New picture book celebrates night sky

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Author/illustrator Alistair Hughes (centre right) was kept busy signing copies of his book, The New Zealand Night Sky, following his talk at Tākaka Memorial Library last Wednesday. Photo: Ronnie Short.

RONNIE SHORT

Local writer and illustrator Alistair Hughes has just launched his first picture book, The New Zealand Night Sky. Although aimed at introducing 8–12-year-olds to astronomy, the nonfiction book contains gems for all readers.

Alistair spoke to a mixed-age group at Tākaka Memorial Library last Wednesday. Projecting images from his book onto a large screen, he pointed out the constellations that make our night sky so special.

As a self-described enthusiast, interested in stargazing his entire life, Alistair believes New Zealand has the best night sky. For him, finding patterns in groups of stars is akin to space travel. And because it takes hundreds of years for starlight to reach us, it is also like time travelling.

“Space Travel. Time Travel. Amazing special effects. No, it’s not a Marvel movie – it’s actually right outside our door,” said Alistair.

“I think it’s nature’s best special effect, on an unlimited budget and an unlimited size, and it’s absolutely free to see. All we have to do is put down our phones or our laptops and move away from the TV and go outside.”

There are no photographs within the pages of this nonfiction picture book. Alistair drew each individual star first in pencil, then painted in watercolour, before uploading onto his computer to further enhance each picture.

“It is more satisfying as an illustrator just to be able to create these things from scratch.”

He has illustrated several books for renowned authors and was commissioned by Upstart Press to write The New Zealand

Night Sky. It is Alistair’s hope that his book will generate interest and excitement about exploring our night sky.

“We have the world’s largest dark sky reserve… in the McKenzie Basin… and the world’s first dark sky sanctuary on Great Barrier Island. By a cosmic fluke we also happen to be on the best side of the world to see the most spectacular and notable objects in the sky.”

Expanding on why he considers the stars to be important to all of us, Alistair spoke of how the original Polynesians voyaged to Aotearoa, navigating by the stars.

Māori used their own knowledge of the stars to calculate seasons, time, and when best to plant or harvest. They also had their own name for the Milky Way, which Alistair considers to be more special, colourful, and poetic.

Matariki, which at this time of year can be seen just prior to dawn, very low on the eastern horizon, “is the most beautiful and very special cluster”.

According to Alistair, one of nature’s most awesome events is when the earth, moon, and sun align, creating a total solar eclipse. This phenomenon occurs in New Zealand only once every 138 years and is due to occur in 2028.

To conclude, Alistair expressed his hope that people will go outside, find the Southern Cross, and commence a love affair with the stars.

Many questions were asked and duly answered before the rush to purchase a personally signed copy of The New Zealand Night Sky

Copies are available from Paper Plus outlets, or online from Upstart Press: www.upstartpress.co.nz.