From Claire.Flanagan at wits.ac.za Wed Feb 6 16:15:20 2008 From: Claire.Flanagan at wits.ac.za (Claire Flanagan) Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 16:15:20 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] Total Lunar Eclipse - early morning Thu Feb 21st. Message-ID: <3756A3D9C306E34E8CDD3F9108BB596202C2AD09@GAIA.ds.wits.ac.za> Total Lunar Eclipse - early morning Thu Feb 21st. There will be a total eclipse of the Moon on Thu Feb 21st before sunrise. The eclipse starts at 3:42am and ends 7:08am (after the Moon has set for South Africa). The eclipse will be total from 5:00am to 5:50am. The start and most of totality will be visible from all of South Africa. The Moon starts recovering from the eclipse at 5:50am, about the time it sets for Jhb. Cape Town (further to the west) will see some of the recovery. Eclipse info for learners is downloadable from www.planetarium.co.za This material includes moon-watching worksheets for use for the two weeks leading up to the eclipse (i.e. start watching Sat Feb 9th). Claire Flanagan Jhb Planetarium info.planet at wits.ac.za www.planetarium.co.za 011-717-1390

This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or disseminate this communication without the permission of the University. Only authorized signatories are competent to enter into agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in writing to the contrary.

-------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.saasta.ac.za/pipermail/astronet/attachments/20080206/89ea6047/attachment.htm From Kkirkham at mweb.co.za Thu Feb 7 08:32:02 2008 From: Kkirkham at mweb.co.za (Kechil) Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 08:32:02 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] Star Walks at Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town Message-ID: <000001c86953$266d52c0$7347f840$@co.za> Have you ever wondered what it must be like to walk though Kirstenbosch Gardens at night? To hear the owls and other night birds, maybe see a lynx if you're lucky, be enveloped in the mystery and quiet of the gardens at night time? Well now's your chance. You will be walked slowly up the gardens by a Kirstenbosch guide, to an open spot towards the top, where Astronomers from the Cape Centre will be waiting with telescopes to show you some of the spectacular sights in the heavens. This is a very special opportunity to see the stars, meet the Astronomers, and spend time in the gardens at night. This event is taking place every Friday during February starting on the 8th, and is open to the public. Meeting at 7:30pm at the main gate of Kirstenbosch Gardens (lower entrance), the fee is R30 for adults, R10 for children. Star Walks at Kirstenbosch were instituted to draw attention to light pollution under the auspices of the Dark Sky section of the ASSA. There's a number to call to find out whether the viewing has been cancelled due to poor visibility and that is 088 131 1001. Star Walks will take place on February 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th. Kechil Kirkham kkirkham at mweb.co.za -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mail.saasta.ac.za/pipermail/astronet/attachments/20080207/f95bc31d/attachment.htm From kg at saao.ac.za Thu Feb 7 12:12:33 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:12:33 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] IYA2009 Brainstorming Message-ID: <47AAD991.8070205@saao.ac.za> Hi all This is just to inform you that in preparation for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 we be having a discussion/brainstorming in *Cape Town on Tuesday 12th February at 12:00 in the SAAO Auditorium.* Although this particular meeting is meant for SAAO staff, anyone who would like to attend is welcome. I will start with a presentation giving an overview of the international scene as well as the local scene and then open the floor for discussing ideas and activities that would make the International Year of Astronomy as successful as possible. To find out more information before Tuesday please visit www.astronomy2009.org.za. Please feel free to spread this message to your collaborators in other institutions who would be able to join us at the SAAO on Tuesday. I would encourage similar "brainstorming" meetings to be held at other institutions around the country and I will be happy to make IYA2009 presentations to your organisation (schedule dependent of course). Regards Kevin PS. Happy New Moon today ;) watch the moon grow towards the total lunar eclipse on the night of the 20th Feb (eclipse occurs early morning on the 21st) -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa From kg at saao.ac.za Fri Feb 15 03:27:22 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:27:22 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] Total Lunar Eclipse - early morning Thu Feb 21st. In-Reply-To: <3756A3D9C306E34E8CDD3F9108BB596202C2AD09@GAIA.ds.wits.ac.za> References: <3756A3D9C306E34E8CDD3F9108BB596202C2AD09@GAIA.ds.wits.ac.za> Message-ID: <47B4EA7A.4000604@saao.ac.za> Just to follow up on Claire's email, there's also some information on the SAAO website (www.saao.ac.za). Also, please watch out for Saturn