dieseldawie
Race Dog
Anyone interested? Myself, Pebbles, Cave Girl and Leon will be there. Go to the bottom of the thread fort the email address for RSVP.
ESSA / ASSA STARGAZING, 19-20 SEPT
Venue: Bushtrails, Magaliesberg, directions below
Time: From 3pm
The stargazing starts on Saturday 19 September at 15h00 (yes, the Sun is also a star) and we will light the fires at 18h00.
This year we will be incorporating a Potjie Cookout Challenge, so there will be a delicious potjie buffet available at R80 pp which includes a selection of bread and salads.
Entrance: R30pp for paid up ESSA/ASSA members; R50 for guests; this includes children. Free entry for anyone bringing a telescope (one person per telescope only)
Camping: R20 pp
Other accommodation: Dorms R60 pp (bring own sleeping bag and blankets); Chalets R200 (2 sleeper unit); Cottage R600 (4 sleeper unit).
Breakfast: On Sunday morning R75 pp
Sunday lunch: We will be booking a table at the Black Horse, let me know if you want to join in.
ALL MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION MUST BE PRE-BOOKED AND PRE-PAID .... thanks!
Please read the etiquette and simple guidelines to ensure that everyone will enjoy the occasion and benefit from this unusual evening. Bushtrails (directions below) who have the following facilities – a kitchen and a dining hall where coffee will be available during the evening - a rugby field where the telescopes will be located, numerous dormitories and two ablution blocks.
When at Bushtrails please don't feed the animals! The owner has many dogs and doesn't want them to be fed as this may lead them to be a nuisance to the next group of people using the venue. Please make use of the communal braai facilities and remember to bring your own crockery and cutlery.
Bright lights
It will be very dark in the evening and we’ve asked the neighbours to switch off all their lights - it is therefore important to bring a torch or headlight. It is important to remember that bright lights seriously affect night vision impeding what you and other people will see through the telescopes for up to 30 minutes - please don’t shine any torches anywhere near the telescopes or the people looking through them – this will impair their vision for over 30 minutes. If your headlamp has a red setting please use this; if you have a white light torch please cover it with some coloured paper. Always keep torches pointed at the ground, Should you arrive after dark, or leave whilst viewing is in progress, use only parking lights. It is best to park facing out so as to minimize disturbance when you leave and to switch off your car’s interior lights.
Telescopes do’s and don’t’s
• Remember the following, - don't carry food and drinks around the scopes, spills are a problem for the scopes and also for those around them - it's no fun walking around in sticky shoes.
• Be careful not to touch the telescopes, unless the astronomers instructs you as telescopes move very easily and will lose what we are looking at, also your fingers will damage sensitive optics and mirrors
• Please ensure your children follow these rules and monitor them too. When lifted, their natural tendency is to grab onto whatever is available, and that's usually the telescope.
• Don't just look once -After we show the first group of objects, we'll move the scopes to additional objects. So, after making the rounds of the telescopes, go back again, as we may have something new.
Dress warmly
It will be very cold on Saturday evening; more especially as looking at the stars involves standing still for a while. To counter this, the following suggestions should be taken seriously:
• It is better to stay warm than to get cold and try to thaw out, wear many thin layers, rather than one thick garment
• Remember that a third of the heat lost is from the neck and head, hats/beanies, gloves, scarves/hoodies, thermal vests, leggings, warm sweaters, warm trousers, a coat to break the wind are all good to have with you.
• When the body gets cold, it shuts down circulation from the extremities first. Remember to take care of your feet. Preferably wear loose shoes with thick soles (the ground is cold). Two pairs of socks are better than one, with a thin pair worn beneath a thick pair.
• Visit a fire once in a while to warm up, have a sip of hot beverage and a snack to keep the energy reserves up.
Mountain biking and hikes
There are many gravel roads around Bushtrails. Mountain biking and hiking can be done informally. If anyone wants to volunteer to lead this....
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DIRECTIONS FROM JOHANNESBURG
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1. Head North on Hendrik Potgieter (M47), right to the end
From Johannesburg central:
• Take Beyers Naude (M5) traveling North
• Left into Pendoring rd. (at the Macdonalds just past Cresta shopping mall)
• Follow Pendoring (which becomes 14th Ave ) until you cross under the highway
• Right into Hendrik Potgieter
From Sandton or Soweto on the N1 concrete highway:
• Take the 14th Avenue off-ramp
• Turn West towards Roodepoort (Left if you came from Soweto end, Right under the highway if you came from the north)
• Immediately Right into Hendrik Potgieter
From Honeydew/Randburg/Sandton on Witkoppen Road :
• Head west towards Roodepoort
• Peel left off Witkoppen at the interchange by Clearwater/Macro
• Right into Hendrik Potgieter at the T-junction.
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DIRECTIONS FROM PRETORIA
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Head west on the Krugersdorp highway, past Mulderdrift
• The highway ends at the robots by Pinehaven garage
• Turn Right into Hendrik Potgieter at the robots
2. Intersect the R24 on Rustenburg side of Magaliesburg
• Follow Hendrik Potgieter all the way to the end, where you reach a T-junction
• Right at T-Junction into (R563) towards Hekpoort
• Stay in the right lane, so as to avoid the Tarlton route.
• Travel about 23 km along the road until the next T junction at Hekpoort
• Left into the R 560.
• 12.8 km along the road you hit another T junction
• Right at T-Junction into the R24 towards Rustenberg
3. Go to Bushtrails
• Left immediately (about 20 metres ) onto a Dirt Road signposted New Thorndale.
• Travel 3.1 km on this dirt road until you see the sign for Bushtrails,
• Turn left at the Bushtrails sign and follow the road until you see the main house.
WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE
On 19 Sept the weather should be rather warmer than now, albeit with a somewhat higher likelihood of clouds.
There will be opportunity to see the Sun in the afternoon through white light (good for seeing sun spots) and the deep red Hydrogen Alpha (good for prominences). Changes in the prominences are usually quite noticeable in timescales of about 15 minutes. These huge but ephemeral plumes of plasma, much larger than the Earth, follow the ever-changing magnetic field lines.
The Sun will set around 18h00; with luck we should then be able to spot Mercury about 15 degrees above the western Horison before it too sets.
Next up is magnificent Saturn, rather higher in the west at about 60 degrees, with the beautiful crescent moon above that. The phase of the Moon will provide good views of craters, especially along the terminator (the line dividing day from night) where the shadows are longest.
By 8:30 pm, larger scopes may be able to spot the asteroid Vesta and the planet Uranus - both too faint at Mag 6.6 to be discerned by the naked eye. It is probably better to wait till about 11pm for these to rise higher and the Moon to set before tackling this challenge, but it is worth starting early.
Meanwhile, enjoy the glittering Jewel Box open cluster in Crux (the Southern Cross), and the double star Alpha Centauri (Rigel Kentaurus, the outermost of the two “Pointers”). Alpha Cen may help lead the way to locating the insignificant Proxima Centauri – the closest star to our Sun and a distant third member of the Alpha Centauri system. Proxima was first discovered one century ago, here in South Africa, by Robert Innes. You will need a good finder chart to be able to make a definitive identification.
Then it would be a good time to find the glorious globular clusters Omega Centauri and 47 Tuc. Globular clusters, home to groups of several million stars, are most likely the cores of galaxies gravitationally captured and stripped of their outer halo of stars by our relatively large Milky Way home galaxy. Be sure to compare the different characters of Omega Cen and 47 Tuc, which are the two best globulars visible from anywhere on Earth.
By 11, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) should be at a good position to view the fabulous Tarantuala Nebula – the only naked-eye object in another galaxy! There will be plenty of other deep-sky objects to observe, such as the Butterfly, Triffid, Omega, Eagle, and Lagoon nebulae as well as the Wild Duck cluster. Many Messier objects will be readily accessible throughout the evening.
By midnight, the beautiful Milky Way will lie almost horizontal in a band around the horizon, with the Andromeda galaxy about as high above the northern horizon as it ever gets and the Small Magellanic cloud with 47 Tuc at their highest in the south. Thereafter our familiar Summer constellations (e.g. Orion) will rise. The Andomeda Galaxy, about twice the size of the Milky way is best viewed through binoculars. In the millennia to come, Andromeda and the Milky Way will merge into a conglomerate known as “Milkomeda”.
For the die-hards and early risers, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be well placed at 5h30 in the rapidly brightening predawn sky, as the Sun will rise about 6am.
Thanks for reading through all of that! Look forward to seeing you there
RSVP and bookings Selena [email protected]
PS We would like more volunteers for the Potjie Challenge – there is a “Stirrer of the Year” Award!
ESSA / ASSA STARGAZING, 19-20 SEPT
Venue: Bushtrails, Magaliesberg, directions below
Time: From 3pm
The stargazing starts on Saturday 19 September at 15h00 (yes, the Sun is also a star) and we will light the fires at 18h00.
This year we will be incorporating a Potjie Cookout Challenge, so there will be a delicious potjie buffet available at R80 pp which includes a selection of bread and salads.
Entrance: R30pp for paid up ESSA/ASSA members; R50 for guests; this includes children. Free entry for anyone bringing a telescope (one person per telescope only)
Camping: R20 pp
Other accommodation: Dorms R60 pp (bring own sleeping bag and blankets); Chalets R200 (2 sleeper unit); Cottage R600 (4 sleeper unit).
Breakfast: On Sunday morning R75 pp
Sunday lunch: We will be booking a table at the Black Horse, let me know if you want to join in.
ALL MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION MUST BE PRE-BOOKED AND PRE-PAID .... thanks!
Please read the etiquette and simple guidelines to ensure that everyone will enjoy the occasion and benefit from this unusual evening. Bushtrails (directions below) who have the following facilities – a kitchen and a dining hall where coffee will be available during the evening - a rugby field where the telescopes will be located, numerous dormitories and two ablution blocks.
When at Bushtrails please don't feed the animals! The owner has many dogs and doesn't want them to be fed as this may lead them to be a nuisance to the next group of people using the venue. Please make use of the communal braai facilities and remember to bring your own crockery and cutlery.
Bright lights
It will be very dark in the evening and we’ve asked the neighbours to switch off all their lights - it is therefore important to bring a torch or headlight. It is important to remember that bright lights seriously affect night vision impeding what you and other people will see through the telescopes for up to 30 minutes - please don’t shine any torches anywhere near the telescopes or the people looking through them – this will impair their vision for over 30 minutes. If your headlamp has a red setting please use this; if you have a white light torch please cover it with some coloured paper. Always keep torches pointed at the ground, Should you arrive after dark, or leave whilst viewing is in progress, use only parking lights. It is best to park facing out so as to minimize disturbance when you leave and to switch off your car’s interior lights.
Telescopes do’s and don’t’s
• Remember the following, - don't carry food and drinks around the scopes, spills are a problem for the scopes and also for those around them - it's no fun walking around in sticky shoes.
• Be careful not to touch the telescopes, unless the astronomers instructs you as telescopes move very easily and will lose what we are looking at, also your fingers will damage sensitive optics and mirrors
• Please ensure your children follow these rules and monitor them too. When lifted, their natural tendency is to grab onto whatever is available, and that's usually the telescope.
• Don't just look once -After we show the first group of objects, we'll move the scopes to additional objects. So, after making the rounds of the telescopes, go back again, as we may have something new.
Dress warmly
It will be very cold on Saturday evening; more especially as looking at the stars involves standing still for a while. To counter this, the following suggestions should be taken seriously:
• It is better to stay warm than to get cold and try to thaw out, wear many thin layers, rather than one thick garment
• Remember that a third of the heat lost is from the neck and head, hats/beanies, gloves, scarves/hoodies, thermal vests, leggings, warm sweaters, warm trousers, a coat to break the wind are all good to have with you.
• When the body gets cold, it shuts down circulation from the extremities first. Remember to take care of your feet. Preferably wear loose shoes with thick soles (the ground is cold). Two pairs of socks are better than one, with a thin pair worn beneath a thick pair.
• Visit a fire once in a while to warm up, have a sip of hot beverage and a snack to keep the energy reserves up.
Mountain biking and hikes
There are many gravel roads around Bushtrails. Mountain biking and hiking can be done informally. If anyone wants to volunteer to lead this....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTIONS FROM JOHANNESBURG
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Head North on Hendrik Potgieter (M47), right to the end
From Johannesburg central:
• Take Beyers Naude (M5) traveling North
• Left into Pendoring rd. (at the Macdonalds just past Cresta shopping mall)
• Follow Pendoring (which becomes 14th Ave ) until you cross under the highway
• Right into Hendrik Potgieter
From Sandton or Soweto on the N1 concrete highway:
• Take the 14th Avenue off-ramp
• Turn West towards Roodepoort (Left if you came from Soweto end, Right under the highway if you came from the north)
• Immediately Right into Hendrik Potgieter
From Honeydew/Randburg/Sandton on Witkoppen Road :
• Head west towards Roodepoort
• Peel left off Witkoppen at the interchange by Clearwater/Macro
• Right into Hendrik Potgieter at the T-junction.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTIONS FROM PRETORIA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Head west on the Krugersdorp highway, past Mulderdrift
• The highway ends at the robots by Pinehaven garage
• Turn Right into Hendrik Potgieter at the robots
2. Intersect the R24 on Rustenburg side of Magaliesburg
• Follow Hendrik Potgieter all the way to the end, where you reach a T-junction
• Right at T-Junction into (R563) towards Hekpoort
• Stay in the right lane, so as to avoid the Tarlton route.
• Travel about 23 km along the road until the next T junction at Hekpoort
• Left into the R 560.
• 12.8 km along the road you hit another T junction
• Right at T-Junction into the R24 towards Rustenberg
3. Go to Bushtrails
• Left immediately (about 20 metres ) onto a Dirt Road signposted New Thorndale.
• Travel 3.1 km on this dirt road until you see the sign for Bushtrails,
• Turn left at the Bushtrails sign and follow the road until you see the main house.
WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE
On 19 Sept the weather should be rather warmer than now, albeit with a somewhat higher likelihood of clouds.
There will be opportunity to see the Sun in the afternoon through white light (good for seeing sun spots) and the deep red Hydrogen Alpha (good for prominences). Changes in the prominences are usually quite noticeable in timescales of about 15 minutes. These huge but ephemeral plumes of plasma, much larger than the Earth, follow the ever-changing magnetic field lines.
The Sun will set around 18h00; with luck we should then be able to spot Mercury about 15 degrees above the western Horison before it too sets.
Next up is magnificent Saturn, rather higher in the west at about 60 degrees, with the beautiful crescent moon above that. The phase of the Moon will provide good views of craters, especially along the terminator (the line dividing day from night) where the shadows are longest.
By 8:30 pm, larger scopes may be able to spot the asteroid Vesta and the planet Uranus - both too faint at Mag 6.6 to be discerned by the naked eye. It is probably better to wait till about 11pm for these to rise higher and the Moon to set before tackling this challenge, but it is worth starting early.
Meanwhile, enjoy the glittering Jewel Box open cluster in Crux (the Southern Cross), and the double star Alpha Centauri (Rigel Kentaurus, the outermost of the two “Pointers”). Alpha Cen may help lead the way to locating the insignificant Proxima Centauri – the closest star to our Sun and a distant third member of the Alpha Centauri system. Proxima was first discovered one century ago, here in South Africa, by Robert Innes. You will need a good finder chart to be able to make a definitive identification.
Then it would be a good time to find the glorious globular clusters Omega Centauri and 47 Tuc. Globular clusters, home to groups of several million stars, are most likely the cores of galaxies gravitationally captured and stripped of their outer halo of stars by our relatively large Milky Way home galaxy. Be sure to compare the different characters of Omega Cen and 47 Tuc, which are the two best globulars visible from anywhere on Earth.
By 11, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) should be at a good position to view the fabulous Tarantuala Nebula – the only naked-eye object in another galaxy! There will be plenty of other deep-sky objects to observe, such as the Butterfly, Triffid, Omega, Eagle, and Lagoon nebulae as well as the Wild Duck cluster. Many Messier objects will be readily accessible throughout the evening.
By midnight, the beautiful Milky Way will lie almost horizontal in a band around the horizon, with the Andromeda galaxy about as high above the northern horizon as it ever gets and the Small Magellanic cloud with 47 Tuc at their highest in the south. Thereafter our familiar Summer constellations (e.g. Orion) will rise. The Andomeda Galaxy, about twice the size of the Milky way is best viewed through binoculars. In the millennia to come, Andromeda and the Milky Way will merge into a conglomerate known as “Milkomeda”.
For the die-hards and early risers, Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be well placed at 5h30 in the rapidly brightening predawn sky, as the Sun will rise about 6am.
Thanks for reading through all of that! Look forward to seeing you there
RSVP and bookings Selena [email protected]
PS We would like more volunteers for the Potjie Challenge – there is a “Stirrer of the Year” Award!
