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The opening of a modern observatory on the summit of Mt John on the shores of Lake Tekapo was started by a joint venture between the University of Canterbury and the University of Pennsylvania. The site was chosen because of the crystal clear nights' sky and the large number of sunshine hours, allowing astronomers many uninterrupted nights of star gazing. In 1969, the US air force built a satellite tracking station on Mt John and constructed a sealed road to the summit, as well as providing a water supply from the lake. However, the tracking station later became the focus of a big protest march in 1972 and was closed down. During this time, two 60 cm telescopes were installed, providing a more advanced view of the galaxies for astronomers.
More recently, grants from Japanese universities and astronomers have enabled further development of the observatory, with the installation of a 1.8 metre telescope which has 'discovered' a number of new planets. To protect the clear night skies from light pollution, the local council has passed a bylaw making all outdoor lighting shaded towards the ground or diffused. The Mt John Observatory conducts both day and night tours, as well as having a caf on the summit with views that go forever. So if you are into star gazing for astrological, scientific or romantic reasons, this is definitely the place to visit.
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