Europe has formally agreed to the extension of operations at the International Space Station until 2020.
Member states have also put in place the financing to cover their commitments at the platform for the next two years.
Read more...
Thursday 17 March 2011
Super Full Moon
Perigee moons are as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons.
by Dr. Tony Phillips
Science@NASA
Huntsville AL (SPX) Mar 17, 2011 Mark your calendar. On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It's a super "perigee moon"--the biggest in almost 20 years.
Read more...
Super full moon
Mark your calendar. On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It's a super "perigee moon"--the biggest in almost 20 years.
The Moon looks extra-big when it is beaming through foreground objects--a.k.a. "the Moon illusion."
Credit: NASA
Read more...
Shell plans could threaten SKA
Shell plans could threaten SKA: "Shell's plans to prospect for shale gas in the Karoo could affect South Africa's bid to build the world's biggest radio telescope, MPs have heard."
Saturday 12 March 2011
Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
Help us bring the SKA project to Africa
 | The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be a mega radio telescope, about 100 times more sensitive than the biggest existing radio telescope. | ||
| SKA is a €1.5 billion project, with operating costs of about €100 million a year. | ||
| It will be the first to provide mankind with detailed pictures of the “dark ages” 13.7 billion years back in time. | ||
| This mega telescope will be powerful and sensitive enough to observe radio signals from the immediate aftermath of the Big Bang. | ||
| If there is life somewhere else in the Universe, the SKA will help us find it. | ||
| At least 24 organisations from 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, India, China, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA, are involved. | ||
| The SKA will consist of approximately 4 000 dish-shaped antennae and other hybrid receiving technologies. | ||
| Both South Africa and Australia have suitably remote, radio quiet areas for hosting the SKA and have competing bids to host the SKA. | ||
| If Africa wins the SKA bid, the core of this giant telescope will be constructed in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape Province near to the towns of Carnarvon and Williston, linked to a computing facility in Cape Town. | ||
| Other countries where stations will be placed include Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya and Zambia. | ||
| South Africa is already building the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) which is a precursor instrument for the SKA, but will in its own right be amongst the largest and most powerful telescopes in the world. | ||
| Why is Africa the best site for the SKA? Most valuable for science Low levels of radio frequency interference and certainty of future radio quiet zone. Significant investment in skilled human resources - bursaries for scientists from across Africa, training for technicians and artisans. Best imaging An ideal physical environment (little water vapour, calm stable weather conditions). Most Affordable Required land, labour and support services available and very affordable. Most Reliable Core basic infrastructure of roads, electricity and communication already in place . Ideal geographical location, sky coverage and topography. Safe and stable area with very few people and no conflicting economic activities. Most Options The astronomical "richness" of the southern skies & strong tradition of astronomy. Excellent academic infrastructure to support SKA science and technology. | ||
| More info... Who is the barefoot astronomer? | |||
Thursday 10 March 2011
The Southern Star Party (2011 March, Bonnievale, South Africa)
The Southern Star Party | Suidelike Sterrefees
2011 March, Bonnievale, South Africa
2011 March, Bonnievale, South Africa
The mere utterance of the words "star party" makes me tingle. As a school kid I read with wide-eyed longing of Stellafane, a mystical place far, far away where all they did at night was look at deep sky objects and spent the days pushing glass. It's taken a while, but the first inkling of a local Stellafane happened this past week-end just outside Bonnievale in the Western Cape.
Monday 21 February 2011
Sunday 20 February 2011
Vriende van Boyden Ope-aand, 19:00 op Vrydag 25 Februarie
Vriende van Boyden Ope-aand,
19:00 op Vrydag 25 Februarie
English translation follows at the bottom
19:00 op Vrydag 25 Februarie
English translation follows at the bottom
Bespreek asseblief vroegtydig!
Bel 051 401 2561 tydens kantoorure
Of stuur 'n epos aan vjaarsdp@ufs.ac.za
Toegang: R 30 per motor
Verversings en ligte etes te koop.
Aangebied deur: Vriende van Boyden Sterrewag en die Amateur Sterrekunde Vereniging
Of stuur 'n epos aan vjaarsdp@ufs.ac.za
Toegang: R 30 per motor
Verversings en ligte etes te koop.
