ISSN 0024-8266

mmonthly notes n of the astronomical as society s of southern a africa APRIL 2013 Vol 72 Nos 3 & 4

• SellingS Starnames • Fireball Observations 2011 - 2012 • elling Star • DaytimeD Bolidenam ofe 12 March 2013 • African Star-Lore • aytim s • F e Bol irebal • MargaretM Thatcheride of (1925 – 2013)l Obs • Book Review • argar 12 M ervati et Th arch ons 2 atche 2013 011 - r (19 • Afric 2012 25 – 2 an S • 013) tar-Lo • Boo re • k Rev iew • monthly notes of the astronomical society of southern africa editorial board Mr Case Rijsdijk (Editor, MNASSA) Mr Auke Slotegraaf (Editor, Sky Guide Africa South) Mr Chris� an He� lage (Webmaster) Prof MW Feast (Board Member, Univ. of Cape Town) Prof B Warner (Board Member, Univ. of Cape Town) mnassa Mr Case Rijsdijk (Editor, MNASSA) production Dr Ian Glass (Assistant Editor) Mr Maciej Soltynski (Book Review Editor) Mr Willie Koorts (Layout Editor). editorial address MNASSA, PO Box 9, Observatory, 7935, South Africa e-mail: [email protected] webpage: h� p://mnassa.saao.ac.za MNASSA Download Page: www.mnassa.org.za subscriptions From January 2011 MNASSA is available free of charge on the Internet. Paid subscrip� ons will no longer be available (see MNASSA, August 2010, p.113). advertising rates Adver� sements may be placed in MNASSA at the following rates per inser� on: full page R400; half page R200; quar- ter page R100; classifi ed R2.00 per word. Enquiries and copy should be sent to the editor at [email protected]. contributions MNASSA mainly serves the Southern African astronomical community, professional and amateur. Ar� cles and papers may be submi� ed by members of this community and by those with strong Southern African connec� ons, or else the papers should deal with ma� ers of direct interest to this community. Due dates for contribu� ons are: Vol 72 Nos 5 & 6 (Jun 2013 issue), 01 May 2013 Vol 72 Nos 7 & 8 (Aug 2013 issue), 01 Jul 2013 recognition Ar� cles in MNASSA appear in the NASA/ADS data system.

Cover: The Southern Pinwheel One of the fi rst light images of the three new LCOGT 1-m telescopes was, very fi � ngly of M83, the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy. This face-on spiral galaxy is located in the constella� on of Hydra, some 15 million light years away. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered this object on 23 February 1752 from the Cape of Good Hope. Almost to the day, 261 years later, this galaxy was imaged around 23 February 2013, while commissoning the LCOGT telescopes. (See ar� cle on p.53.) mnassa Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Vol 72 Nos 3 & 4 April 2013 Who owns the rights to names? In the past there has Can One Buy the Right to increasing – meaning that always been a problem Name a Planet? many more exoplanets with people “selling” stars In the light of recent will undoubtedly be – usually because there events, where the discovered in the months was no agreed central possibility of buying the and years to come. registry, which meant rights to name exoplanets that ul� mately more the has been adver� sed, Recently, an organisa� on one person became to the Interna� onal has invited the public to sole proprietor of a star. Astronomical Union (IAU) purchase both nomina� on Now with the discovery wishes to inform the proposals for exoplanets, of large numbers of extra- public that such schemes and rights to vote for solar planets, people are have no bearing on the the suggested names. In selling the rights to name offi cial naming process. return, the purchaser these planets. But the The IAU wholeheartedly receives a cer� fi cate ques� on remains as to welcomes the public’s commemora� ng the how you can sell, or name, interest to be involved in validity and credibility something you don’t recent discoveries, but of the nomina� on. Such own! The Interna� onal would like to strongly cer� fi cates are misleading, Astronomical Union, IAU, stress the importance of as these campaigns have has maintained that they having a unifi ed naming no bearing on the offi cial are the only recognized procedure. naming process. They will interna� onal body control not lead to an offi cially- the naming of Moons, More than 800 planets recognised exoplanet stars, planets etc. outside the Solar System name, despite the price have been found to paid or the number of The IAU released the date, with thousands votes accrued. following press release on more wai� ng to be 12 April 2013 in Paris in confi rmed. Detec� on Upon discovery, response to a recent name- methods in this fi eld exoplanets and other selling campaign: are steadily and quickly astronomical objects mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 41 april 2013 editorial receive unambiguous their alterna� ve naming public contest, asking for and offi cial catalogue schemes cannot be people to submit names designa� ons. While adopted. for extrasolar planets. exoplanet names such as Sugges� ng a name cost 16 Cygni Bb or HD 41004 However, the IAU US$4.99; vo� ng cost 99 Ab may seem boring when greatly appreciates and cents. Most recently considering the names of wishes to acknowledge the naming of alpha planets in our own Solar the increasing interest Centauri B was focussed System, the vast number from the general public on and raised in excess of objects in our Universe, in being more closely of US$10 000, which galaxies, stars, and involved in the discovery according to Uwingu, planets to name just a and understanding of our will be donated to space few - means that a clear Universe. As a result in explora� on and educa� on and systema� c system for 2013 the IAU Commission projects, a� er expenses naming these objects is 53 Extrasolar Planets and have been deducted. vital. Any naming system other IAU members will be is a scien� fi c issue that consulted on the topic of But what happens if must also work across having popular names for more than one such diff erent languages exoplanets. The results company does the same and cultures in order to will be made public on the thing? Who will be the support collabora� ve IAU website. Meanwhile, fi nal arbiter to say which worldwide research and astronomers and the exoplanet has which avoid confusion. public are encouraged to name? And whilst public keep using the exis� ng par� cipa� on is to be To make this possible, the accepted nomenclature welcomed, should any IAU acts as a single arbiter - details of which can be fi nancial rewards accrue of the naming process, found on the Astronomy to any one organiza� on? and is advised and for the Public sec� on of A� er all, what cons� tutes supported by astronomers the IAU web page, under expenses? within diff erent fi elds. As Naming Astronomical an interna� onal scien� fi c Objects. The IAU should, as the organisa� on, it dissociates offi cially recognized body itself en� rely from the The un-named on ma� ers astronomical, commercial prac� ce of organiza� on men� oned administer this process, selling names of planets, above is probably Uwingu. and by all means invite stars or even “real estate” It is a space-educa� on public par� cipa� on, but on other planets or moons. company based in not for fi nancial gain for These prac� ces will not be Boulder, Colorado, who the IAU or loss to any recognised by the IAU and recently launched a individual. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 42 assa news

MNASSA and the SAO/NASA Abstract Service IS Glass and WP Koorts

A resource for all! searches. They can also trophysics Data System Some readers may be useful in cases where (ADS) is a Digital Library not know that prac� - a journal restricts access portal for researchers cally all the astronomi- to recently published in Astronomy and Phys- cal journal literature is material, as many do for ics, operated by the freely available to them commercial reasons. Smithsonian Astrophysi- using the SAO/NASA cal Observatory (SAO) Abstract service. This MNASSA and the SAO/ under a NASA grant. can be accessed at h� p: NASA Abstract Service The ADS maintains three //adsabs.harvard.edu/ For quite a few years, bibliographic databases abstract_service.html. MNASSA ar� cles were containing more than digi� zed by the SAO/ 10.1 million records: As- Items can be searched for NASA Abstract Service tronomy and Astrophys- under authors’ names or but in recent � mes this ics, Physics, and arXiv e- words that occur in � tles, has not been the case, prints. The main body of abstracts or full texts. although the � tles of data in the ADS consists The result of the search ar� cles have con� nued of bibliographic records, gives full bibliographic to be listed by them. which are searchable references and abstracts. However, par� cularly through highly customiz- In most cases it is pos- since MNASSA became able query forms, and full- sible to download the all-digital, there has text scans of much of the full text of an ar� cle in been a gap in coverage. astronomical literature pdf form. It is also pos- Consequently, in order which can be browsed or sible to see what other to make sure our ar� cles searched via our full-text papers have referred to reach the maximum pos- search interface. Inte- the item being looked sible readership, we have grated in its databases, at. This reveals who else since provided SAO/ADS the ADS provides access may be working in the with lis� ngs that include and pointers to a wealth same fi eld. links to pdf-fi les of the of external resources, full ar� cles. including electronic ar� - Many authors submit pre- cles, data catalogs and prints to an organiza� on More about the SAO/ archives. We currently called arXiv before they NASA Abstract Service have links to over 9.8 mil- appear in print and these [Quoted from the web- lion records maintained show up in SAO/ADS site] The SAO/NASA As- by our collaborators.

43 april 2013 assa news Southern African Fireball Observations 2011–2012 T P Cooper – Director,Director, ComeComet,t, AsteroidAsteroid and MeteorMeteor Sec� on Catalogue of Recent Sightings Event 233 – 2011 July 20 Event 235 – 2011 August This ar� cle con� nues the – Estcourt, KZN 19 – Limpopo, and Tuli sequen� al numbering of Observed by Louis Piove- Wilderness, Botswana reported fi reball sigh� ngs san at 16h28. Brightness Observed by Andrew from southern Africa, and was a li� le brighter than Morgan at Tuli Wilderness covers fi reballs observed Venus (not visible at the at loca� on 22°13’51.0’’S, during 2011-2012. By defi - � me) so mv perhapsperhaps aboutabout 28°56’ 56.4’’E. Time was ni� on, a fi reball is any me- –5. The fi reball was fi rst about 19h07. Dura� on teor event with brightness seen near Arcturus, and 4-5 seconds. Colour ini- equal to or greater than passed through Crux be- � ally blue-green, becom- visual magnitude -3. The fore disappearing behind ing white. Andrew, who following events were re- trees and a neighbouring has experience as a game ported to the author and house. Colour was yellow, ranger with the stars, de- details are reproduced as with a dis� nct yellow tail, scribed ‘the meteor fell given by the observer. All fragmen� ng at several directly in line with beta � mes were converted to points along its path. No Centauri and traveled UT, and all coordinates are sound was heard. through beta Crucis in a for epoch J2000.0. SW direc� on’. The fi reball Event 234 – 2011 August disappeared below nearby Event 232 – 2011 May 6 18 – Makhado, Limpopo mountains, followed by a – Waterberg, Limpopo Observed by Sarah Coro- blue-turquoise fl ash which

Observed by Simon Walsh naios at about 16h25. mv lit up the sky in the vicinity. and others at 22h31. = about –7. She had just Approximately 30 seconds Passed through zenith in fi nished feeding horses later Andrew heard a direc� on SSE, mv = -5 when and was walking home, sonic boom. Lourens van fi rst seen, fragmented into looking northwards when Niekerk said he and several about a dozen orange frag- she spo� ed it out of the others witnessed a very ments near Antares. Dura- corner of her eye, about bright fi reball passing over- � on was said to be about 40° above the eastern ho- heard from east to west 10 seconds for a path rizon, moving northwards just a� er 19h00. They live length of ~20 degrees. At and burnt out 15° above in Limpopo, close to the 22h34 heard distant rum- the northern horizon. Botswana border between bling like thunder or blast- The object fragmented the Saambou Bridge and ing at a quarry. Observer’s during its fl ight, but le� Zanzibar border posts. It loca� on was 24º12’16.3” S, no train and no sound appeared to be traveling 28º19’38” E . was heard. very low. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 44 fireball observations 2011–2012 Event 236 – 2011 August north and the object was ball. Dura� on about one 23 – Seapoint W Cape seen directly overhead, second or a li� le longer. Observed by Peter Herbert burning out at an al� tude There was no sign of dis- at 20h15. Colour said to of 55°. Dura� on was 2.5- integra� on before the fi re- be bright blue with very 3 seconds. Colour was ball disappeared below thin orange tail. Looking bright white. No persistent the mountains. Jessy was from Seapoint towards train or fragmenta� on was driving south on Camp- Cape Town, direc� on from noted. ground Road, Rondebosch right to le� (roughly south and gave the � me as be- west toward north east) at Event 239 – 2011 October tween 19h15 and 19h30. about 45° al� tude. 21 – Cape Town, W Cape Brighter than Venus, mv Observed independ- probably brighter than –5. Event 237 – 2011 August ently by Jessy de Kock Dura� on 5-6 seconds. She 27 – Barrydale, S Cape and Brandon Talbot. Both reported seeing orange, Observed by Laurence were driving when they white and red, and at Ma� hews at 04h00. Mov- observed the fi reball. some point green colours. ing from just east of south Brandon gave the � me There was no sign of disin- to just west of north, the as just a� er 9 15 pm tegra� on and the fi reball meteor appeared about (SAST) because he le� at faded out at the end of its 2.5-3 magnitudes brighter that � me and he saw the path. From a sketch Jessy than say Sirius, mv about -4. fi reball while driving. He provided I determined It had a white centre with was driving on the M3 the start point at azimuth blue outer and an orange from the Tokai onramp to about 200°, al� tude 30°, tail, and the path stretched the Westlake off ramp and passing from le� to right, across about 90° of the sky. the fi reball was descend- ie east to west, and de- It took several seconds to ing due south over the scending to azimuth about traverse the sky, before Muizenberg mountains di- 240°, al� tude 20°. This disappearing over a hill rectly in front of his wind- corresponds to start and towards the north. screen. It moved slightly end points (RA/Dec) of ap- east to west. Brightness proximately 16h30, -72° to Event 238 – 2011 Sep- defi nitely more than fi ve 16h36, -35°, a path from tember 23 – Observatory, � mes as bright as Venus near alpha Triangulum Gauteng (which set earlier in the Austrini to epsilon Scorpii,

