Stars & Planets – Sandveld Nature Reserve

Programme: Stars & Planets – Sandveld Nature Reserve Saturday 21 April 2012:

15.30: Arrive at hall/lapa in  the Sandveld Nature Reserve – the admission at entrance gate will be free of charge for the Stars & Planets guests – please remember to pack your own picnic basket with something to eat, drink and the necessary utensils!

16.00: Everybody will gather for the talk on the rich birdlife of the Sandveld – Speaker to be confirmed

No bar facilities available here – please pack your own drinks and glasses please.

17.00: Welcoming by Me Hettienne von Abo-Moolman from AHI Tourism Desk Free State and introduction of the other speakers

17.15: Me Laetitia van Rensburg – Acting Deputy Director General: Environmental Affairs, Detea FS

17.30: Dr Lindsay Magnus from SKA SA and meerKAT project

18.30: Everybody can unpack their picnic basket and enjoy the contents.

19.00: PowerPoint presentation by Hennie Maas - RSG & Prof Matie Hoffman from Boyden Observatory.

20.00 -21.30: Everybody can go outside to look at the Moon and mars through the telescopes.

The price is R150 per person, R75 pp for pensioners & school learners and free for kids under 6 and includes the following:

·       Free entrance at  Sandveld

·       Bird watching/ game drives

·       4 Presentations

·       Knee blanket

·       Stargazing through the telescopes

Remember! No restaurant or bar facilities available! – pack your own picnic basket with snacks, food, drinks, water and your plates, knives& forks, glasses etc.

Please book at Rina Greyling – 056 515 3549 or 083 487 5724

Fax: 086 545 8022 of e-mail: louvre@act.co.za

Please finalize booking with payment before Thursday 19/04/2012 at FNB Bothaville

Branch code: 230-136

Acc No: 6219 258 2461

Acc Name: Sakekamer Restourasieprojek

Ref: S&P and your Surname

Please fax proof of payment to:  086 545 8022

Only camping facilities available at Sandveld – alternatively Guest Lodges/ B&B’s in  Bloemhof

Sterrekunde Werkswinkel vir beginners

Vir almal wat meer van Sterrekunde wil leer.

Datum: Saterdag, 14 April 2012

Tyd: 17:00

Plek: Boyden-sterrewag

Koste: R120 (volwassene) R80 (kinders)

Plek vir 50 deelnemers 

Kontak ons om te bespreek: assabfn@gmail.com

 Aangebied deur Bloemfontein Sterrekundevereniging. 

Bring saam:  Jou eie piekniekmandjie (aandete);
Verkyker as jy een het;
Klein flitsie (ons sal `n rooi filter verskaf).
Warm klere

DVD met sterrekunde sagteware en baie inligting word verskaf
Sterkaarte word verskaf
Daar is: Koffie en tee; 

Program

16:15 – 17:00 Registrasie en rooi filters (45min)

17:00 Verwelkoming – Matie Hoffman  (10min)

17:10 – 17:45  Zoemreis (30 min)

17:50  Beginnerlesing – Ouditorium (40 min)

18:30 – 18:55  Ete op ouditorium se dak (Rooi filters)

19:00 Praktiese observasie van konstellasies, sterre en ander voorwerpe op die ouditorium se dak. (60 min)

20:00 Waarnemings met teleskope vanaf die noordelike platform  (Tot laat…)

What to do for observing Sirius

 This diagram shows the 50-year-long orbit of Sirius B around Sirius (called Sirius A). The scale is in "arc seconds". One arc second is equal to 1/1800 the diameter of the full moon. Credit: FrancesoA

•  Astro Bob

 What to do for observing Sirius
- Wayne Mitchell (Star Gazer's Deep Space Atlas )

Someone there hopefully a 12 or larger scope? The one I use is a 12 Dobsonian FL=1500 F4.9. So focus is very sensitive. I think a 12 Cassegrain would probably be better because of a longer FL and more play with focus.

Wait until just has just set. Sirius must be the first star visible. DO NOT wait until dark, you will not see Sirius B when dark because glare of parent star too bright (well I haven't been able to). 

At present, Sirius is overhead at this time of year which is important because you look through less atmosphere.

