Just So Stories

New South

Powerhouse

ISBN: 9781761170546/

October 2025

RRP: AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99

I’m no astronomer but I was a bit miffed a few days ago when I saw a guy walking out of the op shop clutching a pretty decent looking telescope. I’ve always thought it would be great fun to have one just to take a closer look at the night skies.

Of course, I know there are many who are madly keen observers who would absolutely relish this annual almanac. But it’s not just confined to those who watch the heavens, but also those who are always looking at the times and tides, sunrise and sunset, as well as any unusual happenings such as eclipses. So this is a volume that will be appreciated by many for different reasons.

Chances are you may have already read an article penned by Dr Nick Lomb given he’s been doing his thing for many years, has written and co-authored books but also written many articles aimed at the general public. He has been the author of the annual Australasian Sky Guide since 1991, which in itself is a truly significant accomplishment as these are packed with information and detail.

The star charts alone boggle my mind [I would have been hopeless in Astronomy at Hogwarts] but the detail that accompanies each I find completely fascinating. Take this example snippet from August re the Southern Cross:

In the southern part of the sky, the Southern Cross, Crux, is high in the south-west. Though we normally think of the Cross as consisting of five bright stars, the fifth star, Ginan, is becoming difficult to see from our over-lit cities and suburbs.

Intrinsically, Ginan shines with a brightness 330 times that of the Sun, but at 228 light years from Earth, it appears faint to us. Despite this, the star is shown as part of the Southern Cross on the Australian Flag.

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve ‘taught’ the Southern Cross to students and also my brownies and guides! This would make a great detail to share with kiddos, don’t you think?

The introduction covers any news such as the asteroid discovered in 2024, with the 1% probability of it hitting Earth in 2032 but which probability has now become negligible after more observations. There is a page of 2026 highlights and explanations of how to use the book, plus terminology of times and seasons preceding the monthly sky guides. In addition, there is some very useful backmatter including a glossary and future event, further reading and amateur associations to explore.

That is all prefaced with a wonderful piece on First Nations Astromony (something I have promoted often with my collaborative planning with teachers), written by Victoria Campbell, featuring the heliacal rising of the Matariki star cluster, Pleiades, during the winter months. This is particularly important in traditional timekeeping and cuItural practice for Aotearoa New Zealand.

This is, in fact, a fascinating dip into what easily becomes an obsession for many amateurs. I’m looking forward to sharing a Q&A with Nick with you so do keep a look-out for that in the near future. For now, this is a 5 ⭐🔭🪐🌑🌃 rating for any interested reader of any age.