Observed by Constant evening), so mv probably and an arc of travel of Volschenk at 17h13, while about –6 or brighter. Col- about 37°. Plo� ng the at Old Republic Observa- ours described were pale apparent path and trac- tory. Direc� on was from green and blue (Brandon ing it backwards does not south to north through called it cyan). Long tail, coincide with any known Sagi� arius. He was facing same colour as the fi re- meteor radiants ac� ve at

45 april 2013 assa news this � me of year, and thus reported at about 20h50. Event 242 – 2012 Septem- I conclude the event was a Brightness about four ber 28 – Cape Town, W sporadic fi reball. Due to � mes that of Venus, mv Cape the convenient � me and about –6. The fi reball was Observed by three individu- brightness of the event, I seen in direc� on azimuth als who reported the sight- am very surprised to have 165°, where the al� tude ing somewhere between only received the two was about 7°, path length 18h07 and 18h15. Dura- reports. at least 10°, descending � on about 4 seconds. Col- le� to right at about 45° to our white � nged with red, Event 240 – 2012 March the horizon. Dura� on not bright green trail. Direc� on 20 – Ashton, W Cape and more than three seconds. approx north towards west. Zeekoegat, Riversdale, Colour was very bright Jacques Cronje reported Cape green, with a trail of red- seeing the fi reball to NW of Observed independently dish sparks. Based on the Cape Town, moving from by Bennie Coetzee and details provided by both north to westwards, with Wim Filmalter. Bennie observers the event was a bright greenish yellow reported at about 21h00 most probably a fi reball colour, with bright green- while driving from Ashton from the Virginid com- ish tail. Burnt out abruptly to Swellendam, about 2.1 plex of radiants, known a short distance above the km from the T-junc� on on to produce the odd very horizon. Henry Atkinson the R60 (just past Zolani). bright meteor at this � me reported seeing the fi reball Dura� on was about 1 of year. from Oranjezicht looking second and the object north towards Table Bay traveled from alt/az 25°/ Event 241 – 2012 May 4 at 18h07, bright white light 158° to 17°/186° [Bennie – Benoni, Gauteng into greenish and pinkish returned to the scene af- Observed by Peter le Roux hues around the edges terwards to measure the at 17h08, standing outside and so appearing to be angles more accurately] during a Scout mee� ng. mul� -coloured, traversing where it disappeared be- Much brighter than Ve- perhaps 120° during 4 sec- low a distant hill. This gives nus, so mv probably –5 or onds. Its path was nearly a path from just below Tri- brighter. Colour was white horizontal, in a direc� on angulum Australis, directly with some orange noted from east to west and towards Achernar, which towards the end of path as disappearing in the direc- was probably below the it started to disintegrate. � on of the Atlan� c Ocean, line of hills Bennie refers Dura� on 3 seconds. The disappearing behind Signal to and hence not visible azimuth and al� tudes of Hill. No sound was heard. at the � me. The body of start and end points were Andrew Freeborn reported the fi reball was green and 320°, 30° to 350°, 20°. No ‘saw what I suppose was a the tail was white. Wim persistent trail. spectacular meteor over mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 46 fireball observations 2011–2012 Blouberg. The sigh� ng oc- I perceived it as being at a 00h53 during a watch on curred at about 18h15, as rela� vely low al� tude and the Velid meteor shower.

I was driving North on Ma- it seemed to pass through mv = -3.-3. ColourColour white,white, rine Drive. Shortly before some clouds before burn- medium speed, dura� on passing Dolphin Beach, I ing out over the ocean’. 0.5 seconds. Based on its no� ced a very bright fi re- observed path Cliff iden� - ball streaking across the Event 243 – 2012 Decem- fi ed the fi reball himself as sky from East to West. The ber 9 – Cederberg, W a Geminid. fi reball had a bright head Cape and visible fl ames for a tail. Observed by Cliff Turk at

The Daytime Bolide of 12 March 2013 T P Cooper – Director,Director, ComeComet,t, AsteroidAsteroid and MeteorMeteor Sec� on

In the early a� ernoon explode) just a� er mid-day airline pilots. That bolide of 12 March 2013, a on 12 March 2013. This too resulted in a meteorite fall meteoroid, probably was a day� me event, and near the village of Thuathe weighing several hundred was widely observed from in Lesotho, with over one kilograms, entered the the Cape Town metropole, thousand fragments being Earth’s atmosphere over and the western Cape as found with a combined the Western Cape. The re- far north as Lutzville. This mass of over 30 kg, the sul� ng fi reball was widely latest event was the bright- largest weighing 2.4 kg. seen despite its passage in est since the very bright broad daylight. Based on a bolide which crossed the The 12 March 2013 event few eye witness accounts, country around 23h00 on was widely observed over Tim Cooper a� empted to 21 November 2009 (see the Western Cape, re- reconstruct the event. MNASSA Vol. 70, June 2011 ported on Facebook, Twit- pp 109-110). There are ter, and various Internet Following on from other re- also similari� es between sites, and reported by at cent bright meteor events, this event and that of 21 least two radio sta� ons. such as the day� me July 2002 (see MNASSA Vol. The best set of reports, Chelyabinsk bolide and 62, August 2003, pp 156- enabling the author to re- consequent meteorite over 157), which was also seen produce at least a probable Russia on 15 February 2013, during daylight, including path, were those reported South Africa witnessed by an experienced ama- to the SAAO website, and its own very bright bolide teur astronomer who es- provided to the author (the correct term for a � mated the brightness as courtesy of Nicola Lauring. very bright meteor seen to magnitude -10, and by two These consisted of nine

47 april 2013 assa news reporters, each of which southerly report was from northerly direc� on and in was sent a report form Anwar Sasman in Retreat, the general direc� on of reques� ng as much detail Cape Town. The most Melkbosstrand. Dura� on of the sigh� ng as possible, northerly report was from was given as 15-20 seconds, and which were used in the Rena Rall, near to the town and colours were white prepara� on of this ar� cle. of Lutzville on the Cape and then orange. With these reports to hand, west coast. Seven of the a check was made to see if nine reports were from the 2. Alison Sussex was driving any decays of space debris City environs of Cape Town, towards Cape Town on the occurred at about this � me and only two from outside. N2 freeway and was just over the area of visibility. The eye-witness reports approaching the airport There were none recorded, are summarised as follows, off -ramp at the � me. She and based on this fact, and from the most southerly to reported the fi reball seen the short dura� on of the the most northerly: directly in front of her, and path as reported by eight slightly to her right, in the of the nine reporters, I 1. Anwar Sasman saw the direc� on of Signal Hill. Du- concluded the event was bolide from 10th Avenue, ra� on was about 4 seconds, meteoric in nature. Retreat. He saw the ob- le� a 4 seconds persistent ject move above, and on train, and disappeared in a Eye-witness loca� ons and the ocean side of Table small cloud of smoke which accounts Mountain, descending persisted for more than The loca� ons of the nine le� to right, roughly from 15 minutes. The colour of reporters are shown in the direc� on of Hout Bay the fi reball was given as Figures 1 and 2. The most to Camps Bay, that is in a orange.

Figure 1 (le� ) Map showing general visibility of bolide from Cape Town to Lutzville. Figure 2 (above) Map showing loca� on of reports from Cape Town environs. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 48 daytime bolide of 12 march 2013 3. Phil Kenyon saw the the Waterfront’. The start She es� mated the al� tude object at descending at point was above Signal Hill, as about 20-30° above the an angle of about 20° from heading northwards. The horizon and moving very ver� cal, slightly le� to right colour was given as white, roughly towards the north towards azimuth 293°, dura� on 1 second, and le� while facing west. where it exploded at an al- a 1 second persistent train. � tude of about 19°. Dura- 9. Rena Rall observed the � on was about 3 seconds, 6. Andrew Sto� erg ob- bolide from Uitsig Farm be- colour was silver and a� er served the object from tween Lutzville and Strand- the object exploded, it le� Kimberley Street in Good- fontein on the West Coast. a cloud which was s� ll vis- wood, no� ng it moved Dura� on was about 2 ible an hour later. from a high al� tude in seconds. It exploded, leav- the south towards the ing a round cloud which 4. Robert Fourie was about north, descending all the turned into four down- ten minutes out of Som- while un� l it disappeared. ward-poin� ng lines, all of erset West, also on the Colour was given as bright which disappeared a� er N2 towards Cape Town sharp white and had the 30 seconds. The direc- when he saw the object, appearance of a bright � on it exploded was over ini� ally in the one o’clock twinkling star or a small the mouth of the Olifants posi� on from his vantage sun. No disintegra� on was River near Strandfontein, point, and descending at noted. towards the south-west a steep, near ver� cal an- of her. Colours appeared gle, before burs� ng into a 7. Myburgh (sic) was lo- as gold, silver, blue and cloud of smoke and several cated in Kraaifontein and red. The event was also bright fragments, which reported the bolide moved seen by two farm workers, burned out almost im- from the south-east above who saw the fi reball mov- mediately. The colour was him towards the north ing from le� to right with a bright green, then turned west. Dura� on was 2-3 curved angle. orange. seconds, and disappeared leaving a smoke cloud Time and Dura� on 5. Samantha Cook was which lasted 10 minutes. The � mes of appearance in Wale Street in the city Colour was given as very and dura� ons of the bolide centre. She reported ‘I bright green. No disinte- are given in Table 1. was sta� onary at the robot gra� on was noted. [traffi c light] in Wale Street, Note the � mes given ap- facing Signal Hill. All off 8. Christene Labuschagne pear to be accurate to a sudden I saw a bright observed the bolide from about 5 minutes, but the fl uorescent ball with a tail near Theronsberg, and was overall consensus seems behind it heading towards the eastern-most reporter. to be that the � me of

49 april 2013 assa news appearance was around to compare, apart from was brighter than magni- 12h35-12h40 SAST. There the sun, and the fact that tude -10, consistent with is a greater varia� on in the most observers are not a pre-atmospheric mass of travel � me of the bolide, versed in brightness es� - several hundred kilograms from as li� le as one second, ma� on. Clearly the object or more. to as high as 7 minutes. was bright enough to be The la� er dura� on of pas- no� ced by whomsoever Colours seen in meteors sage is physically impos- was looking in the right are infl uenced by the com- sible for a meteor, and thus direc� on at the � me, and posi� on of the meteor and the spread can be taken as so was very much brighter its eff ects on atmospheric