Aangebied deur: Vriende van Boyden Sterrewag en die Amateur Sterrekunde Vereniging
Die Ingenieurswese agter Sterrekunde
Sterrekunde het by die publiek en selfs die wetenskaplike gemeenskap die gesig van mooi foto’s, sterrekundige data en uiteindelik wetenskaplike resultate. Daar is egter ‘n enorme ingenieurspoging nodig om dit alles te laat gebeur – die meeste daarvan ongesiens agter die skerms. Willie Koorts se lesing sal op hierdie aspek fokus en sal aantoon hoe instrumentasie en beheersisteme op die voorpunt van die tegnologie wat vir die moderne sterrekunde noodsaaklik is, tot stand kom.
Willie Koorts werk vir die afgelope 23 jaar as ’n Elektroniese Tegnikus by die Suid-Afrikaanse Astronomiese Observatorium in Kaapstad. Hy het begin by SAAO se buite stasie in Sutherland in die Karoo en skuif later na hulle hoofkantoor by die sterrewag in Kaapstad as deel van die ingenieurspan. Hier ontwerp en bou hulle die beheersisteme en instrumentasie vir die teleskope in Sutherland. Die SAAO het ook die kontrak gekry om twee kameras vir SALT te bou waarby Willie Koorts nou betrokke was, spesifiek met die verantwoordelikheid vir die installasie van dié baie duur detektore.
Willie Koorts het as ’n amateur sterrekundige geïnteresseerd geraak nadat hy in Sutherland, en as deel van ’n UNISA Rekenaarwetenskap kwalifikasie, sommige B.Sc. Astronomie modules geneem het. Hy is ook ’n amateur teleskoopbouer (ATB) en werkskaf ook met die aanpassing van webkameras en donkerlig videokameras vir astronomiese gebruik. ’n Ander belangstelling van Willie Koorts is sterrekunde geskiedenis waaroor hy navorsing gedoen het en ’n paar artikels gepubliseer het. Hy het ook geïnteresseerd geraak in satellietopsporing en het ’n rekenaarbeheerde montering vir die opsporing van satelliete ontwikkel - ’n geheime Amerikaanse spioensatelliet is onlangs met so ’n sisteem opgespoor. Ander belangstellings is fotografie en in die laaste tyd, Geocaching- die “sport” om skatte te vind (en te versteek) met die gebruik van ’n GPS.
Vir die laaste vier jaar was Willie die redakteur van MNASSA (Maandelikse Notas van die Astronomiese Vereniging van Suidelike Afrika). Hy skryf gereeld vir die WEG, De KAT en ONS EIE en vertaal ’n paar publikasies vir Struik Uitgewers. Hy is die voorsitter van die OWG (die Orion Waarnemingsgroep), ’n informele sterrekundeklub in die Boland en is taamlik betrokke by die Voortrekkers en reik spesiale astronomie kentekens uit. Ander publieke uitreikaktiwiteite sluit in sy rol as toergids vir die jaarlikse ATKV bustoer vanaf Wellington (sy tuisdorp) na Sutherland.
Friends of Boyden Open Evening,
19:00 on Friday 25 February
Reservation is Required. Book early!
Contact 051 401 2561 during office hours
Or send an e-mail to vjaarsdp@ufs.ac.za to book.
Entrance: R 30 per car
Refreshments and light meals will be for sale.
Presented by: Friends of Boyden Observatory and the Amateur Astronomy Association.
The Engineering behind Astronomy
The face of astronomy to the public or even the scientific community are pretty pictures, astronomical data and ultimately scientific results. But a huge engineering effort is required to make this all happen - most of which happens unseen, behind the scenes. Willie Koorts’ talk will focus on this aspect and reveal how the cutting edge instrumentation and control systems needed in modern astronomy comes about.
Willie Koorts has been working as an Electronics Technician at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town for the past 23 years. He started at SAAO's observing outstation in Sutherland in the Karoo and later moved to their head quarters in Observatory, Cape Town as part of the engineering team there. Here they design and build the control systems and instrumentation for the telescopes in Sutherland. SAAO also got the contract to build two of the cameras for SALT with which Willie was intimately involved, with the responsibility of installing the super-expensive detectors himself.
Willie got interested as an Amateur Astronomer after starting in Sutherland and, as part of a UNISA Computer Science qualification, did some BSc Astronomy modules. He's also an ATM (Amateur Telescope Builder) and tinkered with modifying webcams and low-light video cameras for use in astronomy. Another interest is Astronomical History for which he did some research and published a few articles. He also got interested in satellite tracking and developed a computer controlled mount for tracking satellites - a secret American spy-satellite was recently tracked down using such a system. Other interests are photography and, lately, Geocaching - the "sport" of finding (and hiding) hidden treasures using a GPS.
For the last four years Willie has been the editor of MNASSA (Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa). He regularly writes articles for WEG, de Kat and Ons Eie and translated a few publications for Struik Publishers. He's the chairman of OOG (the Orion Observation Group), an informal astronomy club in the Boland and is quite involved with the Voortrekkers, presenting special astronomy badges. Other public outreach activities include being the tourguide for an annual ATKV bustour from Wellington (his hometown) to Sutherland.
Willie got interested as an Amateur Astronomer after starting in Sutherland and, as part of a UNISA Computer Science qualification, did some BSc Astronomy modules. He's also an ATM (Amateur Telescope Builder) and tinkered with modifying webcams and low-light video cameras for use in astronomy. Another interest is Astronomical History for which he did some research and published a few articles. He also got interested in satellite tracking and developed a computer controlled mount for tracking satellites - a secret American spy-satellite was recently tracked down using such a system. Other interests are photography and, lately, Geocaching - the "sport" of finding (and hiding) hidden treasures using a GPS.
For the last four years Willie has been the editor of MNASSA (Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa). He regularly writes articles for WEG, de Kat and Ons Eie and translated a few publications for Struik Publishers. He's the chairman of OOG (the Orion Observation Group), an informal astronomy club in the Boland and is quite involved with the Voortrekkers, presenting special astronomy badges. Other public outreach activities include being the tourguide for an annual ATKV bustour from Wellington (his hometown) to Sutherland.
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Invitation to the Southern Star Party (2011 March 04-06)
You're invited
Join us for a week-end of star gazing and friendly chat at the Southern Star Party, which will be held on March 04-06 on a farm just outside of Bonnievale, near Robertson, in the Western Cape.
The GPS position to point your car to is 34:00:45 South, 19:59:43 East.
The organizers of the event are Willie Koorts, Edward and Lynnette Foster, Martin Lyons, Suki Lock and Auke Slotegraaf.
Visit the website at the Southern Star Party blog for more.
Programme
As of this writing, the programme will consist of:
- "What astrophotography teaches us about the deep sky" – Dr Dieter Willasch
- "Basic astrophotography with a digital camera" - Kos Coronaios
- "The next step: astrophotography through a telescope" - Lucas Ferreira
- "How to care for and clean your telescope" – Willie Koorts
- "Fossils, Light & Time" – Edward Foster
- "Astronomy for beginners" – Edward Foster
- "Deep Sky Observing Workshop" – Auke Slotegraaf
There will also be an "Astronomy Pub Quiz", and a sale table.
Night-time events include:
- "What's up in the sky tonight" – Willie Koorts
- "Learning the Constellations: Using ConCards to find star patterns and bright deep sky objects" – Auke Slotegraaf
- "A Guided Binocular Starhop" – Auke Slotegraaf
Find out more
For more details, and the all-important booking and registration, visit the Southern Star Party blog. Space is very limited, so please book right away.
Monday 14 February 2011
Valentines day in NGC 2547 in Vela
Click to enlarge
Hi all Stargazers
May you have health, wealth, prosperity and joy in abundance this year!
About 7 years ago I “discovered” this cluster and took the liberty of naming it the Heart Cluster. I made mention of it in my book as well. It is cluster NGC2547, located near the bright multiple star Gamma Velorum in the constellation Vela.
I have copied Neville Young, a member and friend of the Pretoria Centre for ASSA. Hope you like it Neville!
Look Up and Discover the Cosmic Gems We All Deserve to See!
Best regards
Wayne Mitchell,
Author of the STAR GAZER'S DEEP SPACE ATLAS
Member of the Pretoria Centre of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
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