Sunday 11 December 2016

Open Evening at the Boyden Observatory - 10 December 2016



The Friends of Boyden Observatory and ASSA Bloemfontein had a succesfull Open Evening at Boyden Observatory.

Programme: 

18:00 – 19:00:  Family Math and Science (Gr. 1 – Gr 7) (family fun with math and science)

19:00 – 19:30: Visit to Boyden 1.5-m telescope and Boyden museum

19:30 – 19:45: Presentation on “Summer Constellations” on top of the Boyden Auditorium

19:45 – 21:00:  Observing through the telescopes

Iridium 61 visible in Bloemfontein


Iridium 61, 11 December 2016, 19:45 (Click to enlarge image)

 Iridium 61 brightened to a spectacular 8th magnitude in the constellation of Columba over Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Photo information: 49 images stacked in Startrail software. 
Canon 30D and 50mm standard lens mounted on tripod and Canon timer remote Controler.
ISO: 100
Exposure: 30 Seconds
f-stop:  f4.5

Clouds moved in and help to give the image some punch.

Heavens  Above information

Photo: Hannes Pieterse




Wednesday 23 November 2016

2017 Sky Guide - Africa South

The Sky Guide is the astronomical handbook for southern Africa, and is an invaluable practical resource for anyone who has even a passing interest in the night skies of southern Africa.

Read more...  (Exclusive 2017 Sky Guide competition!)

The Sky Guide is also available from bookshops or on-line bookshops such as Loot.co.za, Exclus1ves.co.za or Takealot.

2017 Astronomy Wall Calendar

Click to enlarge image

 Order now!

A 12-page wall calendar with a mix of astrophotos and rarely-seen South African historical images, for 2017. In support of the Centre for Astronomical Heritage NPC. Just in time for the holidays!

The 2017 wall calendar is in support of a newly-formed non-profit organization, the Centre for Astronomical Heritage. The Centre's mission is to protect South Africa's astronomical heritage, something which most of us are interested in and concerned about.

The calendars are A3 sized, glossy, full-colour and gorgeous, and showcase a mix of the latest South African astrophotos and rarely seen historical images. 


The friendly Johan Brink (Director: Finances) of the Centre has kindly offered to manage the orders, packaging, and shipment of the 2017 astro-calendars.

A calendar costs only R 120, to which you add whatever postage method you'd prefer (e.g. Poskantoor, PostNet, courier...). Like in previous years, bulk orders are possible (to reduce postage). Please discuss the options with Johan.

Only 150 have been produced, so please place your order soonest.


Send e-mail to johan@cfah.org.za for more information

Wednesday 16 November 2016

World Light pollution Map

Click on image  to enlarge - Bloemfontein area

November Supermoon 2016: Best Photos From Across the Globe

Marseille, France- Last night's supermoon was the biggest we'll see until 2034. Appearing 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, the stunning spectacle was a sight to behold in many countries across the globe. According to NASA, the full moon of November 14 was not only the closest of 2016, but the closest moon to date in the 21st century. The New York Times reports that on an average day, the moon is about 238,900 miles away from Earth, and on Sunday and Monday, it was about 221,524 miles away. Read more...
 Source : Heavy

 21 of the best photos of the supermoon from around the world
(www.sciencealert.com)

'Supermoon' Photos: The Closest Full Moon Until 2034 in Pictures
(Space.com)


28 Incredible Views Of The Supermoon From Around The World
(BuzzFeedNews)

Tuesday 25 October 2016

On our doorstep! Nova confirmed! TCP J18102829-2729590

 Image created with Skytools 3 Click on image to enlarge
Source: Jazzistentialism 

Nova confirmed ! TCP J18102829-2729590

 Visit page
 A confirmation spectrum of TCP J18102829-2729590, a galactic nova in Sagittarius. The target, setting rapidly in the west, was imaged using the Alpy 600 under challenging conditions, providing confirmation as a classical nova in the optically thick stage. The resulting ATel (kindly prepared by Steve Shore, University of Pisa) can be found here. Additional spectra at both high and low resolution have been acquired and made available via the ARAS spectral database.
 ____________________________

In Bloemfontein South Africa it was clearly visible with a 20 X 80 Celestron Skymaster binocular in the Western sky. Guesstimate magnitude when compared to stars close by, about magnitude 8.   
 Sky Quality meter reading:  18.94 (26°C)  (Brightness of the night sky in magnitudes per square arcsecond)
 (Hannes Pieterse - ASSA Bloemfontein)


Wednesday 19 October 2016

Naval Hill Planetarium 22 & 29 October





Tickets for the weekend of 22 and 29 October 2016 shows are available at Computicket.

