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The Dunedin Astronomical Society Incorporated (DAS) is an amateur astronomical group operating from the Beverly-Begg Observatory Dunedin, New Zealand. It is affiliated with the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and with the Otago Institute. The objectives of the society are to: * Promote astronomy and telescope making * Maintain the Beverly-Begg Observatory and provide regular public viewing nights and astronomical instruction for privately arranged groups * Aid members by providing a regular programme of lectures and practical demonstrations on astronomical and telescope making topics * To provide access to astronomical equipment owned by the society to members and to upgrade such equipment as the society deems appropriate Membership of the society is open to anyone interested in astronomy. == History == The Society was established on Monday the 27th of September 1910 by a meeting in "The Chemistry Room" of the University of Otago as the "Otago Astronomical Society". R. Gilkison was elected president with Rev. P. W. Fairclough and J. M. Garrow elected as vice-presidents. Thompson Lamb was Hon. Secretary and W. S. Wilson Hon. Treasurer.〔Royal Society of New Zealand, Otago Branch - Historical Review〕 In 1911 the Society affiliated with the Otago Institute to become the Astronomical Section of the institute. The following year a membership of 254 was reported in the transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand (of which the Otago Institute was the Otago branch).〔() Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961 - Volume 45〕 For a short time around 1915 the society had a "Telescope House" on Tanna Hill in the grounds of the Otago University. However the University required the land for a building project and the society had to look elsewhere for a permanent home. A site near the Dunedin Botanic Gardens was selected, but construction was delayed by World War I. In 1920 the current site for the Beverly-Begg Observatory in Belleknowes was chosen instead and construction of the observatory was completed in 1922. In 1948 the Telescope Makers' Club asked to make use of the Society's facilities and subsequently joined with the Society.〔() Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961 - Volume 79〕 In the 1960s the society built an annex on to the observatory to provide a more convenient area for meetings, talks and telescope construction. The Dunedin Astronomical Society became an incorporated society in 2000 and was registered as a charitable society by the New Zealand Charities Commission in 2009.〔(Link Charity Summary page )〕 In 2002 the society gained access to a cottage near Middlemarch for use as a dark sky site. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dunedin Astronomical Society」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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