<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="center"><font color="#2323dc"><font
size="5">Once
in a blue moon opportunity –<br>
end
the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in style!</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font color="#000000"><font
size="3">The
South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Sutherland offers
the public the unique opportunity to see the final sunset of 2009 from
the
biggest observatory on the African continent. This coincides with the
only “blue” moon (second full moon in a calendar month) for 2009
and lunar eclipse to boot! This is a very fitting end to a marvelous
year in which astronomy was taken to all corners of the world to
educate, inspire and ignite people's imaginations.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font color="#000000"><font
size="3">The
SAAO will open its gates on the new years eve, with half hourly to
hourly tours from 9 AM to 5 PM. Tours includes a visit to the
Southern African Large Telescope, the largest single optical
telescope in the southern hemisphere. An essential astronomy workshop
with a question and answer session will run from 12 PM to 2 PM on
the day, and all is welcome to attend. From 7 PM to 9 PM the
observing plateau will be open to the public to witness the sunset
over the magnificent Karoo. Besides
the activities at the Observatory, a public star party will happen in
the town of Sutherland with braai's, music and lots of opportunities
to enjoy astronomical delights from a place world reknown for its
great evening skies.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font color="#000000"><font
size="3">In
the week leading up the new years eve, a number of festivities is
planned in Sutherland, ranging from cultural performances, arts and
crafts markets, live bands, a road show, sports and hiking activities
and lots more. The SAAO will also be open during this week for public
tours, and a daily astronomy workshop will also be running.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font color="#000000"><font
size="3">More
information can be found at </font></font><a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.saao.ac.za/projects/YearEndFestival2009/YearEndFestival2009.html">http://www.saao.ac.za/projects/YearEndFestival2009/YearEndFestival2009.html</a><font
color="#000000"><font size="3">. </font></font>Or
contact:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><font color="#000000"><font
size="3">Kevin Govender<br>
Cell:
082 487 8466<br>
Email:
<a href="mailto:kg@saao.ac.za">kg@saao.ac.za</a></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;" align="left"><br>
</p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>