[AstroNet] Planets this week, plus other astronomy events

Mon Feb 23 15:38:19 SAST 2009

Jupiter, Mars and Mercury in the early-morning sky
Watch Mercury pass Jupiter and Mars this week - Jupiter and Mars are
returning to our early-morning skies, while Mercury is leaving.  Jupiter
is the very bright one over in the east in the early mornings.  Mercury
is fairly bright, and very close to Jupiter early tomorrow morning
(Tuesday).  Mars is below, much fainter.
Maps at www.planetarium.co.za
To catch this one, you need to be out just as it starts getting light -
about half an hour before sunrise.

Comet Lulin
Comet Lulin is passing closest to the Earth this week - but it's not
easy to see.  If you have binoculars, have a look for it south of Saturn
tonight (23rd).  Saturn is visible in the north-east around 9pm.  A nice
article about the comet, with finder charts, is at
www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/35992534.html

Astronomy Course for Capetonians
Prof Brian Warner (UCT) will present "The cosmos: an introduction to our
universe", an 11-week course in basic astronomy.  This "blended
learning" course was developed with the late Tony Fairall, and sounds
very interesting.  Register by 13th March, course starts 26th March.
Details at www.ems.uct.ac.za <http://www.ems.uct.ac.za/> 

SA Astronomical Observatory open nights - Cape Town
SAAO has scheduled a series of really interesting-sounding talks at
their open nights.  Next one is 28th Feb, "A crocodile eats the Sun:
Indigenous astronomy" by Thebe Medupe of UCT.  Details and full schedule
at www.saao.ac.za <http://www.saao.ac.za/> 

Free lunchtime discussion [Cape Town]
"Pleiades: meaning and use by peoples of southern Africa" - by Sivuyile
Manxoyi (SAAO)
Fri 27th Feb  1-2:30pm  at Iziko Planetarium    Booking essential
021-481 3804
See www.iziko.org.za <http://www.iziko.org.za/>  under "Summer School"
for details of this and other astronomy presentations.

African Sky Lore Theatre & Telescope Viewing - Kyalami, Jhb 
Wed 25th Feb     R25 / R10 entrance fee
"The Hunter and the Daughters of the Sky God" is a 20-minute African sky
lore play performed by four aspiring young actors auditioned & selected
from around Gauteng. It's an educational, entertaining play, scripted by
David Muller ("The Merry Scholar"), based on an ancient Namaqua hunting
story. . . . "  
. . . more details at www.astronomyafrica.com
<http://www.astronomyafrica.com/> 

Space, Time and Quantum Mechanics - Origins Centre, Wits University, Jhb
A public lecture by Prof Robert de Mello Koch - Thu Mar 5th
More details at www.planetarium.co.za

At the Jhb Planetarium:
Sky Tonight  featuring the hunting scene of Orion - Thursdays 7pm,
Fridays 8pm
Space Travel for 5-8yr olds - Saturdays 10:30am
Planets - Saturdays 3pm
More details at www.planetarium.co.za

-- 

Claire Flanagan

Jhb Planetarium

011-717-1390

www.planetarium.co.za

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