapo.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 10 - 13

Book Review - "America in Space: NASA's first fifty years." Edited by S.J. Dick (NASA chief historian), R. Jacobs, C. Moore, A.M. Springer and B. Ulrich reviewed by William Tobin.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Page 14