IMPORTANT; there must be some thin cloud, favorably uniformly spread. This acts as a good glare filter for the parent star, but is not enough to dim the light from Sirius B too much. In saying this I wonder if you will have any this cloud there at all?

Then, at least 200X magnification will work. I only use 200X because do not have eyepiece for higher power, but it works.

Advance the scope slightly ahead of the star so that when you view the star the telescope is steady and allow the star to drift through the field of view of your eyepiece. Slight vibration will inhibit your view of Sirius B.

With these conditions, you still need stable air. While looking into the eyepiece, stare slightly into the glare of the parent star. Sirius B may momentarily pop out of the glare and disappear again. It is extremely tiny!

It is still a challenge, but these conditions aid significantly.

Try this for a few minutes, dont give up too quickly.

If you still do not see Sirius B, rotate the base of your telescope by 45 degrees. By doing this, you may be moving Sirius B out of the bright diffraction spike caused by the parent star. If Sirius B is aligned with a diffraction spike you wont see it.

Try again.

Hope this helps

Regards

Wayne

Die Melkweg

Wayne Mitchell stuur vir ons hierdie een op Idees vol Vrees se facebook-blad

Besoek gerus Wayne se  webblad - Star Gazer's Deep Space Atlas

2012 Karoo Starparty

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Karoo Starparty, 21 - 25 Maart 2012

The ASSA Pretoria Centre is continuing the annual National Karoo Starparty which was started in 2009 at the Kambro Padstal, about 20 km north of Britstown in the Karoo, next to the N12 NationalRoad.

This event is intended to be a get-together for friends that want to enjoy the beautiful Karoo sky and there are no scheduled events, talks or workshops – we go there simply to enjoy the company of fellow stargazers and the legendary Karoo sky. The date for the 2012 Starparty is scheduled for the week-end of 21 March 2012. That is Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 March 2012.

Wednesday 21 March is a National Holiday. Please book early to avoid dissappointment!

• See Kambro Accommodation or phone Wilma Strauss at 0833056668 for details of the site and to make a booking.
  
  
• There is also accommodation available in Britstown at the Karoo Country Inn.

Information about the Karoo Starparty. GPS Co-ordinates: S30°-25-00.3    E23°-33-56.1 Complete Darkness 21 March Dark from 19:50 - 05:10 22 March Dark from 19:54 - 05:11 23 March Dark from 19:53 - 05:12 24 March Dark from 19:51 - 05:13 Deepsky Observing Lists (Karoo Star Party) 23 March 2012, Pdf format, Created with Skytools 3 Sorted by Constellations SA: Sky Atlas 2000 Chart UR.2: Uranometria 2nd Edition Chart PSA: Pocket Sky Atlas (Sky and Telescope) - ASSA Top 100 (telescope) - Concards (Constellation Cards) - Bennett - Herschel 400  - Messier - UHC-filter objects - OIII-filter objects - Binocular objects - How to find the South Celestial Pole (SCP) almost accurately. - Weather    Southern hemisphere Jetstream    Britstown, Northern Cape  Accuweather    Britstown, Northern Cape Yr.No

More Starparty links

• Pretoria Centre of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa - Karoo Starparty 2012
  
• Kambro Starparty
  
• History of the Karoo Star Party
  Star Party Karoo April 2009 - Photos on Flickr
  
• Karoo National Star Party, Britstown, 2010 August 06-09  By Richard Ford

• 2010 Karoo Star Party - photos
  
• 2011 Karoo Star Party
  
  
• 2011 - Karoo Starparty photos

Groot Magellaanse Wolk vanaf Boyden-sterrewag

Hi Almal, hier is een van die fotos wat geneem is tydens die naweek van die Bloemfontein/Johannesburg inter. Die een is Vrydagaandgeneem.

Frans Human het sy Canon kamera en 200mm f2.8 lens saamgebring en saam kon ons hierdie foto saamstel.

Dit is slegs 'n uur se data in totaal. Die tarantula lê links onder in die wolk. Hy vertoon blou en nie pienk nie, omdat die DSLR kamera 'n ingeboude infra rooi filter het wat dan maak dat die chip baie onsensitief vir die rooi in waterstofnewels is.

