Newsletter
16
November 1999
New
AIG Manager Required
It is with mixed feelings that I announce
my departure from the Natural Science Museum - as well as the need for a volunteer to
manage the Astronomy Interest Group
until the new Museum Education Officer is appointed.
I
have been fortunate enough to obtain employment in Europe - at a brand new Science
Discovery Centre called Explore-at-Bristol opening in April 2000 in Bristol,
England.
Explore-at-Bristol is a
very large R970 million Science Centre at the core of Bristol’s harbourside
rejuvenation.
It goes
without saying that this state-of-the-art Science Centre includes a Planetarium, an IMAX
cinema, shops, cafes and restaurants; as well as a series of public squares and open
spaces and an underground car park.
See www.at-bristol.org.uk for
more information as well as photographs of Explore-at-Bristol. |
 |
As far as the Astronomy
Interest Group is concerned, we are looking for a responsible person to manage the
group from January 2000 onwards, until the new Education Officer is appointed (possibly
around July).
The
temporary AIG manager’s duties will be two-fold:
(a) to take
responsibility of the Museum telescope at viewing outings, and
(b) to produce a one-page monthly newsletter outlining upcoming events.
He/she
will also be expected to promote the Museums Friends Society at all times.
Unfortunately
due to the Museum’s financial situation, no remuneration will be possible. Benefits
will simply include use of the Museum’s 8" Celestron telescope, and of
course the knowledge that your efforts will be supporting astronomy in Durban.
If you
are interested in managing the AIG, please contact the Director, Dr QB Hendey (Tel:
031-300 6210).
I
will be leaving at the end of December and starting work in Bristol on the 3rd
January 2000. I will continue to keep everyone on my e-mail list informed of my
activities. My personal e-mail address will remain unchanged:
Mario Di Maggio
Viewing evening enquiries: Raymond Field Tel: 309 4126 (w) or 083 334 8645 or 465 7188
(h)
|
Viewing Evenings
at Marist Bros. College* |
Special Events |
Meetings - 7:00PM
at
University of Natal |
Dec
1999 |
First clear night of either:
Fri 3rd or
Sat 4th or
Fri 10th or
Sat 11th at 19h00 |
More meteors! - Diarise these dates as well: the nights
and early morning hours (ie. between 10:30PM and 1:00AM) of the 12th to
the 14th December. The annual Geminid meteor shower always
results in many more meteors than usual - and numerous opportunities for making wishes on
falling stars just before the new millennium.....! |
University vacation - no programme |
Jan
2000 |
First clear night of either:
Fri 7th or
Sat 8th or
Fri 14th or
Sat 15th at 19h00 |
Full moon is on the 21st,
and it will be an especially large full moon because the moon’s orbit brings
it closer than usual to the earth on this occasion. The earth in turn reaches
its closest point to the sun of the entire year on the 4th January, yet the
effect is so small that the sun will not appear any larger.
|
University vacation - no programme |
Feb
2000 |
Please contact Raymond Field for
details. Tel:
309 4126 (w) or
083 334 8645 or
465 7188 (h) |
Portable Planetarium in South Africa!
Watch the press for details - Dennis
Ashton of the University of Sheffield-Hallam (UK) will be in the country with his
inflatable planetarium in February. Don’t miss this unique experience when he
visits Durban! |
Please contact Sarah Buchner for
details. Tel:
260 2768 or buchner@scifs1.und.ac.za |
*Directions to
Marist Brothers College: travel south
along Ridge Road from Tollgate towards Entabeni
Hospital. Just after the hospital turn right into Glenwood
Drive, which is an L-shaped road. At the end of the road
you will see Marist Brothers College in front of you.
Turn left into the school car park.
|
*Directions to lecture room S4, Science
Block, University of Natal: travel to the top
of Francois Road, turn right into the
University private road. Directly after
boom gate turn left and the Science Block is
on the right. |
|