which will be right next to the moon on that night. There'll also be a bright star (Regulus) which will appear to move closer then further from the moon - great for sky enthusiasts (this is what I get from Stellarium - really great software - www.stellarium.org) The SAAO is planning to join forces with Lynedoch Primary School (Stellenbosch), the Sustainability Institute as part of the Universe Awareness (UNAWE) programme to participate in a global event where learners from countries such as Chile, Columbia, Venezuela, Spain, Bahamas (to mention just a few) will be linked up via a SKYPECAST (www.unawe.org) hosted from UNAWE headquarters Holland. We will be visiting the school on Wednesday 20th during the day to give a talk to the whole school on what we can expect to see that night/next morning. There will be about 12 learners who will sleep over at the school on Wednesday night and get up very early the next morning to watch the eclipse and to share their experiences with kids from these other countries and then their friends the next day when we will give a follow up talk. We will take telescopes with a solar filter for day and night viewing, which should make this a really special experience. All welcome who would like to join. Regards Kevin Claire Flanagan wrote: > > *Total Lunar Eclipse - early morning Thu Feb 21st.* > > There will be a total eclipse of the Moon on Thu Feb 21st before > sunrise. > The eclipse starts at 3:42am and ends 7:08am (after the Moon has set > for South Africa). > The eclipse will be total from 5:00am to 5:50am. The start and most > of totality will be visible from all of South Africa. The Moon starts > recovering from the eclipse at 5:50am, about the time it sets for > Jhb. Cape Town (further to the west) will see some of the recovery. > > Eclipse info for learners is downloadable from www.planetarium.co.za > > This material includes moon-watching worksheets for use for the two > weeks leading up to the eclipse (i.e. start watching Sat Feb 9th). > > > > > Claire Flanagan > Jhb Planetarium > info.planet at wits.ac.za > www.planetarium.co.za > 011-717-1390 > > > > This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is > confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please > notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not > copy or disseminate this communication without the permission of the > University. Only authorized signatories are competent to enter into > agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised > that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the > University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the > author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The > University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between > the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless > the University agrees in writing to the contrary. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > AstroNet mailing list > AstroNet at mail.saasta.ac.za > http://mail.saasta.ac.za/mailman/listinfo/astronet > -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa From kg at saao.ac.za Fri Feb 15 03:35:54 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:35:54 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] next valentine's day In-Reply-To: <47B4EA7A.4000604@saao.ac.za> References: <3756A3D9C306E34E8CDD3F9108BB596202C2AD09@GAIA.ds.wits.ac.za> <47B4EA7A.4000604@saao.ac.za> Message-ID: <47B4EC7A.6060007@saao.ac.za> By the way, next year we should definitely aim at having big star parties all over the country on Valentine's Day which falls on a Saturday in 2009 - I'm sure it will be a big hit with the couples - like Jhb Planetarium's event. Although I suppose it would probably have to be run by us few single people who don't have Valentine's day plans! ;) (add that to the Novel Astronomy Outreach ideas list!) From kg at saao.ac.za Tue Feb 19 09:59:54 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:59:54 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] [Fwd: Join the GLOBE at Night Program for a Star-Hunting Party: February 25 - March 8!] Message-ID: <47BA8C7A.8060108@saao.ac.za> Excellent opportunity to join a global programme in a very simple way. Please spread the word. Kevin -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Join the GLOBE at Night Program for a Star-Hunting Party: February 25 - March 8! Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:12:17 -0700 From: Connie Walker To: Connie Walker PLEASE POST (and participate!) * * *Can You See the Stars?* Join thousands of other students, families and citizen-scientists hunting for stars during February 25 through March 8, 2008. Take part in this international event called GLOBE at Night to observe the nighttime sky and learn more about light pollution around the world. GLOBE at Night is an easy observation and reporting activity that takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. Citizen-scientists record the brightness of the night sky by matching its appearance toward the constellation Orion with 1 of 7 stellar maps of different limiting magnitude. They then submit measurements on-line at www.globe.gov/globeatnight/ . Resulting maps of all observations are created and placed back on-line by the GLOBE at Night staff within the few weeks that follow. The five easy star-hunting steps, for which more information is provided on-line, are: 1) Find your latitude and longitude. 