Die GMW bestaan uit ongeveer 10biljoen sterre.

Dit is verstommend hoe baie sterre die agtergrond alleen uitmaak en dis nie eers deel van die melkweg nie.

Groete

Brett du Preez

Klein Magellaanse Wolk vanaf Boyden-sterrewag

Hier het Brett du Preez van ASSA Bloemfontein die  Klein Magellaanse Wolk in Tucana met `n Canon DSLR op `n volgmopntering vasgevang. NGC 104 (Tucanae 47)  is duidelik sigbaar. Ook NGC 362, `n effens kleiner bolvormige sterreswerm is net links van die Klein Magellaanse wolk sigbaar. (200mm lens @f2.8, Canon DSLR ISO 800)

• Die foto is tydens ASSA Johannesburg se besoek aan Bloemfontein geneem.

M45 vanaf Boyden-sterrewag

Brett du Preez van ASSA Bloemfontein het M45  (Pleiades) in swart-en-wit vasgevang. Van die beligtings is einde 2011 gemaak en toe nog `n paar vroeg in die nuwe jaar.

Komeet Lovejoy op 1 Januarie 2012

Foto: Hannes Pieterse (Klik om foto te vegroot)

 Uiteindelik kon ek ook vir komeet Lovejoy sien. Die wolke het Nuwejaarsnag in die niet verdwyn en so in die deinserigheid oor die see by  Reebok het ek so 03:00 na die wasigheid begin soek. Eers niks, maar toe het ek die stert se kante as `n skerp lyn met 'n verkyker (12 X 50) gesien. Dof maar daar. Die ligbesoedeling is nogal `n probleem - Die son wat amper opkom en die ligte van Mosselbaai.  By `n lekker donker plek sal mens die komeet dalk met die blote oog kan waarneem. Nie hier oor die see nie.

Selfs op die foto is die komeet baie dof. Kyk mooi. Dit kern is net buite Ara en dan loop dit reg deur Triangulum Australe.(Op die nuwe verwerkte foto is die komeet baie dudieliker)

Oor 'n paar dae gaan die komeet reeds vroegaand sigbaar wees. Dit moet baie donker wees.

Fotoinligting: Canon 30D op driepoot gemonteer; fokale lengte: 17mm x1.6; 3 minute beligting; f6.3; ISO 800; Foto baie effens met Lightroom verwerk. Finale verwerking met Neil Carboni se Astronomy Tools in Photoshop.

Groete
Hannes Pieterse

(Comet Lovejoy)

Kepler 22b - the 'new Earth' - could have oceans and continents, scientists claim

Kepler 22b, the planet which scientists say hold the best hope yet for future human habitation, could have continents, oceans and creatures already living on its surface, they believe. 

 The new planet was discovered by Nasa’s Kepler space telescope two years ago but new research has identified it as the most similar to our own yet discovered.

Kepler 22b is about twice the size of Earth and has temperatures which average around 72 degrees (22 Celsius).

It also contains the right atmosphere to potentially support life. However, there is a downside: it is 600 light years from Earth.

Kepler 22b is the first so-called "super-Earth" known to lie within the "habitable" zone of a star similar to our Sun.

Dubbed the "Goldilocks Zone", this is the band where temperatures are just right to allow the existence of surface liquid water throughout its orbit. 

• Read more

Astronomy Magazine - Top 10 space stories in 2011

1.  The last flight of the space shuttle

2.  These standard candles aren't so standard - Some cepheid variables in dispute.

3.  Most eart-like planet found... yes, no, yes?

4.  Scientists watch as a black hole eats a star.

5.  Water may still flow on Mars.

6.  A Better understanding of the complexities of our star.

7.  An asteroid sharing Earth's orbit.

8.  The Milky Way blows bubbles - Gamma ray bubbles perpendicular to Milky Ways disk discovered.

9.  New type of stellar explosion - Supernova 2005ap in Coma Berenices.

10. Mercury reveals itself. Spacecraft Messenger imaged the surface after a journey of 7 years.

• Read these stories in the January edition.

Curiosity on it's way to Mars

The Atlas 5 rocket launches the Mars Science Laboratory from Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 at 10:02 a.m. EST, sending Earth's Curiosity to explore the red planet! 

Curiosity on its way to Mars - Assortment of videos to watch 

ArtSpoken & Reviews

 Moira de Swardt: The stars in South Africa's night sky ...

One of my favourite little books for sky happenings this past year was the Sky Guide 2011. I went on trips to countryside where light pollution is less of a problem than in the big city and it was actually used. I looked forward to receiving the 2012 edition with some eager anticipation.

Inflation has seen a small rise in price from R85 to R95, but at under R100, this is still a very reasonably priced pocket guide to the Southern African night sky.

As in previous editions the monthly sky diary is supplemented by information phrased simply enough for non-scientific types like me to follow, and they include information on the sun, moon, planets, asteroids, comets, meteors, stars, deep sky, basic observing skills, seasonal start charts and a history of astronomy in Southern Africa. The information is largely different to that of the information contained in the 2011 book.

 More....

ASSA Johannesburg se teleskoopmakers op die kassie

• Ook op YouTube

`n Groot lekkerte in jou posbus!

Daar is darem nie iets so lekker as om jou posbus oop te maak en `n gunsteling tydskrif in sy plastieksakkie daar te sien lê nie.  Dis nou die Sky & Telescope doer ver uit Amerika.

In die jongste uitgawe word  SkySafari3 - (for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) bespreek. Dit is `n "warm" planetariumprogram wat ope-aande baie gaan vergemaklik. Soms reën die vrae op jou en daardie stukkie inligting wat op die punt van jou tong is, wil net nie kom nie.

• Loer gerus op hulle webblad http://www.southernstars.com/ . 

Ek het die sagteware op `n iPad2 in aksie gesien en dit kook! 
- Satelliete beweeg in werklike tyd verby.
- En jy kan dit aan `n groot verskeidenheid Go-To teleskope koppel (met eksra koppelvlak).
- Klik op `n voorwerp en jy het al daardie inligting wat mense vir jou vra. So jy hoef nie meer in boeke in die donker rond te grawe nie.
- Ja dit het `n rooi nagverstelling en geen ligte skyn in jou oë nie.
- Ook `n nuttige lys van voorwerpe wat die aand sigbaar is.
- Posisie van Jupiter se mane vertoon soos dit op daardie oomblik is.
- En nog baie meer. Lees op die webblad oor die sagteware.

Die databasis vir die Plus weergawe gaan jou vir jare besig hou. Die Pro-weergawe is regtig vir die hardebaard-sterrekundiges.

As jy bevoorreg is om een van Steve Jobs se i-speelgoed te hê, kan jy gerus die sagteware oorweeg.  Die Plus weergawe kos maar $15 by iTunes.

• Daar is glo `n Android-weergawe op pad.

Groot klip sommer baie naby verby.

Vroeër die week het 2005 YU55 so bietjie meer as 325 000 km van die aarde af verby beweeg. Dit is effens nader as die maan se afstand.

• Meer inligting: Asteroid Flyby: How Students Helped World See Giant Space Rock 2005 YU55 

• "On November 10, 2011 there were 1256 potentially hazardous asteroids."  (http://spaceweather.com/)  Onder aan die blad.
  
• Asteroid 2005 YU55 to Pass Earth; Closer Than Moon
  
• Asteroid 2005 YU55 facts & figures

Sonvlekke vir Afrika!

Hou bietjie die sonvlekke dop.  As jy Donderdagaand Sterre en Planete geluister het sou jy die waarskuwing vir die volgende paar dae gehoor het:  GPS, Internetverbindings en selfone gaan in die hek duik en dit as gevolg van al die sonaktiwiteite.

• Loer hoe lyk dit op die son by http://spaceweather.com/.  Wanneer laas was daar so baie aktiwiteit.  Klik op die klein sonnetjie links op die spyskaart.
  
  Onthou dit is gevaarlik om sonder die regte toerusting na die son te kyk. Jy het spesiale filters nodig. Moenie deur `n verkyker of teleskoop direk na die son kyk nie. Jy sal jou sig verloor!