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.
(8 October 2016) from the Southern Hemisphere.
- Phases of the Moon Free - Android Apps on Google Play
Download and enjoy!
8 October 2016 - International Observe the Moon Night in Bloemfontein (InOMN)
- Join in the fun! - Tickets at at Computicket. (Search Navall Hill)
Programme:
Naval Hill Planetarium, Bloemfontein
7 and 8 October 2016
Dear Planetarium supporter
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.
Monday 26 September 2016
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)
- Spaceweather Gallery
- Animations of the 2016 1 Sep pan-African eclipse, showing where and when the shadow of the Moon passes over the Earth.
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.
Monday 11 July 2016
Wednesday 6 July 2016
1.5.3 Measuring the field of view (Plan your Observing)
Click on image to Enlarge (Source: NASA - Chandra X-Ray Observatory )
The simplest method of measuring the field of view relies on the use of a star chart.
Knowing north and east in the sky, you can easily turn your star chart so that the image in the eyepiece corresponds to the chart. Look for two stars that just fit in your field of view, and locate these stars on the star chart. You can now measure this distance on the map and compare it with the scale on the margin of the map to convert your linear measurement to degrees or arc minutes.
Remember that 1 degree (°) = 60 arc minutes (60′) = 3600 arc seconds (3600″). Binoculars typically have fields larger than 4degrees , and telescopes normally give a view smaller than 2degrees.
It is essential to be able to judge angular distances in the sky. The following table lists some angular estimates:
Solar / lunar diameter: ½°
Width of index nail at arms length: 1°
Orion’s Belt: 3°
Short arm of Crux: 4½°
Long arm of Crux: 6°
Width of clenched fist at arm’s length: 10°
Long arm of Diamond Cross: 10°
Everyday objects can also serve as angular gauges. To determine the apparent angular size of anything in degrees, divide its linear width by its distance from your eye, then multiply by 57. For example, a 30cm ruler held one metre from your eye measures 30 ÷ 100 x 57 = 17°.
A more accurate method to determine the diameter of your field of view involves measuring the time it takes for a star to drift across your field along the east-west line.
This method is only useful for telescopes, since a star will take ages to cross the large field offered by binoculars. Choose any bright star, preferably far from the south pole – a star in Orion’s belt would be a good choice.
Centre the star in your field of view, turn off the drive, and place the star just outside the eastern edge of the field. As the star drifts into view, start your stop-watch. When the star dis appears at the western edge, stop the watch and note down the elapsed time. Repeat this measurement several times and take the average.
If this average time, T, is measured in minutes, then: field of view in arc minutes = 15 x T x cosine( D ), where D is the declination of the star (taken from a star catalogue, or estimated from a starmap).
For example, suppose you measure several transits of Canopus and calculate the average time to be 3.5 minutes. Canopus’ declination is roughly –52.7°. The field of view is then 15 x 3.5 x cos(–52.7) = 15 x 3.5 x 0.6 = 31.5 arc minutes. Thus the field of view is roughly half a degree across.
Make a note of the size of each eyepiece in your logbook, since a given eyepiece used on a specific telescope has a fixed field of view.
Source
- Download - Deepsky Observer's Companion (Pdf)
Deepsky Observer’s Companion (P 13)
Auke Slotegraaf
Director: Deepsky Observing Section,
Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
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