2) Find Orion by going outside an hour after sunset (about 7-10pm local time) 3) Match your nighttime sky to one of our magnitude charts. 4) Report your observation on our website. (Observations can be made February 25 through March 8; you may report through March 15). 5) Compare your observation to thousands around the world. In addition to the unaided-eye observations of Orion, the GLOBE at Night campaign offers Sky Quality Meters (SQM) users the opportunity to measure directly the integrated sky brightness. SQM measurements by citizen-scientists can also be reported on the GLOBE at Night website to contribute to a global map of light pollution around the world. Helpful and user-friendly ancillary materials such as a teacher packet and science standards, a family packet, and student games and information are provided on-line at www.globe.gov/globeatnight/ . You can also subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates and results of this campaign. Visit www.globe.gov/globeatnight/ and click on ?subscribe? at the bottom of the webpage. During the inaugural event in 2006 over 18,000 people from 96 countries submitted 4600 observations, including data from every U.S. state. In 2007, the number of observations almost doubled! Help us exceed 10,000 observations in 2008! GLOBE at Night is a collaboration between the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (www.noao.edu ), The GLOBE Program (www.globe.gov ), The International Dark-Sky Association (www.darksky.org ), Centro de Apoyo a la Didactica de la Astronomia (www.ctio.noao.edu/AURA/CADIAS/ ), and Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc (www.esri.com/k-12 ). GLOBE schools all over the world as well as science and nature centers and astronomy clubs (i.e., programs with networks maintained by the Astronomical Society of the Pacifiic ) are local leaders in GLOBE at Night efforts with citizen scientists. The press release (and more information on SQMs) can be found at http://www.noao.edu/outreach/press/pr08/pr0803.html. ____________________________ Connie Walker, Ph.D. Senior Science Education Specialist Associate Scientist NOAO 950 N. Cherry Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719 520-318-8535 520-318-8451 (fax) cwalker at noao.edu -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa From africa at astronomy2009.org.za Mon Feb 18 20:11:12 2008 From: africa at astronomy2009.org.za (Astronomy in Africa) Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:11:12 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] [Fwd: Opportunities for Women in Sub-Saharan Africa - Science Fellowships] Message-ID: <47B9CA40.70403@astronomy2009.org.za> Funding opportunity for women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Opportunities for Women in Sub-Saharan Africa - Science Fellowships Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:37:25 +0100 From: Dr. Carolina ?dman To: kg at saao.ac.za Hey! This is a very interesting call! Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South. Deadline for applications: 31 May! More info: http://twows.ictp.it/activities/postgraduate-training-fellowships-for-women-scientists-in-sub-saharan-africa-and-least-developed-countries-ldc-at-centres-of-excellence-in-the-south or: http://tinyurl.com/37uhs6 Feel free to spread the info! Hope this is useful! :) Carolina -- Dr. Carolina ?dman carolina.odman at unawe.org Universe Awareness http://www.UNAWE.org/ Tel +31 71 527 58 16 Fax +31 71 527 58 19 From kg at saao.ac.za Tue Feb 19 10:52:34 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:52:34 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] Skypecast for the Total Lunar Eclipse Message-ID: <47BA98D2.80006@saao.ac.za> Hi all Total lunar eclipse early Thursday morning! As part of a Universe Awareness (UNAWE) project, we'll have children and astronomers observing all over the world and linked via the internet. The SA node of the project will be online with telescopes with learners from Lynedoch Primary in Stellenbosch. Please visit www.unawe.org/eclipse2008 for more information and please join in online on the day or just go outside and have a look for yourself. Spread the word! All technical instructions to join the skypecast are on that website. Regards Kevin Connecting the world through Astronomy and the Internet An Eclipse is coming! Dear Friends, We will be lucky to witness a *_total lunar eclipse_* on the night of Feb 20 - 21, 2008. It will be visible from America, the Atlantic, Africa and Europe. Watch out for *_Saturn_* which will be right next to the moon on that night. There will also be a bright star (*_Regulus_* ) which will appear to move closer then further from the moon - great for sky enthusiasts! Here is a page describing what is going to happen: *20-21 Feb 2008 Lunar Eclipse page * The page above gives you the times in U.S. Eastern Central Time. Click on the links below to see viewing times for