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Newsletter 8                                                            March 1999

A Few Interesting Things

There are a few things I need to inform the members about, so this newsletter contains a variety of information, including some interesting astronomy odds and ends:                    

 MONTHLY ASTRONOMY MEETINGS
As I explained to those of you on E-mail a while back, the   meetings on the second Wednesday of each month are not organized by us, but by the local Astronomical Society (ASSA). Although they don’t mind new AIG members attending a few times for free, they have asked us to please join ASSA if we intend attending regularly (R55 per year). I’m sorry if I hadn’t made this clear before.

 WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR OWN E-MAIL ADDRESS?
Worldwide 50 000 new computers are sold every day, and a new computer is connected to the Internet every three seconds. There is absolutely no stopping the information revolution - instant communication (E-mail) and instant access to information (World Wide Web) has changed society forever.

 Presently about half of the 54 AIG members have E-mail addresses, and I regularly keep these members informed with news of new discoveries and with colourful astronomy images - something I cannot do through the monthly newsletter. If you are not yet ‘connected’ and are perhaps thinking of doing so, please feel free to call me for advice (Tel: 082 829 7645). Additionally, in the near future, comprehensive electronic shopping will be available in SA, where you will be able to shop via the Internet, enjoy home deliveries - all at a discount of up to 30%! (this service is already available telephonically).

 BLUE MOON
As you probably know by now, April will be the second month this year that will see a Blue Moon (the first was January). The last time we had two Blue Moons in a single year was in 1961 - and before that in the year 1885. The next year of double Blue Moons will be 2018. Don’t forget our Blue Moon party on Friday April 30th! (see back).

 FAMOUS NEW AIG HONORARY MEMBER
Seeing as he was favourably impressed with our AIG during his visit in August last year - in March we asked Dr David Malin (international astro-photographer of note) if he would accept honorary membership of the Friends Society, and a few weeks ago he did. He also sent us 12 free high-resolution astronomical images for inclusion in our simulated planetarium.

THE J.G. GALLE (1812-1910) CONNECTION
Did you know that we have a Museum volunteer with a very distinguished astronomical ancestry ? Rita Winter, who has been a volunteer since 1996 and is also the Friends Society secretary, is related to the German astronomer Johann Galle, who (together with a colleague) discovered planet Neptune! JG Galle is Rita’s great grandfather on her mother’s side. Wow, including Dr David Malin’s honorary membership, we certainly have some high-profile astronomers associated with the AIG!

‘HAPPY FACE’ ON MARS
Once again, those members on E-mail will have received news and images of the latest ‘face’ discovered on Mars. It is a much happier face than the last one, sporting a really big smile (see above). An unbelievable coincidence for us though, is that this new ‘face’ is actually a Martian crater named....... ......wait for it...... Crater Galle.... (after J.G. Galle above)!   Boy, small Solar System, isn’t it??!

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                                  Mario Di Maggio

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All enquiries:                              Mario Di Maggio       Tel: 3006228 (w)    or   082 829 7645                             

Viewing evening enquiries:         Raymond Field            Tel: 3094126 (w)    or    4657188 (h)                                          

 

 

 
AIG

viewing evenings

(at Marist Brothers College)*

 
Special Events

 

Apr

1999

 

First clear night of either:

Fri 16th or

Sat 17th or

Fri 23rd or

Sat 24th         at 19h00.

 

BLUE MOON PARTY! For the second time this year a full moon occurs twice in the same month: on April 1 & April 30 (the latter one being called a Blue Moon). We’re celebrating this most unusual event with a Blue Moon Party on Friday evening, April 30th, at Marist Brothers Observatory. You will need to dress in blue, bring something blue to eat/drink (eg blueberry cheesecake, bluecheese dip, drinks in blue bottles, etc). Also bring blues music or “moon” songs if you can. Telescopes will be on hand for close observation of the moon’s surface.

 

May

1999

 

First clear night of either:

Fri 14th or

Sat 15th or

Fri 21st  or

Sat 22nd        at 18h30.

 

The second brightest of all stars, Canopus, will begin rising just before dawn around May 24. In Zulu this star is called iKwenKwezi, and has traditionally played the important role of marking the beginning of each new year (and of winter) by its dawn appearance. In Sotho it is called Naka, meaning the Horn Star, because of the custom of sounding a phalaphala horn to announce its sighting.

 

June

1999

 

First clear night of either:

Fri 11th or

Sat 12th or

Fri 18th or

Sat 19th         at 18h30.

 

High up in the south we have the Southern Cross with the two bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri on its left. In parts of southern Africa this bright group of stars is known as the Giraffes -  dithuthlwa in Sotho, ‘rising above the trees’.

 

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