Who will see it
Most of Africa, Europe, the Middle East and eastern Asia will see this eclipse.
For far western Africa and Europe, the eclipse will have started by the time the Moon rises.
Monday 23 July 2018
Monday 16 July 2018
Calculate Lunar and Solar transits on your door step
Transits 240km radius from Bloemfontein. Today -15 August 2018
ISS transit finder: Calculate Lunar and Solar transits on your door step.
Friday 15 June 2018
Photos: 5th Free State Star Party, Gansvlei (Brandfort) 8,9 & 10 June 2018 hosted by ASSA Bloemfontein
Photo: Frans Human, ASSA Bloemfontein
Photos: Shaun Staats, Frans Human, Etsuo Takayanagi, Matie Hoffman, Andy Overbeek
Sunday 22 April 2018
5th Free State Star Party - 8,9 & 10 June 2018
Photo: Hannes Pieterse (ASSA Bloemfontein)
A Star Party in the warm heart of Central South Africa
8,9 &10 June 2018 (Friday - Sunday)
Where
- Gansvlei Information (Pdf to download)
GPS Coordinates: 28°47'48.63"S 26°28'25.66"E
Booking via Shaun Staats - assabfn@gmail.com
GPS Coordinates 28°47'48.63"S 26°28'25.66"E
Google Earth - Gansvlei - FS Star Party
Prepairing for the FS Star Party
To dew or not to dew
- Gallery: 2017 FS Star Party
- Gallery : 2016 FS Star Party
- Gallery: 2015 FS Star Party
- Gallery: 2014 FS Star Party
Observation site - In short
Storage room close to observing site during night/day.
Separate astro photography site available not to disturb serious observers.
Electricity available for telescope and electronic equipment (No kettles or heaters).
Observers must bring their own leads to get power from a central point in the veld.
Bring covers if you want to leave your equipment in the veld during the day.
- Have respect for your fellow observers. Use your headlight sparingly. You are blinding someone next to you. No bright white/red lights when observing starts.
Deep-sky Marathon
ASSA Bloemfontein did the first Deep-sky Marathon on Gansvlei in 2014 . (ASSA Top-100 Observing List). It is based on the very popular Messier Marathon. It was customized for deep sky objects visible in Southern-Africa.
Visit the ASSA Marathon web page Sections > Deep-sky Section > Nebulae > Clusters>
Deep-Sky Marathons
Download Observing lists for the Free State and Karoo Starparties
- Scroll down to Observing Lists for the Southern Hemisphere
( ASSA Deepsky 100, Lacaille and Messier)
The FS Star Party is not about marathons alone. It is also an event where astro friends will do some serious observing, astro photography and relax with hot coffee and serious braaiing.
Weather
2017 -7°C (00:00) and with a light wind from the East pestering us. It was 2.8 °C at 01:00 (Friday night)
2016 2°C (23:00 Friday); 10°C (00:00 Saturday; with wind and clouds moved over late in the evening. Clear early morning, with wind)
2015 dew caused havoc. Bring your dew heaters. Come prepared!
2014 Extreme – We measured -7°C during the first night. Prepare with warm clothing and bedding.
Meals
Bring your own food according to your dietary preferences.
Hot beverages will be available during the night at a Coffee point close to the observing point.
Central braai area available. We braai early to be ready for the nights observing.
Brandfort - 13 km
- Branfort Slaghuis/Butchery is the place to buy your meat (14 Voortrekker St, Brandfort)
Bloemfontein 52 km
Provisional Programme
Friday – 8 June 2018Afternoon: Arriving and setting up at observing point
Evening - Early Morning: Observing
Saturday – 9 June 2018
Morning: Visit Brandfort or sleep late; (No official programme).
Afternoon - 11:00 till Before observing time: Advice and discussing Astronomy
Evening - Early Morning: Observing
Sunday – 10 June 2018
Breakfast and we all leave!