22 October, 17:30
City of Stars (English)
We see the Milky Way as a faint glowing band arching across the sky. Though beautiful, our view with the naked eye is very limited. Come and discover more about our “city of stars”, its spectacular spiral structure, and its immense size. Explore the role of dark matter and explore the colourful star clusters and nebulae in the disc of the Milky Way. Fly into the centre, to our own supermassive black hole, then fly out far beyond the Milky Way to behold the recently discovered Laniakea Supercluster. Travel far into the future to see the inevitable collision of our Milky Way with our nearest spiral neighbour, Andromeda.

22 Oktober, 17:30
City of Stars (English

Die Melkweg kan snags gesien word as ‘n dowwe gloeiende band wat ‘n boog oor die hemelruim span. Hoewel dit pragtig is, is ons uitsig daarvan met die blote oog baie beperk. Kom ontdek meer van ons “stad van sterre”, die skouspelagtige spiraalstruktuur en die enorme grootte daarvan. Ontdek die rol van donker materie en verken die kleurvolle stertrosse en gasnewels in die skyf van die Melkweg. Vlieg tot in die kern, waar ons eie super-massiewe gravitasiekolk is, en tot ver buite die Melkweg om die onlangs ontdekte Laniakea supertros rondom die Melkweg te aanskou. Reis tot in die verre toekoms om die onvermydelike botsing van ons Melkweg met ons naaste spiraal-buurman, Andromeda, te aanskou.

Die Kaartjies vir die naweek van 22 en 29 Oktober vertonings is beskikbaar by Computicket.

29 October, 17:30
Stad van Sterre (Afrikaans)
We see the Milky Way as a faint glowing band arching across the sky. Though beautiful, our view with the naked eye is very limited. Come and discover more about our “city of stars”, its spectacular spiral structure, and its immense size. Explore the role of dark matter and explore the colourful star clusters and nebulae in the disc of the Milky Way. Fly into the centre, to our own supermassive black hole, then fly out far beyond the Milky Way to behold the recently discovered Laniakea Supercluster. Travel far into the future to see the inevitable collision of our Milky Way with our nearest spiral neighbour, Andromeda.

29 Oktober, 17:30
Stad van Sterre (Afrikaans)
Die Melkweg kan snags gesien word as ‘n dowwe gloeiende band wat ‘n boog oor die hemelruim span. Hoewel dit pragtig is, is ons uitsig daarvan met die blote oog baie beperk. Kom ontdek meer van ons “stad van sterre”, die skouspelagtige spiraalstruktuur en die enorme grootte daarvan. Ontdek die rol van donker materie en verken die kleurvolle stertrosse en gasnewels in die skyf van die Melkweg. Vlieg tot in die kern, waar ons eie super-massiewe gravitasiekolk is, en tot ver buite die Melkweg om die onlangs ontdekte Laniakea supertros rondom die Melkweg te aanskou. Reis tot in die verre toekoms om die onvermydelike botsing van ons Melkweg met ons naaste spiraal-buurman, Andromeda, te aanskou.

Sunday 16 October 2016

ScopeX 2016 - Photo Gallery


 Photos: Hannes Pieterse, ASSA Bloemfontein
ScopeX 2016
Annual Telescope and Astronomy Expo
Johannesburg
15 October 2016

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Open Evening at the Naval Hill Planetarium - Saturday 15 October 2016


Ope-Aand by die Naval Hill Planetarium
 
18:30, Saterdag 15 Oktober 2016  

Die Vriende van Boyden Sterrewag in samewerking met die Sterrekundevereniging nooi die publiek vriendelik uit na hul OPE-AAND op Saterdag 15 Oktober 2016 by die Planetarium op Naval Hill. Toegang is gratis (donasies welkom). Vooraf bespreking is nodig omdat die Planetarium slegs ‘n beperkte aantal mense kan akkommodeer. Mense sal van 18:30 tot 19:00 deur ‘n teleskoop na Saturnus kan kyk en daar sal ook verversings te koop wees, gevolg deur ‘n aanbieding om 19:00:

Navigeer met Sterre
- Braam van Zyl

Open Evening at the Naval Hill Planetarium

18:30, Saturday 15 October 2016

The Friends of Boyden in collaboration with the Astronomical Society cordially invite the public to their Open Evening on Saturday 15 October 2016 at the Planetarium on Naval Hill. Entrance is free (donations welcome). Advance booking is essential since the Planetarium can only accommodate a limited number of people. From 18:30 to 19:00 people will have to opportunity to look at Saturn through a telescope and there will be refreshments for sale, followed by a presentation in Afrikaans at 19:00:


Toegang:  Gratis -  Bespreking nodig
Entrance:  Free - booking essential
Bespreking en navrae / Booking and queries:
Kantoor-ure/Office hours (weekdays):  Yolande Loots, tel. 051 401 9751 (of/or ficky@ufs.ac.za)
Na-ure/After hours:  Prof. Matie Hoffman, tel. 083 625 7154

Tuesday 4 October 2016

Naval Hill Planetarium: 7 and 8 October 2016 - International Observe the Moon Night


This is how we will observe the moon on the Android app on Saturday night
(8 October 2016) from the Southern Hemisphere.
Programme:
Naval Hill Planetarium, Bloemfontein
7 and 8 October 2016


Dear Planetarium supporter
Tickets for the weekend of 7 and 8 October 2016 shows are available at Computicket.

7 October 2016, 18:30
Vanaf die aarde na die heelal (Afr)
This voyage through space and time conveys the Universe as revealed to us by science through the ages. Revel in the splendour of the worlds in the Solar System. Travel to the colourful birthplaces and burial grounds of stars. Fly beyond the Milky Way to the unimaginable immensity of myriads of galaxies.
  • Weather permitting - ASSA Bloemfontein will have a telescope at the planetarium to observe  the moon. 

8 October 2016, 17:30
Fly me to the moon (Eng)
The moon is our nearest neighbour and the only other celestial body we've set foot on.​ Its orbit around the Earth has a big influence on the planet and it dominates our night sky. The six manned missions to the moon have left more than just footprints, and are still contributing to science today.
  • Weather permitting - ASSA Bloemfontein will have a telescope at the planetarium to observe  the moon.

Monday 3 October 2016

Naval Hill Planetarium - New Horizons: Painting a portrait of Pluto



New Horizons: Painting a portrait of Pluto
Public talk by leading NASA engineer

Place / Plek: Naval Hill Planetarium
Date / Datum: Monday / Maandag 3/10/2016
Time / Tyd: 18:15 for 18:30

Free - No booking required / Gratis - Geen bespreking is nodig nie

Launched in 2006, the New Horizons spacecraft was sent on a decade-long trek to gather data from Pluto, one of the most endeared and debated bodies in our Solar System. After swinging past Jupiter for a gravity boost, the tiny spacecraft gained enough speed to make its closest approach of Pluto on 14 July 2015, and conducted a six-month-long reconnaissance flyby study of the (now) exoplanet and its moons. Because of the distance from Pluto to Earth (five billion kilometres), the massive amount of data collected from the fly-by continues to stream back, offering new insights into Pluto and the space environment at the Solar System’s outermost regions. So what have scientists learned about the enigmatic Pluto? And what does the future hold for the tiny spacecraft? Join NASA Deputy Chief Technologist (Retired), Jim Adams, to find out.

Jim Adams
NASA Deputy Chief Technologist, Retired
  
Jim Adams retired as NASA’s Deputy Chief Technologist in September 2016 to focus on the development of young and emerging innovators and entrepreneurs by encouraging creative processes and innovative thinking. He served in NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC from 2012, where he was responsible for the management of the technology strategy and innovation initiative across the entire agency.

Jim’s more than 25-year career at NASA saw him work on over 30 successful space missions. He was also the recipient of three NASA medals recognising exceptional service, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal.
 
Mr Adams’ travel is provided by SKA Africa in support of 2016 World Space Week, 4-10 October 2016.

Jim holds a BSc in Physics from Westminster College and a MSc in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University.

Apparently, he bakes a mean apple pie, but this is yet to be confirmed by a reputable judge in South Africa. 

Thursday 1 September 2016

Partial eclipse of the Sun in South Africa - Thursday, 1 September 2016



Today, sky watchers in more than 50 African countries witnessed a solar eclipse. On Thursday, 1 |September 2016, the new Moon passed in front of the sun, covering as much as 97% of the solar disk. This is how the sun looked from Bloemfontein, Free state, South Africa at almost maximum partial eclipse.

Visible sunspots are 2581 (left) 2585 (right).

Photographer: Hannes Pieterse
A single image trough an Celestron 11GPS telescope and F/6.3 reducer with Astro solar filter (ND 3.8)
Camera: Canon 40D
Exposure Time: 1/2000
ISO: 400
Date Taken: 2016:09:01 10:55:34
Conditions: Mild Cloud cover.

 Links to the Solar Eclipse (1 September 2016)

Sunday 28 August 2016

Eclipse of the Sun visible in South Africa



What will I see?


A solar eclipse is a rare opportunity to see the solar system in action.

For a short time, the Moon will pass between us and the Sun, and instead of seeing the Sun as a round disc, it will have a “bite” out of it. This “bite” is the Moon, and the size of the “bite” changes as the Moon slowly moves along.