1-20 seconds. This wide than mv = --44 ttoo -5,-5, whichwhich isis gases, with the overrid- spread is probably due to about the brightness of Ve- ing colour determined by the fact that not all observ- nus, and which is already whether the composi� onal ers witnessed the en� re diffi cult to see during spectrum or atmospheric dura� on of passage, and broad daylight. The bolide plasma emission predomi- some included the visibility was probably also brighter nates. The range of col- of the persistent train. The than the aforemen� oned ours reported are shown true dura� on is probably Thuathe event, es� mated in Table 2. The percep� on in between the two limits, as mv = -10,-10, andand whichwhich waswas of colours in meteors is and is likely a few seconds. seen by fewer observers somewhat observer-de- in broad daylight, despite pendent, and also depends Brightness and colours having passed over the on the air-mass through The brightness of the event densely populated Gau- which the light has passed is indeterminate, seeing teng area. In the absence as seen by the observer that it occurred during of any more clear evidence, (for the same reasons the broad daylight with no the only assump� on I can Sun and Moon appear red useful objects with which make is that the object when low above the hori- zon). How- Table 1 Time of appearance and Table 2 Colours reported from ever, most dura� on reported by each site. each site. r e p o r t e d the passage started at high eleva- � on above the horizon, such that the eff ects of air-mass can be ne- mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 50 daytime bolide of 12 march 2013

(a) (b) Figure 3 Rena Rall’s sketch Figure 4 Phil Kenyon’s images of smoke trail a� er explosion. of smoke trails le� a� er explosion. Sounds heard West Coast, Rena reported glected. The percep� on Despite the reports of au- seeing the object explode, of colour will also have dible sounds posted by a following which the result- been aff ected by contrast number of individuals on ant circular cloud split into eff ects, having been seen certain Internet sites, none four lines, poin� ng in a against a bright day� me of the nine respondents downward direc� on, and sky background. However, included in this ar� cle re- one of which was swirled. the general trends from ported any sounds heard. These dis� nct lines lasted bright white and green to In the absence of infor- for about 30 seconds. Her orange and red is consist- ma� on to the contrary, I original sketch is repro- ent with the object rapidly assume that any reports duced as Figure 3. Phil losing energy in the few of sounds reported on the provided several images of seconds it descended in aforemen� oned sites are the resultant cloud, which the atmosphere. The two unverifi ed, and may have I have image processed to reports of bright green in been from en� rely coinci- enhance the detail and re- the case of Robert Fourie dental terrestrial sources. produced as Figure 4. The (site 4) and Myburgh two images were taken at (site 7) may indicate they Photos of the smoke 12h43 and 13h00 SAST, or witnessed the event early cloud approximately eight and in its passage, as this col- Several reporters observed twenty fi ve minutes a� er our in bright meteors is the object to explode, the explosion, which Phil normally associated with leaving a persistent cloud noted as 12h35. Figure the energe� c excita� on which was visible up to 4a was taken shortly a� er and recombina� on of one hour a� er the passage the explosion, as seen atmospheric oxygen, with of the bolide. The most de- from Phil’s loca� on at a� endant fl uorescence at tailed reports came from Site 3. He commented it 557.7 nm in the green re- Phil Kenyon and Rena Rall. appeared to disperse into gion of the spectrum. From Lutzville, near the an S-shape from the train.

51 april 2013 assa news Some minutes later, the City area cloud had been consider- that the ably dispersed as shown by object was Figure 4b. fi rst seen at high Probable trajectory a l t i t u d e It is not possible to give an over Table exact descrip� on of the Mountain path of the bolide, since or Signal the event occurred during Hill. Most broad daylight, so that no reports in- celes� al reference points dicate the were visible to enable an object was exact determina� on of the at high Figure 5 Possible trajectory of the fi reball. co-ordinates of start and altitude, end points. Also, no CCTV and descending steeply, Conclusions images of the bolide were probably indica� ng the A very bright bolide en- submi� ed and the trajec- bolide entered the atmos- tered the atmosphere on tory could only be based phere at an oblique angle. Tuesday 12 March 2013, on visual descrip� ons. Phil Kenyon indicated the at about 12h35-12h40 However, at least a tenta- object was descending South African Standard � ve path can be inferred, le� to right at an angle of Time, that is during broad albeit with a wide margin about 20° to the ver� cal to daylight. Nine eye-witness of error, from the reports al� tude 19°, azimuth 293° reports were collected, already given in this ar� cle, as seen from his loca� on which would seem to indi- and is shown in Figure 5. at Site 3. Rena Rall gave cate the bolide entered the the direc� on of movement atmosphere at an oblique The most southerly point of as le� to right, before ex- angle, and a� er a passage entry into the atmosphere ploding in direc� on B. She of perhaps a few seconds, can be es� mated from the was sure the bolide did exploded leaving a persist- reports of Anwar Sasman, not pass her loca� on and ent cloud visible up to one Alison Sussex, Phil Kenyon that it probably fell into hour a� er the explosion. and Robert Fourie, who all the ocean a� er exploding. The possible path con- gave a direc� on of the start Based on these reports the structed from the accounts point consistent with direc- possible path is shown as indicates the object most � on A. This point must also a white arrow in Figure 5, likely exploded off shore have been to the west of and probably falls some- and any debris probably Cape Town, as indicated where within the confi nes fell into the Atlan� c Ocean, by the reports from the of the red triangle. off the west coast. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 52 news notes LCOGT News

The Las Cumbres Observatory Global Tele- scope (LCOGT) network has come a signifi cant step closer to comple� on with the installa� on with � me or which change once daylight approaches and fi rst light of three their appearance with � me at one observing site new 1-metre sized due to interac� ons with astronomers can switch telescopes at the South other objects. Examples seamlessly to using a African Astronomical of the types of objects telescope located at Observatory’s (SAAO) which will be studied another site where it is observing site at with the new telescopes dark. The addi� on of Sutherland. at Sutherland include the telescope node at exoplanets, supernovae, Sutherland is crucial as The telescopes are part of gamma-ray bursts and it will allow astronomers a network of telescopes minor planets in our solar to conduct observa� ons spread around the world system. In order to study over long � me periods used to study � me domain these types of objects in in the South without astrophysics. This branch detail astronomers need interrup� ons. of astronomy is concerned to be able to observe them with the study of objects over long periods. With a A team of LCOGT which vary intrinsically single telescope this is engineers and techni- not possible cians, and LCOGT/SAAO as daylight astronomy postdoctoral interrupts fellow Abiy Tekola, observations. convened at Sutherland H o w e v e r , for three weeks during placing several February and early March telescopes 2013 to install and test around the the new telescopes. The world in telescopes arrived on The weather played along beau� fully d i f f e r e n t site on 18 February and on the morning of 18 February 2013 for offl oading the telescopes and equipment � me zones were li� ed by cranes from their shipping containers. means that into the domes the next

53 april 2013 news notes

At the crack of dawn (picture taken at Only 45 minutes a� er the fi rst one, the third 07:15, to be exact), the fi rst telescope telescope was carefully guided through its was being installed into its dome. dome-slit by engineer Annie Hjelstrom. day. The fi rst of the To date LCOGT has installed three telescopes was fully four other iden� cal assembled by the end of 1-metre telescopes 20 February and went on- around the globe: an sky for the fi rst � me that opera� onal prototype at night. The second and the McDonald Observatory, third telescopes followed Texas, US (April 2012) over the next two days. and three science-grade telescopes at the Cerro Annie Hjelstrom of LCOGT, Tololo Inter-American First light image of Trumpler the project engineer Observatory (CTIO), Chile 14, an open cluster and star- responsible for the (October 2012). The trio forming region near the bright successful installa� on, of telescopes at Sutherland star eta Carina, located about commented: “We had brings the observatory’s 7050 light years away. a great installa� on team, total of opera� onal SAAO and SALT staff were 1-metre telescopes to very helpful, but this seven. Two more is also the culmina� on will be installed mid- of eight years of design year at the Siding and development. Spring Observatory, Each telescope is built, Australia to com- confi gured, tested, and plete the southern then dismantled at ring. A second the Goleta, California telescope will headquarters before we be installed at First light image of M104, the put them back together the McDonald Sombrero Galaxy in the constella� on on site.” Observatory before of Virgo, located 28 million light years the end of the year. away. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 54 obituary Edmund Zingu (Prof) Simon Connell (President - SAIP Council) (with thanks to Nithaya Che� y for his contribu� ons) It is with a deep sense of bringing to South Africa of the Review and chaired sadness that we note the the iconic ‘Physics for the Management and passing of Prof Edmund Sustainable Development’ Policy Commi� ee. He Zingu on 20 April 2013. Conference in 2005 as a led the development of Whilst he was not an part of the Interna� onal the South African Dra� astronomer, he had Year of Physics. This cast Benchmark Statement many friends within the a dis� nct spotlight on for Physics Training, and astronomical community physics as an instrument guided the Review process, and was a supporter of for development in Africa. including the partnership astronomy in South Africa. with the Council for Higher I would like to specifi cally Educa� on. The Review Edmund Zingu served men� on his tremendous of Physics Training is on Council of the South contribu� on to two very well advanced but s� ll in African Ins� tute of Physics important projects of the progress. (SAIP) in the eight year SAIP. The fi rst was the very period from 1999 to 2006, successful Shaping the Zingu began his Physics and was President of the Future of Physics Project, career at the University SAIP Council from 2003 to where he contributed to of the Western Cape 2004. In fact, Zingu was the design of the project (UWC), he had a period of the fi rst black SAIP Council and also served as chair employment at Turfl oop, President in the history of of the Management and QwaQwa Campus, then the SAIP. He played crucial Policy Commi� ee which as Head of the Physics leadership roles in many oversaw the interna� onal Department and later projects, more recently review in 2003. Physics Dean of Basic Sciences par� cularly in physics in South Africa has grown (1990-1993) at the related development signifi cantly since then Medical University of issues. largely because of the South Africa (MEDUNSA). implementa� on of many He later returned to UWC He was Vice President of of the recommenda� ons and served as Head of the Interna� onal Union of from the Review. the Physics Department Pure and Applied Physics (1994-1998) there, and (IUPAP) and chair of C13 The second was the Review fi nally Vice Rector of Commission of Physics for of Undergraduate Physics Mangosuthu University Development. He was Educa� on. Once again he of Technology in Umlazi, primarily responsible for contributed to the design Durban un� l the � me of his

55 april 2013 obituary re� rement. His leadership Edmund Zingu was a true gentleman. He will be and contribu� ons were pioneer for physics in sorely missed. characterized by sensi� vity, post-apartheid South percep� veness, vision, Africa, a visionary, a His funeral service was ethics, wisdom, global � reless campaigner for held on Saturday, 27 April standards and great strengthening the discipline 2013. industry. of physics and, above all, a

Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013) Willie Koorts In March this year, we cel- ebrated the 40th anniversary of the offi cial opening of SAAO Sutherland. On 8 April 2013 Margaret Thatcher passed away. You may wonder what is the relevance of these two facts. Fewer and fewer people nowadays remember that Mar- garet Thatcher was present at the opening ceremony of the Sutherland Observatory on 15 March 1973, almost to the day, 40 years before her death.

It was her third year in offi ce as Secretary of State for Educa- � on and Science of the Bri� sh government and s� ll six years before becoming Prime Minister. She agency for opera� ng the SAAO who actually delivered the fourth of the fi ve made an agreement with the Bri� sh speeches that day, represen� ng the SRC SRC who contributed towards the (Science Research Council), the Brit- running funds of the Observatory in ish equivalent of the CSIR (Council for exchange for telescope � me to Bri� sh Scien� fi c and Industrial Research). The astronomers. South African SCIR was the appointed In the introduc� on of a souvenir brochure mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 56 margaret thatcher (1925 – 2013) on the occasion, issued Mr JJ Loots, Minister of astronomy and concluded: by the SCIR, recognised Planning and the Environ- “I hope that you think that Thatcher’s presence as ment. The then Prime the opera� ons which have follows: “The presence Minister of South Africa, BJ been inaugurated today at this opening ceremony Voster, reiterated Minister give every promise that the of the Bri� sh Secretary of Loots’ statement that it is connec� on will be main- State for Educa� on and primarily a scien� fi c occa- tained in a very creditable Science, the Rt. Hon. Mrs sion, involving two govern- manner.” Margaret Thatcher, lent ments. He also referred to both elegance and dis� nc- interna� onal collabora� on Mrs Thatcher’s complete � on to the occasion. More and welcomed the party speech and pictures, as signifi cantly, it refl ected, at of oversees astronomers published in the SCIR sou- Government level, the bi- who a� ended a sympo- venir brochure, are given par� te nature of the event.” sium in Cape Town the here. Note her amazingly She was referred to in all previous week. Sir Richard visionary statement re- the speeches of the day. Dr van der Riet Woolley, fi rst garding future robo� c ob- C. vd M. Brink, President director of SAAO, gave servatories, which is quite of the SCIR, pointed out the fi nal speech. A� er remarkable considering that she was the fi rst Brit- thanking Mrs Thatcher that pocket calculators ish Minister of Science to for a� ending, he referred only started appearing at visit South Africa and was to South Africa’s 150 year that � me! also warmly welcomed by old connec� on with Bri� sh

57 april 2013 margaret thatcher (1925 – 2013)

mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 58 margaret thatcher (1925 – 2013)

59 april 2013 margaret thatcher (1925 – 2013)

(top, left) Mrs Thatcher and John Voster at the opening ceremony.