Other accommodation - Brandfort and surrounding
Various
Ou Pastorie
Lekkeslaap – Near Brandfort
June is Deepsky Marathon Month at the Free State Star Party - Helpful links
- Deep-Sky Marathons (ASSA Website)
(Dunlop Catalogue and Lacaille List available on this page) - Article in Nightfall "Birth of a Deep-Sky Marathon"
- Deep-Sky Observer's Companion Database – DOCdb
- ASSA Top-100 Deep-Sky Observing List
- Saguaro Astronomy Club's 2015 All Arizona Messier Marathon
- Free State Star Party
- Stellarium software
- Cartes du Ciel software
- Jet stream predictions for Southern Africa
- Deep-Sky Hunter Star Atlas
Wednesday 23 August 2017
The 2017 Solar Eclipse - The Best Images
Amateur potographer Kirsten Jorgensen
captured this incredible once-in-a-lifetime shot from Lewiston, Idaho,
of an airplane flying across the partial eclipse using a Nikon D5200
with 4 stacked filters (2 UV and 2 night). She’s now selling fine art
prints of the image here.
Sunday 2 July 2017
Wednesday 28 June 2017
Ope-Aand by Boyden-Sterrewag! Saterdag 1 Julie 2017 | Open Evening at Boyden Observatory! Saturday 1 July2017
Ope-Aand by Boyden-Sterrewag! Saterdag 1 Julie 2017
Die Vriende van Boyden nooi die publiek vriendelik uit na hul OPE-AAND op SATERDAG 1 JULIE 2017 by BOYDEN-STERREWAG (langs Maselspoort). Die program begin 17:30 vir 18:00. Toegang is R50 per motor. Bespreking is nie nodig nie. Daar sal ook verversings te koop wees.
Daar sal ‘n buite-lug aanbieding en teleskoop-waarnemings wees oor: Die Winter Naghemel (ASSA Bloemfontein)
Daar sal ook vanaf 18:00 – 19:00 ‘n spesiale program vir kinders plaasvind. Koste: R10 per kind.
Toegang: R50 per motor - geen bespreking nie
Navrae
Kantoor-ure (Weeksdae) Yolande Fick, tel. 051 401 9751 (of/or ficky@ufs.ac.za )
Na-ure: Prof. Matie Hoffman, tel. 083 625 7154
Open Evening at Boyden Observatory! Saturday 1 July2017
The Friends of Boyden cordially invite the public to their OPEN EVENING on SATURDAY 1 JULY 2017 at the BOYDEN OBSERVATORY (next to Maselspoort). The programme begins at 17:30 for 18:00. Entrance is R50 per vehicle. Booking is not necessary. There will be refreshments for sale.
There will be an open-air presentation and telescope observations on:
The Winter Night Sky (ASSA Bloemfontein)
There will also be a special programme for children from 18:00 – 19:00. Cost: R10 per child.
Entrance: R50 per car – no booking
Queries:
Office hours (weekdays): Yolande Fick, tel. 051 401 9751 (of/or ficky@ufs.ac.za)
After hours: Prof. Matie Hoffman, tel. 083 625 7154
Tuesday 27 June 2017
4th Free State Star Party, Gansvlei (Brandfort) 23 - 25 June 2017 hosted by ASSA Bloemfontein
For your diaries:
5th Free State Star Party, Gansvlei (Brandfort) 8,9 &10 June 2018 hosted by ASSA Bloemfontein
Thursday 1 June 2017
Photo: Hannes Pieterse (ASSA Bloemfontein)
A Star Party in the warm heart of Central South Africa
23 - 25 June 2017 (Friday - Sunday)
Prepairing for the FS Star Party
About Scope covers- Scope covers 1
- Scope covers 2
- Scope cover 3
ASSA Deepsky 100 Observing List - Created for the FS Star party (18:57 - 0546)
- They are all visible - Try a Deepsky Marathon
A comet in your eypiece (24 June 2017 - already visible)
On this night C/2015 V2 (Johnson) is best visible between 18:34 and 00:10, with the optimum view at 20:24. Look for it in Virgo, high in the sky in complete darkness. It is obvious visually in the Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dob. Use the Ultima 2" LX 17 mm 2.0x for optimum visual detection. It is magnitude 8 with a diameter of 9.6'.
- Chart of the comets position (24June 2017) Make a printout and bring along.
To dew or not to dew
Keep it simple
- Are your cellphone glued to the palm of your hand? Use Twilight for Android!
Where
On the farm Gansvlei close to Brandfort (13km)
GPS Coordinates: 28°47'48.63"S 26°28'25.66"E Gansvlei Information (Pdf) Booking via Shaun Staats - assabfn@gmail.com
GPS Coordinates 28°47'48.63"S 26°28'25.66"E
Google Earth - Gansvlei - FS Star Party
Observation site
- Storage room close to observing site during night/day.
- Separate astro photography site available not to disturb serious observers.
- Electricity available for telescope and electronic equipment (No kettles or heaters).
- Observers must bring their own leads to get power from a central point in the veld.
- Bring covers if you want to leave your equipment in the veld during the day.
- Cell Phone addiction. Make a red cover.
- Computers: Screen not to face your neigbours.
Deep-sky Marathon
ASSA Bloemfontein did the first Deep-sky Marathon on Gansvlei in 2014 . (ASSA Top-100 Observing List). It is based on the very popular Messier Marathon. It was customized for deep sky objects visible in Southern-Africa.
Visit the ASSA Marathon web page Sections > Deep-sky Section > Nebulae > Clusters>
Deep-Sky Marathons
Download Observing lists for the Free State and Karoo Starparties
- Scroll down to Observing Lists for the Southern Hemisphere
( ASSA Deepsky 100, Lacaille and Messier)
The FS Star Party is not about marathons alone. It is also an event where astro friends will do some serious observing, astro photography and relax with hot coffee and serious braaiing.
Weather
2016 2°C (23:00 Friday); 10°C (00:00 Saturday; with wind and clouds moved over late in the evening. Clear early morning, with wind)
2015 dew caused havoc. Bring your dew heaters. Come prepared!
2014 Extreme – We measured -7°C during the first night. Prepare with warm clothing and bedding.
Meals
Bring your own food according to your dietary preferences.
Hot beverages will be available during the night at a Coffee point close to the observing point.
Central braai area available. We braai early to be ready for the nights observing.
Brandfort - 13 km
- Branfort Slaghuis/Butchery is the place to buy your meat (14 Voortrekker St, Brandfort)
Bloemfontein 52 km
Provisional Programme
Friday – 23 June 2017Afternoon: Arriving and setting up at observing point
Evening - Early Morning: Observing
Saturday – 24 June 2017
Morning: Visit Brandfort or sleep late; (No official programme).
Evening - Early Morning: Observing
Sunday – 25 June 2017
Breakfast and we all leave!
General
2017
1. Registration fee – R100 p/p
2. Accommodation costs
Per night Tariff:
R100 per person per night. Include bed, hot shower, kitchen
Camp in own tent:
R80 per person per night. Include bed, hot shower, kitchen (Bring your own bedding. It is deep winter – be prepared.
- Wood for barbeque (Friday/Saturday afternoon) available.
- Venue available for Friday and Saturday night (23/24 June 2017)
Cash payment on arrival.
Contact Shaun Staats – via assabfn@gmail.com
To book
Cut and paste the info below and email your information to assabfn@gmail.com
Name / Surname:
ASSA Centre / Other:
Number of people:
Email:
Cell no: (Will add to Whatsapp group)
Bed in Room (Number): (No single/double Rooms available)
Camp site:
Other accommodation
Various
Ou Pastorie
Lekkeslaap – Near Brandfort
June is Deepsky Marathon Month at the Free State Star Party - Helpful links
- Deep-Sky Marathons (ASSA Website)
(Dunlop Catalogue and Lacaille List available on this page) - Article in Nightfall "Birth of a Deep-Sky Marathon"
- Deep-Sky Observer's Companion Database – DOCdb
- ASSA Top-100 Deep-Sky Observing List
- Saguaro Astronomy Club's 2015 All Arizona Messier Marathon
- Free State Star Party
- Stellarium software
- Cartes du Ciel software
- Jet stream predictions for Southern Africa
- Deep-Sky Hunter Star Atlas
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