other time zones: * GMT (e.g. Ireland) * GMT+1 (e.g. Continental Europe) * GMT+2 (e.g. South Africa) How are we going to celebrate it? With a Skypecast! (if you don't know what it is, see the website below. In short, it's like a radio phone-in show, but with free communication over the Internet) Rafael and Carolina are going to be in Leiden, The Netherlands and run a 5-hour long shows in English, with support for Spanish and French and you are all welcome to join! The plan is to have children, teachers, adults and even professional astronomers available to answer all your astronomy & space questions, be it anything from the moon to the blackest of cosmic holes! We will compare observations from around the world, share the thrill and the impressions of the on going phenomenon, answer all the questions you might have about lunar eclipses, and above all, enable children themselves to share what they are seeing in different parts of the world. *This is a great opportunity to connect us all by voice over the Internet to celebrate an astronomical event we can all see - differently...!* The 20-21 Feb 2008 Lunar Eclipse brought to you by Universe Awareness and partners coming to a Skypecast near you! More information: http://www.unawe.org/eclipse2008/ and https://skypecasts.skype.com/skypecasts/skypecast/detailed.html?id_talk=3883923 Hoping to see you online! The UNAWE Eclipse Skypcasters Contact the organisers by email: carolina.odman at unawe.org -- Dr. Carolina ?dman carolina.odman at unawe.org Universe Awareness http://www.UNAWE.org/ Tel +31 71 527 58 16 Fax +31 71 527 58 19 -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa From kg at saao.ac.za Thu Feb 21 07:42:59 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:42:59 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] SABC news tonight Message-ID: <47BD0F63.7080300@saao.ac.za> Hi all Keep an eye on all SABC news channels tonight (all languages) for clips from the lunar eclipse this morning. Spread the word Regards Kevin PS. please forgive my sleep deprived blabbering if they decide to use a clip of me ;) -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa From kg at saao.ac.za Tue Feb 26 01:54:26 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:54:26 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] South Africa IYA Posters Message-ID: <47C35532.7020202@saao.ac.za> Hi all We've produced some big glossy IYA posters (similar to the ones on the website) and they are available from Isobel (isb at saao.ac.za) or Cedric (cedric at saao.ac.za) at the SAAO (021 447 0025). The cost price without overheads worked out to around R15 per poster for us to buy in bulk. Obviously we would like to recover this cost but are willing to negotiate if you can't afford the R15 per poster. It would be nice to see these posters go up all over the country in the near future. Looking forward to hearing from you. Regards Kevin -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa From kg at saao.ac.za Fri Feb 29 16:51:51 2008 From: kg at saao.ac.za (Kevin Govender) Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:51:51 +0200 Subject: [AstroNet] Public Lecture at UCT Message-ID: <47C81C07.4050003@saao.ac.za> Hi all Quick notice of a public lecture in Cape Town by the discoverer of pulsars. Please see below and spread the word. Regards Kevin National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme Colloquium Series Public Lecture - All welcome! Date: THURSDAY 6th March Time: 1pm Venue: New Science Lecture Theatre, Zoology building, UCT Title: In Pursuit of Pulsars Speaker: Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell Jocelyn Bell Burnell earned her doctorate in radio astronomy from Cambridge University in 1969. She subsequently worked right across the (electromagnetic) spectrum of astronomy. Bell Burnell has also been an outstanding leader of research, an enthusiastic communicator of science and a champion of women in science. After three years as Dean of Science at the University of Bath, Jocelyn Bell Burnell "retired" in 2004 and moved to a Visiting Professorship at the University of Oxford and a Professorial Fellowship at Mansfield College, Oxford. Bell Burnell is perhaps best known for her discovery of pulsars in 1967 as a graduate student at Cambridge. The discovery, published in the journal Nature in 1968, resulted from her analysis of enormous amounts of data collected from a radio telescope built by her and other research assistants of advisor, Anthony Hewish, to study quasars. Although Bell Burnell's role in the discovery of pulsars was not acknowledged by the Nobel Committee when they awarded the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics to Hewish and co-recipient Martin Ryle, she has received many other prestigious awards and medals for her discovery and other contributions to astronomy. -- *** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za *** Kevin Govender Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme South African Astronomical Observatory Office: +27 21 460 9350 Mobile: +27 82 487 8466 Fax: +27 21 447 3639 Email: kg at saao.ac.za Skype: kevindran Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa