A colourful presentation by Dr Peter Martinez of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) was attended by over 50 people last night, including 11 AIG members.

It was fascinating to learn about the 370 satellites and 36 000 pieces of 'space-junk' that are orbiting the earth at the moment - some travelling at speeds seven times that of a moving bullet!

The increasing number of objects in orbit, together with increased radio interference, as well as more ground-level light pollution, is making it more and more difficult for both light and radio astronomers to observe the sky.

For example, did you know that a single cellular telephone held at the distance of the moon would still produce a signal equivalent in strength to the sky's third brightest natural radio object!

Dr Martinez described numerous things that we can do to help reduce light pollution in our homes and neighbourhoods.

The next talk of the University of Natal Astronomy Society will be on Thursday 2nd September, and will be by Peter & Peta Cramb on the total solar eclipse they observed from Turkey.

Attached is an image of a radio telescope nice to use as a computer background.

Regards