Detailed image of the Moon with text overlays. Moon phase is waning gibbous. Three sites of interest are labeled on the Moon: Grimaldi Basin, Mare Humorum, and Mare Nectaris. Menus allow users to select an observing mode, hemisphere (N or S), and date.
NASA's brand new Daily Moon Guide is an interactive map for observing the Moon.
Each day, you'll find curated viewing recommendations for the current lunar phase— plus detailed imagery from our Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
Above: The two giant radio galaxies found with the MeerKAT telescope. In the background is the sky as seen in optical light. Overlaid in red is the radio light from the enormous radio galaxies, as seen by MeerKAT. Left: MGTC J095959.63+024608.6. Right: MGTC J100016.84+015133.0. Credit: I. Heywood (Oxford/Rhodes/SARAO).
Two giant radio galaxies have been discovered with South Africa’s powerful MeerKAT telescope. These galaxies are amongst the largest single objects in the Universe and are thought to be quite rare.
The fact that MeerKAT detected two of these monsters in a relatively small patch of sky suggests that giant radio galaxies may actually be much more common than previously thought. This gives astronomers further vital clues about how galaxies have changed and evolved throughout cosmic history.
The discovery has been published today, Monday, 18 January 2021 in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Source: The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation
Visible from Bloemfontein, South Africa in the Western sky after sunset with naked eyes.
Dr Daniel Cunnama, a science engagement astronomer at the South African Astronomical Observatory, confirmed that a spectacular conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on 21st December will be visible in South Africa. “You can look to the West just after sunset and you will see them over the next two weeks.
According to the BBC’s Sky at Night magazine, the closest giant planetary “kiss” since 1623 will see gas giant planets Jupiter and Saturn just 0,06° apart.
“Our Solar System’s two gas giant planets have been edging closer in recent months, and on Monday, December 21 Jupiter and Saturn will be less than a degree apart in the night sky,” says the magazine.
The spectacular sight will be visible in clear skies across the world. Sky at Night said Jupiter and Saturn won’t really be close to each other at all. “In fact, on that date — which also just happens to be the date of the December solstice — Saturn will be about twice as far from Earth as Jupiter will be.
“However, our line of sight from Earth will suggest otherwise, as we all get to witness (clear skies allowing) the closest planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that most of us are ever going to see. “Saturn and Jupiter appear to pass close to each other, as seen from Earth, every 20 years, and when they do we call it a ‘great conjunction’.”
If you see it, count yourself lucky.
Information: Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
The Full Moon – the brightest object in the night sky – is a striking sight, and features in the art, myths and cultural traditions of all peoples of Earth.
With every Full Moon, we’re inviting you to celebrate something special about South Africa, to revel in our shared heritage and to remember that we’re together under one sky.
A Full Moon (when the Moon rises as the Sun sets) happens about once a month. Sometimes, there are two Full Moons in a month (the second one is sometimes called a blue moon), although February can never have a second Full Moon.
The table below gives special names for each Full Moon. Each name reflects a unique facet of South African heritage.
