Under The Martinborough Stars 

A few weeks ago, the photograph of our Milky Way’s Black Hole was revealed. Black Holes are a very important stage in a star’s evolution. Only the most massive stars will explode in a supernova and only the very largest will turn into a black hole after the explosion. 

The Black Hole from this photo is from the centre of our Galaxy, the Milky Way. It is called Sagittarius A*. Black Holes are found in nearly all galaxies, especially in the centre, and along with the mysterious Dark Matter, it keeps the galaxy together.

The Universe isn’t still; it’s always changing. Galaxies merge, black holes are made, stars are born and they die, comets whizz around, and all while the Universe is expanding. Nothing ever stays the same.

Under The Stars is changing too. From this July, it will have a new owner as I take more of a back seat. It’s been an incredible four years, starting from just an idea to being a fully recognized, Qualmark certified and award-winning business. Under The Stars is growing and under new leadership, it will evolve and develop. We will still provide stargazing parties, provide space education to schools and work with the amazing venues and businesses around the Wairarapa, but we also have many new ideas too!

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last few years; the venues that we have stargazed at, the vineyards and resorts that have created special starry events for us, the newspapers that have given us column inches, the locals that have recommended us and the holidaymakers that have come to see our glorious Wairarapa dark skies with us.

Here’s to the next chapter of Under The Stars. Cheers! Becky Bateman, Under The Stars

Photo Caption: The Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole Sagittarius A* Image Event Horizon Telescope and NASA