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

•  Download ASSA 100 Observing list

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

• Dealing With Dew: Dew Heaters, Dew Shields and More
• Best length for a dew shield
• Blog article  

 Keep it simple

• How to find the South Celestial Pole (SCP) 

 Keep it red:

• 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

• Photos: 2016 FS Star Party
• Photos 2015 FS Star Party
• Photo`s 2014 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.

  - 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.
- 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 2017
Afternoon: 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 

Iridium 58 - 17 April 2017 - 19:19:43

Click to enlarge

Iridium 58 satellite (Flare: Mag -8) moving through the constellation Musca with Crux to the left.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse, ASSA Bloemfontein


Date: 17 April 2017
Time: 19:19:43
Brightness: -8
Altitude: 41°
Azimuth:157°
Satellite: Iridium 58
Distance to satellite: 1122 km
Angle off flare centre-line: 0.1°
Distance to flare centre: 2 km
Flare producing antenna: right
Sun altitude: -19.3°
Angular separation from Sun: 120.7°

Iridium 58
Launch

Date (UTC)	30 March 1998 06:02
Launch site	Vandenberg AFB, United States
Launch vehicle	Delta 7920-10C

Photo information
Canon 30D
50mm lens
 ISO 400
89 exposures
30 second
f2.8

Tripod and Canon TC-80N3 Remote Timer

Stacked in Starstax
Final Editing in Photoshop

26 February 2017 — Annular Solar Eclipse — Bloemfontein, South Africa

First Contact 17:10; Maximum 18:08, Last Contact - Not visible

• Photo Gallery

Photos: Hannes Pieterse, ASSA Bloemfontein

Animation of the Eclipse (Click on Image)

Telkom 3 - A failed satellite launch in 2012

Several Amateur Astronomers observed the sporadic flashes in the night sky the last couple of days. (January 2017).  Greg Roberts (Cape Town, South Africa), international acclaimed satellite hunter identified the mysterious flashes as a failed communication satellite, Telkom 3.

Telkom 3  (Wiki information)
Telkom-3 is an Indonesian communications satellite which was lost due to a launch failure on 6 August 2012. It was built by ISS Reshetnev for Indonesian telecommunications provider PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia. It was based on the Ekspress-1000 bus and had 32 C band transponders and 16 Ku band transponders. It was due to be located in geosynchronous orbit at 118° east above the equator,
^{Read more,,,}

Some images by Hannes Pieterse, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 26th January 2017.
Time: 21:27:46 - 21:31:56

 Click on the images to enlarge!

 The final image. The eight stable dots are Telkom 3 moving slowly below Sirius in then constellation Canis Major. 26th January 2017. Time: 21:27:46 - 21:31:56.  Seven (7) Images were stacked in Startrails; No dark frame subtraction; Tweaked in Photoshop. Canon 40D with a Canon Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3, 17-55mm f2.8. 800 ISO; 30 sec exposures. Camera mounted on tripod; City light pollution, clouds and trees hampering the imaging process. 

 The red dots point to the primary flashes and the yellow arrows to the secondary flashes. Greg Roberts  our satellite guru in South Africa reckons Telkom 3 is rotating, from there the secondary flashes. 

 Do some homework before you set up to take the photographs. Heavensat software.

Upload an image to Astrometry.net and identify the sky, stars, constellations etc. to confirm the satellite's position in the sky.

Telkom 3

Telkom-3S later replaced the failed Telkom 3.
Read more...

10 New Iridium NEXT Satellites in orbit

The satellites still very close to each other on this chart (marked in red). They will eventually spread out like the other Iridium satellites.

 Chart for Bloemfontein tonight 20:30 (25 January 2017)

  The latest Iridium satellites should be visible tonight. Use binoculars.  About Magnitude 5 - 7.

Iridium Announces Successful First Launch of Iridium NEXT Satellites

 MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today the successful launch of its first ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The satellites were delivered into low-Earth orbit approximately one hour after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54:39 a.m. PST. Iridium NEXT is the company’s next-generation satellite constellation, replacing and enhancing its existing network of low-Earth orbit satellites spanning the entire globe – the largest commercial satellite constellation in space.

Read more 

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

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

World Light pollution Map

Click on image  to enlarge - Bloemfontein area

Click to open World wide light Pollution Map

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)

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)

• Download Skytools 3 map to help you find it

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.

ScopeX 2016 - Photo Gallery

 Photos: Hannes Pieterse, ASSA Bloemfontein

ScopeX 2016
Annual Telescope and Astronomy Expo
Johannesburg
15 October 2016

• View Gallery

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