(above) The plaque revealed that day displays both the logos of the SRC (top, right) and the SCIR (bottom, left).

(left) An aerial shot of the Observatory, consisting of only three domes in 1973. As can be seen from the shadow, this was taken from one of the two helicopters which transported the guests to Sutherland, as mentioned in Mrs Thatcher’s speech.

mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 60 margaret thatcher (1925 – 2013)

61 april 2013 african star-lore aff ect the weather, the African growth of vegeta� on, or other condi� ons of the Star-Lore earth; they are in a realm of their own. Auke Slotegraaf Editor’s Note: There In Xhosa, a star is are very few, if any, inkwenkwezi, inkanyezi in astronomical artefacts in Zulu, nyenyedzi in Shona, sub-Saharan Africa, but dinaledi in Sotho, � nyele� there is an extremely in Tsonga, maledzi in rich oral tradi� on. With Venda, linaleri in Setswana, the urbaniza� on and and nyota in Swahili. industrializa� on of sub- Saharan Africa, many of SAAO “Friends with the While the /Xam Bushmen these stories are not being Universe” project poster, 1998. believed the stars were retold anymore and need formerly people, some to be captured for posterity. are holes in the rocky !Kung Bushmen taught Auke Slotegraaf’s summary vault that is the sky. (see that stars are, in fact, small below, from his website, sketch) creatures, and look like www.psychohistorian.org � ny porcupines – they is a sort of summary of The Nyae Nyae !Kung have li� le legs, ears, teeth what is recorded. Further Bushmen saw the sky and are covered with � ny details can be found in as the dwelling place of spines. Another !Kung the references at the end. all the divine beings and account says that stars are Should any reader have spirits of the dead. The actually ant lions, watching stories that they know of, “things of the sky” generally from overhead with their that are not in this ar� cle, do not infl uence or refl ect bright eyes. When they are please forward them to: the aff airs of man, the hungry and see an ant, they [email protected] !Kung taught, nor do they quickly fall to the ground to

The sky and the stars A wide-spread African concept is that the sky is a solid dome, perhaps made of blue rock, res� ng on the Earth, upon which the Sun moves. The tradi� onal Tswana idea is that stars Stone vaulted Sky mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 62 african star-lore catch it. Some say that all On rare occasions, the To the Kora KhoiKhoi, the the stars fall to the ground Moon passes between Moon was kham, “the each morning, and we see the Earth and the Sun, Returner”; the Nama them on earth as insects. resul� ng in a solar eclipse. KhoiKhoi spoke of The Ibibio of Nigeria spoke If the alignment is exact, khab. The KhoiKhoi also picturesquely of the stars then the en� re Sun is considered the Moon as as “Sand of the Moon”. momentarily blacked “the Lord of Light and Life”, out. Such a total eclipse and would sing and dance The Sun was not a welcome at � mes of New and Full The Sun is ilanga in Xhosa sight to the Xhosa, who Moon. and Zulu, duvha in Venda, saw it as an ill omen. In zuva in Shona, and letsatsi Zulu, Sotho and Tswana The Nyae Nyae !Kung in Sotho. tradi� ons this was called Bushmen said that the “the darkening of the Sun”, crescent phases with sharp The Nyae Nyae !Kung ukufi phala kwelanga points was male, while Bushmen think of the Sun and fi falo ya letsatsi the Full round Moon was as a “death thing” because respec� vely. The Venda female. of its searing heat and the spoke picturesquely of associa� on with thirst, mutsha-kavhili, “the two The Xhosa considered hunger, and exhaus� on. dawns”. the � me of New Moon as a period of inac� on. The /Xam Bushmen would The Moon When it reappeared as a ask the Sun, early in the The Moon – iNyanga to the crescent in the evening morning before they set Xhosa and Zulu, Nwedzi sky, it was cause for out to hunt, to steady the to the Shona and Venda, celebra� on. Important hunter’s arm when aiming and Ngwedi to the Sotho events were scheduled to at game. The Sun was and Tswana – is probably take place around the � me originally a man, the /Xam the most obvious feature of Full Moon. Also at Full said, whose head shone in the night sky, because Moon the mothers would brightly. But he was a lazy of its size, brightness, and de-worm their children, fellow and would sleep changing appearance believing that at this � me late, keeping his light to (phases). As the Moon the worms collected in himself. So one day, out orbits the Earth it goes one place and could be of despera� on, the First through a sequence of eff ec� vely treated. Bushmen chopped off phases, from New Moon his head and threw it up (invisible) to crescent, The Naro Bushmen taught into the sky so that his half-moon, Full Moon, that when the crescent light could be shared with half-moon, and back to Moon slopes downward, everyone. New Moon. it is said to be looking

63 april 2013 african star-lore into a grave and this is a sky, where it became the !Kung Bushmen said that sign that many people Moon. Whatever its origin, this was caused by the lion, will die in that season. A the /Xam considered the pu� ng his paw over the crescent poin� ng upward New Moon as being able Moon to darken the night was a favourable sign. The to infl uence hun� ng and so he could have be� er round Full Moon is a sign the gathering of ants’ eggs, hun� ng. Under certain of sa� sfac� on and that and when the crescent was atmospheric condi� ons, people will fi nd plenty of sighted, they would ask for a “moon bow” can form, food. its assistance. appearing as a large ring around the Moon. To the In /Xam Bushmen The surface of the Moon /Gwi Bushman, such a ring mythology, the Moon has dark and bright was a sign that food will be is a man who has made markings; fl at lava plains plen� ful. the Sun angry. The Sun’s and rocky highlands, sharp light cuts off pieces respec� vely. In many Bright southern stars of the Moon un� l almost African tradi� ons these The Southern Cross the whole of the Moon markings are said to (Crux) and the two bright is gone, leaving only one resemble the fi gure of a Pointers (alpha and beta small piece. The Moon man or woman carrying Centuari) are probably the then pleads for mercy a bundle of s� cks. When most recognizable of the and the Sun lets him go. the Earth’s shadow falls on southern stars and they From this small piece, the the Moon, a lunar eclipse feature prominently in Moon gradually grows occurs. The Nyae Nyae African star lore. again un� l it becomes a Full Moon. The /Xam also have another account of how the Moon came to be. In the old � mes, it was said, the Moon was one of the leather sandals of the Man� s-god /kaggen. The sandal was placed in water to so� en it somewhat, but this angered the water spirit who then froze the water, locking the sandal in ice. When /kaggen saw the frozen sandal he discarded it, throwing it up into the The Southern Cross or Dithutlwa, the Giraff e Stars. NASA-HST mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 64 african star-lore In Sotho, Tswana and The Coal Sack, a large dark � me to start breeding their Venda tradi� ons, these nebula near the Southern sheep. In Venda tradi� on, stars are Dithutlwa, “The Cross, is known as the the fi rst person to see Giraff es”. The bright stars “Old Bag of the Night” Nanga in the morning sky of Crux are male giraff es, to the Nyae Nyae !Kung (in May, heralding winter) and the two Pointers are Bushmen. would climb a hill and female. The Venda called blow the phalaphala (black the fainter stars of the The long axis of the sable antelope horn) and Southern Cross Thudana, Southern Cross points he would receive a cow “The Li� le Giraff e”. They towards a bright star called as a prize. The Zulu knew also say that the month Achernar. This star is called Canopus as is Andulela, a Khubvhumedzi begins Senakane (Sotho, Tswana) messenger appearing at when the crescent and Tshinanga (Venda), the end of Autumn, the Moon can be seen for meaning “The Li� le Horn”. harvest � me, and also the fi rst � me and, at the as inKhwenkwezi, “The same � me, the lower Brighter s� ll than Achernar Brilliant Star”. The /Xam two giraff e stars are just is Canopus, one of the Bushmen believed that below the horizon and brightest stars in the night Canopus could infl uence the upper two are just sky. It is widely known in the availability of ants’ visible. Sotho lore tells southern Africa as Naka, eggs, a rich source of that when the giraff e “The Horn Star”. In Sotho nourishment, and they stars are seen close to the tradi� on, a careful watch called it “The Ant Egg south-western horizon was kept for Naka about Star”. just a� er sunset, they the end of May. Sotho indicate the beginning of chiefs awarded a cow for The beau� ful constella� on cul� va� ng season. Naka’s earliest sigh� ng. Scorpius with its slender The day of the sigh� ng curved row of stars is The /Xam Bushmen saw the chief would call his famous for the bright the two Pointers as male medicine-men together. reddish star Antares. This lions; they were once Throwing their bone star was called by the men, but a magical girl dice, the doctors would !Xu Bushmen “The Fire- turned them into stars. judge whether the new Finishing Star” – not only The three brightest stars season would be good or does it have a reddish of the Southern Cross they bad. The appearance of colour, but (at certain saw to be female lions. To Naka also heralds coming � mes of the year) it sets the Khoikhoi, the Pointers of winter and browning very late at night, when were known as Mura, of the veld. When Naka the camp fi res have died “The Eyes”, of some great appeared before sunrise, down. (See also Arcturus celes� al beast. the Tswana knew it was and Regulus below.)

65 april 2013 african star-lore Along the curved body of the scorpion, just before the tail sec� on, lies a close pair of stars (mu-1 and mu-2 Scorpii), which the Khoikhoi called xami di mura, “The Eyes of the Lion”.

Near Scorpius is a conspicuous circlet of stars known as Corona Australis, the Southern Crown. The The Magellanic Clouds. ESO Brunier /Xam Bushmen had a tale (alpha Pavonis); the hun� ng. Several other about a group of men who /Gwi Bushmen call it “The Bushman groups saw the sat ea� ng together when a Female Steenbok”. two clouds as male and bewitched girl look upon female steenbok. them, turning them into The Magellanic Clouds these stars. On a moonless night under The Sotho saw the clouds a dark sky, two interes� ng as the spoor of two The bright star Fomalhaut “clouds” can be seen to the celes� al animals. The large lies in a rather star-poor south, one cloud much cloud was Setlhako sa Naka, region and is prominent larger and brighter than “The Spoor of the Horn Star” in the summer sky. It is the other. These are the (Naka, Canopus) and the called Ndemara, “The Magellanic Clouds, or the smaller cloud was Setlhako Sweetheart Star”, by the “Cape Clouds”, and are sa Senakane, “The Spoor Shona, and Ntshuna, “The actually en� re galaxies, of the Li� le Horn Star” Kiss Me Star”, by the thousands of light years (Senakane, Achernar). Tswana. The visibility of away. this star was supposed Tswana folklore tells that to indicate the � me for The Ju/Wasi and !Kung when the small cloud lovers to part before their Bushmen said that the appeared more clearly parents discovered them. larger cloud was a part than the large cloud, a (Compare this with the tale of the sky where so� drought would follow. about Venus the Evening thornless grass grows, like Star, below). the kind they used for The Milky Way bedding. One day, they On a dark night, the Milky Another prominent say, God climbed onto Way can be seen, a dim southern star is Peacock the large cloud and went band of light stretching mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 66 african star-lore from horizon to horizon. the route to return home the Belt Stars). Roughly Various groups (including at night. She also threw between Rigel and the Belt the Venda, Setswana and bits of an edible root into Stars lies Orion’s Sword, Sesotho) described it as the sky, the old (red) pieces which appear as three a supernatural foot path crea� ng red stars and fuzzy stars. across the sky along which the young (white) pieces the ancestor spirits walked. crea� ng white stars. Several cultures iden� fy Many peoples referred to the Belt Stars as animals. it as “Night’s backbone”, The stars around Orion They are seen as three pigs “Sky’s spine” and “God’s On summer nights, the by the Sotho (Makolobe), back”, sugges� ng the idea brilliant constella� on of Tswana (Dikolobe), and that the Milky Way held Orion, with Taurus the the Karanga of Zimbabwe up the sky, or maybe held Bull on one side, and (Nguruve). The Sotho it together. bright Sirius on the other, called Orion’s Sword graces the southern night Dintshwa, and the Tswana In /Xam Bushmen star lore, skies. Orion is instantly called it dintsa le Dikolobe, the Milky Way was created recognizable by its three meaning “The Three Dogs by a girl of the ancient race bright stars in a short are chasing the Three who scooped up a handful line (Orion’s Belt), and Pigs”. The /Xam Bushmen of ashes from the fi re and the brilliant orange star said the Belt Stars were fl ung it into the sky. This Betelgeuse. Rigel is the “Three Male Tortoises made a glowing path along other bright star in Orion (hung on a s� ck),” and which people could see (opposite Betelgeuse from Orion’s Sword was “Three Female Tortoises (hung on a s� ck)”.

To the Nyae Nyae !Kung Bushmen, Orion’s Belt was “The Three Zebras”, a male animal fl anked by two females.

The Songye of Zaire speak of the Belt Stars as aspibwe na mbwa na nyama “a Hunter with a Dog and an Animal”. Similarly, the !Xu The Milky Way or the Fire Throwing ashes into the sky. Bushmen saw “a Man, a Ashes in the Sky. NASA Detail, SAAO Starlore Poster. Dog, and a Buck”.

67 april 2013 african star-lore The Zulu referred to Orion’s beginning of the year. Sword as oNdwenjana; the meaning isn’t clear because The /Xam Bushmen said it can either indicate a tall the Pleiades are one of object/man/tree, or a type “summer’s things”, and the of long-stemmed fl ower, Khoikhoi used the Pleiades such as a lily. to forecast the start of the rainy season. The Masai charmingly refer to the Belt Stars as In Kiswahili (East Africa & “Three Old Men Pursued by Zanzibar) they are Kilimia, Lonesome Widows”! Orion. Three Dogs are “The Ploughing Stars” or chasing the Three Pigs. “The Digging Stars”. There Nearby Orion lies Sirius, because it is the brightest is a Swahili proverb that the brightest star in the star in the night sky. says: “If the Digging Stars night sky. Sirius dominates set in sunny weather they the morning sky in July, Taurus the Bull has its rise in rain, if they set in and it late winter is rises own bright orange star, rain they rise in sunny early. The Sotho knew Aldebaran, and not far off weather.” Similarly, they are it as Kgogamashego, is the beau� ful star cluster Kelemera to the Nyabungu “Drawer Up of the Night”. the Pleiades, also called the of Ruanda, Lemila to the To the Tswana it was Seven Sisters. Nyasa of Malawi, Selemela Kgogamasigo, “Pulls the The /Xam Bushmen in Sotho, Shirimela in Night Across”. The Venda saw Aldebaran as “The Tsonga, Selemela in Tswana, called it Khohamutsho Male Hartebeest”, with Tshilimela in Venda, and “Pulling Out the Dawn”. The Betelgeuse as its mate. isiLimela in Xhosa and Zulu. Zulu had various names for it, such as inDosa and The Pleiades is a prominent The Xhosa would watch inDonsemasuku, meaning cluster of stars, of which for the fi rst appearance of “straining, or pulling”. The / usually six or seven bright the isiLimela in June. It is Xam Bushmen called Sirius members can be seen. To said that the month of the “The Grandmother of many pastoralist groups of Digging Stars, Eyesilimela, Canopus”, because Sirius southern Africa, the fi rst symbolized new life in man. rises a� er Canopus, and visibility of the Pleiades The coming-out ceremony the elderly usually follow in morning twilight (in of the abakwetha behind the more agile August or early September) circumcision school, when youths. In Xhosa, the star announced the start of boys would become men, is known as iQhawe, “The the plan� ng season, and was determined by the Champion”, presumably usually also marked the appearance of this stellar mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 68 african star-lore grouping, and it is the the husband went out, but Bright northern stars custom for Xhosa men took only one arrow with A prominent northern star to count their years of him. He aimed and shot is Arcturus, which various manhood from this date. at the zebras, but missed. Bushmen groups called His arrow (Orion’s Sword) “The Fire-Finishers’ Child”, The //Gana Bushmen say fell beyond them, and s� ll because it appeared in the that the Pleiades are the lies there today. Although early morning hours, when wives of Canopus and Sirius, he wanted to retrieve the camp fi res had died and the men’s younger the arrow, he couldn’t: down. In Swazi tradi� on, brother is Achernar. there was a fi erce lion the star is Lwe� , and is (Betelgeuse) nearby who visible in the morning sky Aldebaran and the Pleiades was also watching the before sunrise in November, are described by the Ibibio zebras. So the poor man at the � me when women of Nigeria as “The Mother sat there, shivering from begin their day’s work. Hen and her Chicks”. the cold and suff ering from thirst and hunger, unable Capella is a very bright star The Sotho and Tswana had to return to his wives that never rises very high a rule for fi nding direc� on (who would be angry) or above the northern horizon at night: if you want to to collect his arrow. (The as seen from southern Africa. travel west, keep the Ju/Wasi Bushmen have a The Zulu call it iNtshola, “The Southern Cross on your le� similar tale.) Ca� le Thief”. The Nyae Nyae hand, and Selemela (the !Kung Bushmen called it Pleiades) on the right. Near Orion and Sirius is the “Green Leaf Horn” and knew bright star Procyon. The that when it was visible, the The Namaqua Khoikhoi /Xam Bushmen considered fi rst fl owers would bloom spoke of the Pleiades as it “The Male Eland”, who with the coming of the the “Stars of Spring” and has two wives (Castor and season of rains. called them the Khunuse� . Pollux, see below). They were the daughters Altair is another bright star of Tsui //Goab, the Dawn Rigel and Betelgeuse, with that lies toward the north. or Sky God. A beau� ful Sirius and Procyon, were It is known as “The Female mythical tale encompasses known as Magakgala or Steenbok” to the /Gwi the remarkably bright stars Mahakala to the Basuto, Bushmen. Located lower of this region. One day, the Lobedu, Northern Sotho than Altair is the bright star story goes, the Khunuse� and Tswana. When these Vega, which they call “The told their husband stars were visible in the Male Steenbok”. (Aldebaran) to go out and early evening, they knew hunt the three zebras it was � me to harvest the Castor and Pollux, the (Orion’s Belt). Du� fully, corn. two bright stars of Gemini,

69 april 2013 african star-lore were considered by the Asks for Milk from a Teat”, sky. In Xhosa tradi� on, the /Xam Bushmen to be “The because this would be the Morning Star is iKhwezi Female Elands”, the wife of � me when boys playing Iokusa and is associated Procyon. in the fi elds would rush with diligence. Travellers, home to milk the cows. who sleep out in the open, The small but striking The Evening Star was also would see it and know it northern constella� on known as Madingeni, was � me to resume their Delphinus the Dolphin “The Da� ng Star”. In the journey. Young women and is known in Setswana as olden days, boys and girls girls also wake up during gakgala, “The Mopane were not allowed to date this � me to start doing Worm”. each other in public, so their daily chores. Girls are they would arrange a o� en named a� er Venus Spica is a lone bright star in secret get-together when and called nomaKhwezi, the modern constella� on Madingeni became visible. with the hope that they, Virgo. The //Gana Many peoples linked the too, will be diligent when Bushmen knew it as “The evening appearance of they grow up. Pig Star”. In Zulu custom, it Venus with supper � me. is known as iNqonqoli, “The The Ndebele called it Venus is, in fact, so bright Wildebeest Star”, and its Lykwela mkobe, and the that it can at � mes be seasonal visibility coincides Zulu spoke of iCelankobe, seen in broad daylight. with the calving season of meaning “Asking for Xhosa boys, out in the veld the wildebeest. Mealies”. The Sotho herding, would try to spot knew it as Kopa-dilallo, the it as part of the challenge to Regulus, the brightest star of Tswana as Kopadilelo, and becoming a true shepherd. Leo, was known to the /Gwi the Venda as Khumbela Bushmen as /edzini, “The tshilalelo, meaning “Asking Comets and meteors Fire-Finisher” which only for Supper”. In most cultures of the sets when the fi rewood has world, meteors (some� mes been exhausted. When Venus is visible in called shoo� ng stars) the morning sky just before are regarded as signs of Venus: the Evening and sunrise, it is the Morning important earthly events. Morning Star Star. The Herero called it Some� mes, these are good The Evening Star, usually okanumaihi, “Li� le Drinker events. The San Bushmen Venus, is visible from � me of Sweet Milk”, on account of northern Namibia to � me in the west a� er of its appearance at milking and the Masai of Kenya sunset. When this bright � me. The Nyae Nyae and Tanzania considered star appears in the evening !Kung Bushmen called it meteors to be favourable sky, the Xhosa called it “Old Star” and said that it omens, foretelling good U-cel’izapolo, “One Who guided the Sun across the rains. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 70 african star-lore In Tswana mythology a as important signs of Structure, meaning and very bright meteor is an earthly events. The ritual in the narra� ves indica� on of a good season Masai considered comets of the Southern San. ahead. to be the embodiment Quellen zur Khoisan- of important gods. In Forschung, 2. Some� mes, meteors are Xhosa tradi� on, a comet, 5.Hollmann, J. C. (2000) seen as a bad omen. To the Uzatshoba, is associated Customs and Beliefs !Xu Bushmen a meteor was with bad luck, calamity, of the /Xam Bushmen. an evil spirit racing across wars and death. There Wits University Press/ the sky to cause mischief was also a strong belief Ringing Rocks Press. among the people. that comets predicted the 6.Lloyd, L. C. (1889) Short death of a chief. To the Account of further The /Xam Bushmen, Sotho, comets were naledi Bushman Material however, said that the stars tsha mesela, and to the collected. David Nu� : knew when a Bushman Zulu, inkanyezi enomsile, London. dies, and a falling star meaning “stars with tails”. 7. Marshall, L. (1986) Some announces the death of Bushman star lore. In: one of them. References Vossen, R. & Keuthmann, 1. Bleek, W.H.I. (1875) K. (eds) Contemporary Other interpreta� ons of Second Report studies on Khoisan. meteors are neither good Concerning Bushman Quellen zur Khoisan- nor bad. The Zulu, for Researches with a Short Forschung, 5, 169-204. example, say that meteors Account of Bushman 8.Snedegar, K. V. (1995) resulted from celes� al Folk-lore. Saul Solomon: Stars and seasons in ca� le hastening to new Cape Town. southern Africa. Vistas in grazing in another part of 2. Fairall, A.P. & Astronomy, 39, 529-539. the sky. When the ca� le Matomela, T. (2003) 9.Snedegar, K. V. (1995) drag their hooves they Xhosa astronomical Astronomical tradi� ons break through the fl oor knowledge. Presented of Southern Africa. of the sky and create at IAU 25 General Unpublished manuscript, streaks which soon fi ll in Assembly, Syndey, deposited at SAAO. with mud. The Karanga Australia. [unpublished Warner, B. (1996) of Zimbabwe would shout manuscript] Tradi� onal astronomical “Li-i-I Thobela!” when they 3.Hammond-Tooke, W. knowledge in Africa. saw a meteor, thinking that (1893) The star lore In: Walker, C. (ed) a god or ancient chief was of the South African Astronomy Before shoo� ng across the sky. na� ves. Trans. S.A. Philos. the Telescope. Bri� sh Soc, 5(2), 304-312. Museum Press: London. Comets were also seen 4. Hewi� , R. L. (1986) p 304-317.

71 april 2013 colloquia Astronomical Colloquia These form an important part of a and SAAO. I review the ac� vi� es of IRSF, research facility, o� en as a sort of pre- the latest topics and the future plan for publica� on discussion or a discussion of IRSF. The original purpose of IRSF was an individual’s current research, and as the simultaneous JHKs band survey of the such it is virtually impossible to “publish” southern sky, par� cularly of the Magellanic this material. However by recording Clouds. The main survey was completed the topics discussed in the form below in 2005 and the photometric catalogue, does indicate to those, who are unable containing 15 million sources for the LMC to a� end, what current trends are and and 2.7 million sources for the SMC, was who has visited to do research: it keeps published in 2007. A� er comple� on of the everyone ‘in the loop’ so to speak. Magellanic Clouds survey, we have added some unique capabili� es to SIRIUS, as well Also included in this sec� on are the as the con� nua� on of long term monitoring colloquia/seminars at the SAAO, NASSP, of the Magellanic Clouds. The most unique UWC and the Astrophysics, Cosmology capabili� es of IRSF is a wide fi eld NIR and Gravity Centre at UCT, ACGC. Also linear/circular imaging polarimeter. We also included are the SAAO Astro-coff ees which have ND (1% and 10%) fi lters and narrow are 15-20min informal discussions on just band fi lters for Pa_Beta (1.28um), Br_ about any topic including but not limited Gamma(2.16um), [FeII] (1.26um), and H_2 to: recent astro-ph papers, seminal/classic (2.12um). I present the recent data obtained publica� ons, educa� on/outreach ideas from the above capabili� es. As a future plan, and ini� a� ves, preliminary results, student we have two further developments for IRSF. progress reports, conference/workshop One is a new low resolu� on spectrometer feedback and skills-transfer. covering 0.45um - 2.5um. Another is an Editor addi� onal unit which enables simultaneous SAAO images of the current JHKs as well as an addi� onal 2 or 3 op� cal bands. Finally, I also Title: Ac� vi� es of the IRSF introduce our instrumenta� on for the SAAO Speaker: Takahiro Nagayama 75cm telescope. Test observa� ons of the Venue: SAAO Auditorium simultaneous op� cal g’r’i’ camera TRIPOL Date: 28 February was successfully completed in October Time: 16h00 2011, and it is commissioned as one of the Abstract: IRSF is a Japanese 1.4m telescope SAAO instrument for the 75cm telescope with a near infrared JHK simultaneous now. In addi� on, we would like to propose camera, SIRIUS, which has been working a wide fi eld i-band imaging polarisa� on from November 2000 at Sutherland. It camera for the 75cm telescpe, covering is a joint project between Nagoya Univ. 15’x15’ (goal 30’x30’). mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 72 colloquia Title: Discovery of 23 min pulsa� ons in considered. I will focus on measurements an Ae star using the KELT telescope of the clustering of sources, presen� ng Speaker: Thebe Medupe (University of results from the ALFALFA and FIRST North West) surveys, and discuss related science Venue: SAAO Auditorium that will be possible with future surveys Date: 7 March carried out by the SKA and its pathfi nders. Time: 16h00 I will also men� on Astronomy ini� a� ves Abstract: Herbig Ae stars are intermediate underway at the Centre for High mass premain-sequence stars iden� fi ed Performance Compu� ng. by signifi cant infrared excess and emission lines in their Balmer lines due Title: AGN Prospects for the Cherenkov to circumstellar dust. They show irregular Telescope Array photometric variability due to variable Speaker: Markus Bö� cher (NRF SARChI dust obscura� on. Observa� ons by KELT Chair of Astrophysics and Space Physics, of one such Ae star, HD 68695 revealed UNW) delta Scu� -like pulsa� ons with a period Venue: SAAO Auditorium of 23 minutes. This makes this star one Date: 11 April of the few dozen known pulsa� ng Ae Time: 16h00 stars and allows us to apply asteroseismic Abstract: In this talk, I will present an techniques to it, to determine its physical overview of the science prospects for very- proper� es. In this talk I will present high-energy gamma-ray observa� ons a review of these stars, and the data of AGN by the planned Cherenkov collected by KELT on HD 68695 and a low Telescope Array. Progress is expected in resolu� on spectrum of it. a variety of science ques� ons, including the physics of par� cle accelera� on in Title: Galaxy Evolu� on and Cosmology rela� vis� c jets, the unifi ca� on between Studies Using Radio Data and HPC blazars and radio galaxies and the blazar Speaker: Catherine Cress (Centre for High sequence, popula� on studies and Performance Compu� ng) ques� ons of cosmological evolu� on of Venue: SAAO Auditorium AGN, and explora� ons of signatures of Date: 14th March gamma-gamma absorp� on both by the Time: 16h00 Extragalac� c Background Light and by IR Abstract: I will outline ques� ons in - UV radia� on fi elds intrinsic to the AGN. galaxy evolu� on and cosmology that can be addressed using surveys carried out ACGC with radio telescopes. Galaxies detected via their neutral hydrogen content Title: Three-form Cosmology and those which are detected via their Speaker: Tomi Koivisto radio con� nuum emission will both be Venue: M111, Maths Building, UCT

73 april 2013 colloquia Date: Tuesady 12 March Title: Dr Sidelobes - How I learned to stop Time: 13h00: worrying and love simula� ons Abstract: The possible role of three-form Speaker: Prof Oleg Smirnov, SKA Research fi elds in cosmology as alterna� ves to Chair, Rhodes University scalar fi eld infl atons or quintessence Venue: Room 304 Maths building, UCT. fi elds is considered. It is shown that Date: 9 April three-form models can predict viable Time: 13h00 background dynamics and new signatures Abstract: Radio interferometers are in cosmological perturba� ons. Three- complex -- and above all counter-intui� ve form infl a� on nonminimally coupled -- instruments, and we are constantly to electromagne� sm provides the pushing the envelope of their performance only known model that generates the with increasingly sophis� cated science observed amount of magne� c fi elds while experiments. The combina� on of these avoiding the backreac� on/strong coupling two circumstances can produce some problem. real surprises -- most of them of the unpleasant variety. I will present some Title: D-branes and the Disformal Dark examples of surprising observa� onal Sector limita� ons, both in real-world and Speaker: Danielle Wills (Durham) simulated data (DDEs, calibra� on ghosts, Venue: M111 (UCT, Maths) sidelobe confusion, calibra� on noise) and Date: Tuesday 19 March discuss their possible impact on future Time: 13h00 radio surveys. Abstract: I will discuss a unifi ed model of the cosmological dark sector in the Title: Axiverse cosmology and the context of Type IIB string theory, where energy scale of infl a� on. the mo� on of a D-brane in the compact Speaker: David Marsh, Perimeter dimensions gives rise to dark energy Ins� tue from the four dimensional point of view, Venue: M111 Maths, UCT and the par� cles living on the world- Date: Tuesday 2 April volume appear as dark ma� er. This Time: 13h00 picture is a very natural embedding Abstract: Ultra-light axions (m_a<10^{- within a fundamental theory of so- 18} eV), mo� vated by the so -called called “disformal” gravity, an extension “String Axiverse”, can be a powerful of Einstein’s general rela� vity which probe of the energy scale of infl a� on. entails a novel screening mechanism and In contrast to heavier axions the provides a very promising framework isocurvature modes in the ultra-light for understanding the dark sector, and axions can coexist with observable which can be effi ciently constrained by its gravita� onal waves. Here it is shown predic� ons for large scale structure. that large scale structure constraints mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 74 colloquia severely limit the parameter space fi nd sa� sfactory representa� ons of for axion mass, density frac� on and the snapshot SEDs of most blazars in isocurvature amplitude. It is also shown our sample with the hadronic model that radically diff erent CMB observables presented here. However, in the case for the ultra-light axion isocurvature of two quasars the characteris� c break mode addi� onally reduce this space. at a few GeV energies can not be well The results of a new, accurate and modelled. All of our hadronic model fi ts effi cient method to calculate this require powers in rela� vis� c protons in isocurvature power spectrum are the range 10^{47} - 10^{49} erg/s. presented, and can be used to constrain ultra-light axions and infl a� on. NASSP

Title: Leptonic and Hadronic Modeling Title: Aspects of Linear and Nonlinear of Fermi-Detected Blazars Waves in Space Plasmas Speaker: Prof Boe� cher, NWU, Speaker: Dr Jeandrew Brink. Potchefstroom Venue : RW James Lecture Hall C Venue: RW James Lecture Theater C Date : 20 Feb 2013 Date: Friday, 12 April Time : 13h00 Time: 13h00 Abstract: Space plasmas are o� en not Abstract: We describe new in thermodynamic equilibrium, and implementa� ons of leptonic and examples such as two-temperature hadronic models for the broadband plasmas and non-Maxwellian velocity emission from rela� vis� c jets in AGN distribu� ons (with a superthermal “tail”) in a temporary steady state. The new are commonly encountered. The la� er model implementa� ons are used to fi t are well modelled by a so-called kappa snap-shot spectral energy distribu� ons distribu� on. Plasmas can support a rich of a representa� ve set of Fermi-LAT variety of waves. Many satellite-based detected blazars from the fi rst LAT experiments show evidence of waves in AGN catalogue. We fi nd that the space. These may appear, for instance, leptonic model is capable of producing as small amplitude (linear) waves or acceptable fi ts to the SEDs of almost as large amplitude solitary waves. We all blazars with reasonable parameters fi rst outline some of the high frequency close to equipar� � on between the waves that can play an important role magne� c fi eld and the rela� vis� c in typical mul� -component space electron popula� on. If charge neutrality plasmas. Next we consider some in leptonic models is provided by eff ects of high-energy tails on wave cold protons, our fi ts indicate that behaviour, with applica� ons to both the kine� c energy carried by the jet Saturn’s magnetosphere and a dusty should be dominated by protons. We plasma environment. We shall then

75 april 2013 colloquia discuss nonlinear solitary waves in results suggest that we have to seriously mul� -species space plasmas, and in reconsider what we thought we knew par� cular illustrate existence domains about RSGs. and report on kappa distribu� on eff ects as well as some recent fundamental Title: Strategies and Tools for a developments. Literature Survey Speaker: Andrew Collier from UKZN Title: Red Supergiants in Open Clusters Venue : RW James Lecture Hall C Speaker: Ignacio Negueruela from the Date : 13 March University of Alicante Time : 13h00 Venue : RW James Lecture Hall C Abstract: Most research projects Date : 27 Feb 2013 start with a literature survey. What Time : 13h00 is already known in the fi eld? Who is Abstract: Red supergiants (RSGs) already working in the fi eld? Where is represent a crucial phase in the the data coming from? What methods evolu� on of high-mass stars. Mass loss are being used? What are the open in this phase determines the ul� mate ques� ons? How can I contribute? Solid fate of the star and its contribu� on to strategies are required to make sense chemical enrichment. But the proper� es of the extensive body of literature and of RSGs are very diffi cult to study in good tools are necessary to compile all isola� on. Accurate stellar parameters of this informa� on in a useful format. depend on a good es� ma� on of their This talk will provide some sugges� ons distances, while comparison of these for undertaking a literature survey and parameters to evolu� onary models presen� ng the results. requires knowledge of their ages. Such informa� on is only available for RSGs Title: Cosmology and galaxy evolu� on in open clusters. Unfortunately, given from cluster surveys the rarity of RSGs, few clusters contain Speaker: Ma� Hilton from UKZN more than one RSG (if any). I will review Venue : RW James Lecture Hall C the proper� es of open clusters rich in Date : 20 March 2013 RSGs, such as chi Persei and NGC 7419, Time : 13h00 and introduce the RSG popula� on of Abstract: Galaxy clusters are the most Stephenson 2, the second most massive massive gravita� onally bound structures young cluster known in the Milky Way, in the Universe and are ideal places to which contains the largest collec� on of study the eff ects of dense environments RSGs. An analysis of their proper� es on galaxies. Focusing on recent results strongly suggests that the spectral obtained by the Atacama Cosmology types of RSGs represent an evolu� onary Telescope, in this talk I will describe how sequence. These and other recent cluster surveys can be used to measure mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 76 colloquia cosmological parameters, such as the through its sensi� vity to cosmological amounts of dark ma� er and dark energy parameters and its correla� on with in the Universe, and how they can even tracers of the mass distribu� on. be used to constrain the masses of neutrinos. I will also briefl y describe UWC studies of galaxy evolu� on in clusters selected at X-ray wavelengths. Title: The Circumgalac� c Medium: New Fron� ers in Understanding Galaxy Title: The Hartebeesthoek Radio Evolu� on Astronomy Observatory Speaker: Professor, Romeel Dave Speaker: Alet de Wi� , HartRAO Venue: Room 1.35 of the Physics Venue : RW James Lecture Hall C Department, UWC Date : 10 April 2013 Date: Wednesday 27 March Time : 13h00 Time: 13h00 Abstract: I will give an overview of Abstract: The emerging “baryon cycle” HartRAO as well as some introduc� on to paradigm of galaxy evolu� on suggests radio astronomy and interferometry. that galaxy growth is regulated by infl ows and ou� lows from the galaxy’s ISM, yet Title: Probing structure forma� on such infl ows and oufl ows are diffi cult to using CMB lensing detect and are poorly understood. The Speaker: Kavilan Moodley UKZN circumgalac� c medium is where such Venue : RW James Lecture Hall C processes must be occurring, and hence Date : 24 April characterizing the CGM is a forefront Time : 13h00 challenge for current galaxy evolu� on Abstract: The cosmic microwave studies. I will describe observa� onal background (CMB) acts as a backlight and theore� cal progress towards this, that illuminates the distribu� on of dark highligh� ng work from the COS-Halos ma� er and baryons in the low-redshi� project, a major eff ort using the Cosmic universe. In this talk I will focus on the Origins Spectrograph on HST along eff ect of gravita� onal lensing on the with state-of-the-art hydrodynamical CMB by the distribu� on of ma� er in simula� ons to probe the CGM using the universe, which has recently been targeted absorp� on lines through a detected by the ACT, SPT and Planck carefully selected sample of low-redshi� experiments. I will fi rst discuss how galaxy halos. Early results reveal the CMB lensing can be used to reconstruct rich structure in density, temperature, the projected mass distribu� on on large and ioniza� on that can be probed via and small scales. I will then illustrate mul� ple metal transi� ons, as well as a number of applica� ons of the CMB some unexpected surprises for the lensing measurement that arise ubiquity of cool gas in hot halos.

77 april 2013 book review The Jewel on the Mountaintop: Fifty years of the European Southern Observatory

By Claus Madsen Published by: Wiley-VCH Publica� on date:2012 ISBN: 978-3-527-41203-7 Hardcover or PDF, 560 pages, approx. 150 illustra� ons and historical photos Size: 16 x 24 cm Available from h� p://www.eso.org/public/ shop/product/book_jewel for €49.90 Available from h� p://www.eso.org/public/ products/books/jewel/ as a free PDF download

Claus Madsen, who is from Denmark, States in terms of large telescopes. The joined the European Southern Observa- Mount Wilson, Lick and Palomar ob- tory in 1980 to assist with the produc- servatories dominated the fi eld. They � on of their Sky Atlas. He soon moved had a near-monopoly in observa� onal on to the essen� al fi eld of public rela- cosmology and in the inves� ga� on of � ons and outreach ac� vi� es. More re- exci� ng new objects that were being cently he has been involved in handling discovered by radio and space tech- ESO’s interna� onal rela� ons. He is one niques. of their longest-serving employees and has had an insider’s view of its develop- European astronomers had not yet har- ment over the past thirty years. I found nessed the power that interna� onal co- the book well wri� en and fascina� ng. It opera� on can bring to ‘big science’. But is a tale of how every kind of obstacle this had become apparent to forward- can be overcome in the pursuit of sci- thinking leaders in several countries ence, whether in the minds of people, and eventually led to the forma� on of in interna� onal rela� ons or in the dif- ESO. It was by no means an easy ma� er fi cul� es associated with remote sites. to get individual na� onal communi� es to work together. For example, when At the � me of the ESO founding con- the new organiza� on was formed, there ven� on in 1962, European astronomy, were many special problems rela� ng to though holding its own in theore� cal salaries and condi� ons of service. It ma� ers, had fallen behind the United was necessary to adopt a model similar mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 78 book review to that of the CERN nuclear organiza� on it into a highly mo� vated unit. By the in Geneva, an interna� onal laboratory early 1980s ESO had developed the that had been established eight years technical capability to take on new ini- earlier. � a� ves in telescope and instrument de- sign through its own team of instrument ESO started slowly. Adriaan Blauuw and op� cal designers. The alt-azimuth became its fi rst Director. A site-test- New Technology Telescope (NTT) of- ing programme soon revealed that the fered a new approach to large telescope foothills of the Chilean Cordillera of- design that used the power of comput- fered be� er sites than could be found ers to control a thin primary mirror and elsewhere on Earth. By the late 1960s, a light-weight structure. It achieved im- observa� ons had begun on La Silla, ages of a quality not yet achieved by any inland from La Serena, and plans were other ground-based telescope. being made for a large telescope to be placed there. When the decision was made to go for the VLT (Very Large Telescope) array of I believe that it was the vision of Lodew- four 8-m telescopes in the late 1980s, it ijk Woltjer who became Director of ESO had already been found that another in 1975 that turned it into a fi rst class mountain, Cerro Paranal, further to the organiza� on. Watching him in ac� on north, off ered even be� er observing when I worked at their new headquar- condi� ons than La Silla. This remote ters building in Garching near Munich in and waterless mountain had to be de- 1980-81, I could see that he was fulfi ll- veloped before construc� on could start ing two clear aims. One was to make there. ESO into a truly science-dominated organiza� on, and the other was to per- ESO is now a large organiza� on and suade each par� cipa� ng country that its history is hard to summarize, but I they were ge� ng their money’s worth found it fascina� ng to read of the many (or more!). Running an interna� onal problems that had to be overcome. At organiza� on involves undreamt of lev- � mes poli� cal rela� ons with Chile be- els of pa� ence and protocols and it is to came strained and at least once ESO’s his credit and to that of the senior staff con� nued presence there was threat- of the organiza� on that these ma� ers ened. At other � mes, budget cuts in did not overwhelm their enthusiasm specifi c member countries threatened for science. to derail major projects that were al- ready under way. Madsen’s book documents the many trials and tribula� ons of keeping the Following the comple� on of the VLT, organiza� on together and of moulding more recent projects have included the

79 april 2013 book review VLT Survey Telescope (some� mes jok- The next step in the race towards big- ingly called the Very Small Telescope) ger and bigger telescopes, the E-ELT or and VISTA (Visible and Infrared Tel- European Extremely Large Telescope, escope for Astronomy). These were de- has recently been approved by the ESO signed to make sky surveys using large Council. It will be of about 40 metres array detectors to give high sensi� vi� es in diameter. As with other recent large appropriate to the era of large tel- telescopes, the op� cs will be controlled escopes - the tradi� onal photographic ac� vely to provide the best possible Schmidt survey instruments were no images. longer adequate. Besides its several visionary Directors, ESO is now a par� cipant in a giant radio ESO has had the services of some very telescope project - ALMA, the Atacama able and dedicated astronomers, engi- Large Millimetre Array, with the United neers and others. To them also must be States and Japan. This is situated on a� ributed much of the success of this the Chajnantor plateau (also in Chile) at great European ins� tu� on. 5 000 metres al� tude. Ian Glass

Contents: Prologue: The Hinge: The VLT Part I: Catching Up Chapter I-1: The Oldest Science Chapter I-2: Returning from the Abyss Chapter I-3: A Drama� c Twist Chapter I-4: In the Most Remote Place God Could Find Chapter I-5: ESO - Quo Vadis? Chapter I-6: Towards the 3.6-metre Telescope Chapter I-7: Sky Mapper Chapter I-8: Of Heaven and Hell, the Va� can and the Mission Chapter I-9: Changing of the Guard Chapter I-10: Garching United Part II: Years of Experimenta� on Chapter II-1: Upping the Ante Chapter II-2: Inven� ng a Game Changer Chapter II-3: EMMI, SUSI, SOFI and the other Darlings Chapter II-4: Hubble at ESO Chapter II-5: History in Passing Chapter II-6: An Annus Mirabilis Chapter II-7: The Day of Decision mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 80 book review Chapter II-8: A Mountain in the Middle of Nowhere Chapter II-9: NTT First Light Part III: The Breakthrough Chapter III-1: Back to the Drawing Board Chapter III-2: Aux Instruments, Chercheurs! Chapter III-3: Breaking the Seeing Barrier Chapter III-4: From Double-sight to Supersight: Interferometry Chapter III-5: The Return of the Dalton Brothers Chapter III-6: Bang for the Buck Chapter III-7: Paradigm Revisited Chapter III-8: Upgrading, De-scoping Chapter III-9: Clouds on the Horizon Chapter III-10: At the Brink Chapter III-11: Tranquillity in Chile, S� ff Winds in Europe Chapter III-12: Tuning a Formidable Science Machine Chapter III-13: The Countdown Chapter III-14: Clear Skies, at Last Chapter III-15: First Fringes of the Phoenix Chapter III-16: Not Just a Telescope, an Observatory; Not Just an Observatory, a Home Part IV: Towards New Horizons Chapter IV-1: ALMA Chapter IV-2: Into New Territory Chapter IV-3: Buds at Paranal Chapter IV-4: Of Eponymous Birds and Euros Chapter IV-5: The VLT in Retrospect Chapter IV-6: A Love Aff air Chapter IV-7: A Growing Organisa� on Chapter IV-8: The Surge Chapter IV-9: Born in Europe, at Home in the World Chapter IV-10: A Window to the Public Epilogue Appendix 1 Important Milestones Appendix 2 List of ESO Council Presidents and Directors General Appendix 3 List of Interviewees Appendix 4 Index of Names Appendix 5 Subject Index Appendix 6 List of Acronyms

81 april 2013 deep-sky delights Her name is Virgo by Magda Streicher [email protected]

Late southern autumn is Virgin Mary, mother the best � me to go galaxy- of the child Jesus. hun� ng. Not only is the Nevertheless, whichever Orion arm down in the name or myth you prefer, west, but the Milky Way she holds in her lap a very Image source: Stellarium.org is s� ll way down towards rich harvest of a variety the east. The � me slot of galaxies that will keep gives us the opportunity you busy for quite some for an intense look into � me. the wide universe to a prominent dark dust observe the faint fuzzies, So let us fi re off into galaxy lane running through the which are actually world with an all-� me major axis with a very en� re galaxies. You favourite, the versa� le prominent bulge. The only need the use of a NGC 4594 (Messier 104), galaxy appears to lie in an modest medium to larger be� er known as the east-west direc� on with telescope and dark skies. Sombrero Galaxy, which slightly pointed ends. The constella� on Virgo was discovered in May and most would agree, 1781 by the Frenchman Steve O’Meara, a well- holds something mys� cal Pierre Mechain. Messier known amateur living in as it is fi lled with galaxies 104 is possibly one of the Hawaii, notes that the which are, in turn, also brightest and biggest galaxy displays a brilliant enveloped in a haze of galaxies in the Virgo- core that seems to illu- unknown. Well, the Coma Super Cluster of minate the surrounding truth is that the chaste Galaxies and is situated oval shroud from within, young girl of the starry virtually on the boundary like a distant bonfi re skies, so widely loved between Virgo and the seen through thick fog. was regarded as the constella� on Corvus. The sharpness of the virgin daughter of Zeus. This rela� vely bright edge- telltale dark lane reveals on galaxy with a slight � lt the edge of the Mexican In the Middle Ages Virgo of six degrees towards hat’s brim. He goes on was even known as the our point of view displays to say that with averted mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 82 her name is virgo

vision the eastern por- into a wide brushstroke western por� on of the � on of the Sombrero’s of light, which shines brim. Obviously Steve brim breaks up and fl ares more brilliantly than the uses a large telescope

83 april 2013 deep-sky delights with high magnifi ca� on stars between magnitude reveals a slight oval in a in favourable dark skies, 6 and 9 against a bare north-west to south-east but agrees with me that star fi eld. The two bright- direc� on with a nearly the galaxy could not be est stars in this breathtak- stellar nucleus. Because described be� er. ing composi� on display a M86’s light is spread over golden yellow colour. a larger area, it appears Not only is Messier 104 slightly fainter than M84, approximately 65 million Virgo is mostly popular but is, in fact slightly light years away, it is also for the Super Cluster of brighter. It houses a large about 135 000 light years Galaxies situated mainly popula� on of faint globular in diameter and plays in the northern part of clusters orbi� ng the galaxy host to many globular Virgo with the abundance which serve as standard clusters – many more overfl owing into the candles to determining than our own Milky Way. constella� on Coma galac� c distances. The Berenices. The heart of galaxy is about 53 000 A very fascina� ng aster- this unique area fi lled million light years away, ism called Jaws accom- with several galaxies is perhaps slightly closer to panies M104 only 25’ without doubt the two us than M84. towards the west. About ellip� cal star ci� es NGC nine colourful stars be- 4374 (Messier 84) and Several other galaxies in tween magnitude 8 and NGC 4406 (Messier 86), the area, including M84 10 portray this impres- which are only 15’ apart. and M86, stretch from sion quite truly. The main However, the giant north-east to south-west focus is the brighter stars galaxy M84 shines with and have collec� vely towards the southern an overwhelming round been referred to as end of the star string. A glow that is easy visible Markarian’s Chain. The more familiar asterism, and situated only 25’ chain was named by however, can be spo� ed from the Coma Berenices the Russian Benjamin jumping the border into border. The galaxy Markarian, who fi rst Corvus, barely a degree displays a bright small noted this forma� on. south-west of asterism nucleus and a snowy Jaws. Known as Star-gate, frosted edge and could A very special pair of it is an almost perfect be as far as 65 million galaxies is NGC 4435 equilateral triangle of light years distant. and NGC 4438, situated stars nestling inside barely 20’ further east of another almost perfect At fi rst M86 appears to M86. I remember very equilateral star triangle. be a twin to M84, with its well the fi rst � me I laid It is an outstandingly apparently perfectly round eyes on this unique pair defi ned composi� on of shape, but closer scru� ny of galaxies during a visit mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 84 her name is virgo to the Kruger Na� onal visible galaxies with a galaxies can be spo� ed Park. At the � me, lis- dominant popula� on of that indicate, more or tening to all the animal old stars. The nucleus less, the centre of the sounds in the dark of contains a super-massive Virgo Super Cluster. night, I imagined the pair black hole with a strong to be two eyes staring radio-ac� ve source. A S� ll on your way, an- back at me through the curious straight ray lies other 2 degrees further telescope eyepiece, not in the frosted nebulosity south-east, the merging withstand the lion’s roars and extends from the galaxies NGC 4567 and in the distant. The south- core at a posi� on angle NGC 4568, also known ern member NGC 4438 of 260 degrees. This as the Siamese Twins, is slightly larger, with an thin stream of ma� er portray the vastness of even surface brightness and dust contains high- the universe in a very and a very hazy edge. energy par� cles racing special way (see picture With higher magnifi ca- from the galaxy nucleus by Dale Liebenberg). The � on a broad central at close to the speed of American deep-sky au- concentra� on can be light. Obviously there thor Leland S. Copeland glimpsed. Although the is no chance even to dubbed it as such in 1955. northern member, NGC glimpse this strange sight, NGC 4568 the eastern 4435, is slightly smaller, but a Hubble picture and larger member ap- it is a tad brighter, with shows it quite clearly. A pears to be surrounded an outstanding stellar few stars se� le on the by a hazy envelope and nucleus. Both galaxies, northern edge of M87, faces north-south. It nicknamed The Eyes, face and in the immediate gets gradually brighter in a north-eastern to fi eld of view many towards a rela� vely large south-western direc� on.

A much talked about galaxy and one hard to miss is NGC 4486 (Messier 87), situated another degree further south-east (see picture). It is a lovely outstanding ellip� cal galaxy (also known as Virgo A) with a bright outstanding nucleus and is ranked as one of the largest M87-NGC4486 Virgo A, an ellip� cal galaxy. Dale Liebenberg.

85 april 2013 deep-sky delights distant and to me is one of the most outstanding deep sky objects.

With so many galaxies to explore, a sequel to this ar� cle will be necessary. This is only the � p of the proverbial iceberg, yet even this leaves a stunning expression on the observer. Some� mes people shy away from NGC 4567-8, the Siamese Twins. Dale Liebenberg. observing galaxies, but careful map work and nucleus. NGC 4567, the (see picture). With summaries of brightness slightly smaller galaxy in higher magnifi ca� on will make observa� on comparison, has a dense and a rela� vely large considerably easier. bright pin-point nucleus. telescope try to glimpse The interac� ng spiral pair the dark streak between The planet Neptune was are gently joined at their the eastern arm sec� on seen in Virgo about 20’ north-eastern � ps. Bare- and the nucleus. The east of the magnitude 6 ly 10’ towards the north galaxy is situated about star HD 105374, and 2 is another spiral compan- 50 million light years degrees west of eta Virgini, ion member, NGC 4564, in an east-west direc� on.

NGC 4303 (Messier 61) is one of the largest spirals, and is situated a degree north of 16 Virginis and 5 degrees north of magnitude 3.8 eta Virginis. The galaxy displays a barred face-on in a north-east to south- west direc� on with a stellar core and hints of mo� ling on the surface M61-NGC4303 barred galaxy. Dale Liebenberg. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 86 her name is virgo by Galileo in December Brakel, from Australasia, a very faint galaxy by the 1612. He also detected and myself from South looks of it, not at all easy to the mo� on, but probably Africa. It was successful glimpse and probably, with could not believe it was a and the asteroid diameter a magnitude of fourteen, new planet. JG Galle of came to 162 km x 96 km. out of observa� onal Berlin Observatory actually I laid eyes on (5) Astraea reach for most. Larger found and confi rmed such again on the night of 7 telescopes, however, and a planet in the Aquarius May, 2008 when this main- high magnifi ca� on will constella� on on 23 Sep- belt asteroid was dri� ing reveal a slight defi ned edge tember 1846. through Virgo about a around an out of focus star degree west of the lovely impression. IC 972 is the A very peculiar object is yellow gamma Virgini. (5) 37th entry in George Abell’s the quasar 3C 273, the Astraea was accidentally catalogue with a nebulous brightest example of its discovered by Karl Hencke structure. kind and situated about in December 1845 while halfway between eta and he was searching for the Another surprise to be gamma (Porrima) Virginis asteroid Vesta. found is the globular in a triangle towards north. cluster NGC 5634 taking The quasar is situated just In ancient � mes the im- shelter at Virgo’s feet half 8’ south of a pair of mag- portance of harvest � me way between magnitude nitude 10 and 11 stars and was refl ected in the Virgo 3.8 mu and magnitude 4 just 40’ west of the galaxy constella� on, which is also iota Virginis. This globu- IC 3474. The slightly bluish referred to as the Maiden lar cluster, the only one object appears brighter of the Harvest. The bright in Virgo as far as I know, and hazier than the accom- white magnitude one is rela� vely easy to ob- panying stars in the fi eld of star alpha Virginis, be� er serve, and displays a so� view. 3C 273 is a very known as Spica, is said to glow that grows gradu- luminous object with an represent the germ of the ally brighter towards a very enormous red shi� discov- wheat grain. It is also a compressed unresolved ered by Arp in 1966. With variable star that changes broad centre. Towards a magnitude of barely 13 it its light output every 4.1 the eastern periphery not easy to detect through days. a magnitude 8 orange- ordinary telescopes. coloured star dominates In the midst of the which changes it slightly On the night of 22 May constella� on domain to an uneven shape. A few 2002 I took part in an oc- we fi nd IC 972, a lonely faint star outliers, barely culta� on of the star HIP planetary nebula in the seen on the northern and 75185 by the asteroid (5) far south-eastern corner of southern edges, spiral out Astraea done by Albert Virgo. IC 972 could well be into the fi eld of view. A

87 april 2013 deep-sky delights spaced triangle of stars can be seen towards the southern edge in the fi eld of view (see picture by Dale Liebenberg).

Dress up snugly and warm- ly, make yourself a fl ask of coff ee and sit down with the lady Virgo to seek out those faint, misty “clouds” that are, in fact – almost unbelievably – en� re gal- axies. NGC 5634 sheltering in Virgo’s feet. Dale Liebenberg.

Object Type RA (J2000.0) Dec Mag. Size

NGC 4303 (M 61) Galaxy 12h21m9 +04°28 9.7 6.5’x5.8’ NGC 4374 (M 84) Galaxy 12 25 1 +12 53 10 6.5’x5.6’ NGC 4406 (M 86) Galaxy 12 26 2 +12 57 9.7 8.9’x5.8’ NGC 4435 Galaxy 12 27 7 +13 01 10.8 3.2’x2.0’ NGC 4438 Galaxy 12 27 8 +13 01 10.2 8.9’x3.6’ 3C 273 Quasar 12 29 1 +02 03 12.8 0.158” NGC 4486 (M 87) Galaxy 12 30 8 +12 23 9.5 8.3’x6.6’ NGC 4567 Galaxy 12 36 5 +11 15 11.3 3.1’x2.3’ NGC 4568 Galaxy 12 36 6 +11 14 10.8 4.6’x2.2’ Jaws Asterism 12 38 5 +11 30 8.8 20’ NGC 4594 (M 104) Galaxy 12 39 8 -11 37 9.2 7.1’x4.4’ IC 972 Planetary Nebula 14 04 4 -17 15 14.3 0.43” NGC 5634 Globular Cluster 14 29 6 -05 59 9.4 4.9’

Errata

The image on page 13 of MNASSA Vol. 72 Nos 1 & 2, February 2013 has an incorrect cap� on. It should read: “The Pretoria Moonwatch team (Sta� on 8575) which was set up on the roof of a building in the CSIR grounds. Source: Roy Smith.”

The Editor apologizes for the error. mnassa vol 72 nos 3 & 4 88 april 2013 astronomical society of southern africa The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) was formed in 1922 by the amalgama� on of the Cape Astronomical Associa� on (founded 1912) and the Johannesburg Astronomical Associa� on (founded 1918). It is a body consis� ng of both amateur and professional astronomers. Publica� ons: The Society publishes its own electronic journal, the Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (MNASSA) bimonthly and an annual printed Sky Guide Africa South. Membership: Membership of the Society is open to all. Poten� al members should consult the Society’s web page assa.saao.org.za for details. Joining is possible via one of the Local Centres or as a Country Member. Local Centres: Local Centres of the Society exist at Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Harare, Her- manus, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg (Natal Midlands Centre), Pretoria and Sedgefi eld district (Garden Route Centre). Membership of any of these Centres automa� cally confers membership of the Society. Sky & Telescope: Members may subscribe to Sky & Telescope at a signifi cant discount (proof of Cen- tre membership required) . Please contact membership secretary for details. Internet contact details: e-mail: [email protected] homepage: h� p://assa.saao.ac.za

Council (2012–2013) President Dr IS Glass [email protected] Vice-president Prof MJH Hoff man Hoff [email protected] Membership Secretary Pat Booth [email protected] Hon. Treasurer Adv AJ Nel [email protected] Hon. Secretary L Cross [email protected] Scholarships MG Soltynski [email protected] Members C Stewart [email protected] G Els [email protected] J Smit johanchsmit@gmail L Labuschagne [email protected] J Saunders [email protected] L Govender [email protected] C Rijsdijk par� [email protected] Hon. Auditor RG Glass (Horwath Zeller Karro) [email protected]

Directors of Sec� ons Comet and Meteor Sec� on TP Cooper [email protected] Cosmology Sec� on JFW de Bruyn Tel. 033 396 3624 [email protected] Dark-sky Sec� on J Smit Tel. 011 790 4443 [email protected] Deep-sky Sec� on A Slotegraaf Tel. 074 100 7237 [email protected] Double Star Sec� on D Blane Tel. 072 693 7704 [email protected] Educa� on and Public CL Rijsdijk Tel. 044 877 1180 par� [email protected] Communica� on Sec� on Historical Sec� on C de Coning Tel/Fax 021 423 4538 [email protected] Occulta� on Sec� on B Fraser Tel. 016 366 0955 [email protected] Solar Sec� on vacant Variable Star Sec� on C Middleton, Tel. 082 920 3107 wbrooke@netac� ve.co.za

astronomical society of southern africa mnassa Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa Vol 72 Nos 3 & 4 April 2013

Editorial Who owns the rights to names?...... 41

ASSA News MNASSA and the SAO/NASA Abstract Service - IS Glass and WP Koorts...... 43 Southern African Fireball Observations 2011 - 2012 - Tim Cooper...... 44 The Daytime Bolide of 12 March 2013 - Tim Cooper...... 47

News Notes LCOGT News...... 53

Obituary Prof Edmund Zingu - Simon Connell...... 55 Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013) - Willie Koorts...... 56

African Star-Lore Auke Slotegraaf...... 62

Astronomical Colloquia...... 72

Book Review The Jewel on the Mountaintop by Claus Madsen - Ian Glass...... 78

Deep-sky Delights Her name is Virgo Magda Streicher...... 82

Errata...... 88

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