ASTRONOMICAL HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA 1

published by the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa 5 A MUSEUM

QUEEN VICTORIA STREET (3 61 CAPE TOWN 8000 (021)243330

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FOR MORE INFO PHONE 243330 ASTRONOMICAL HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA 1993

This booklet is intended both as an introduction to observational astronomy for the interested layman - even if hie interest is only a passing one - and as a handbook for the established amateur or professional astronomer.

Front cover The telescope of Ds G. de Beer (right) of the Ladismith Astronomical Society. He, Dr M. Schreuder (left) and the late Mr Ron Dale of the Natal Midlands Centre, are viewing Siriu3 in the daytime with the aid of setting circles. Photograph Mr J. Watson

® t h e Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, Cape Town. 1992

ISSN 0571-7191 CONTENTS

ASTRONOMY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA...... 1 DIARY...... 6 THE SUN...... 8 THE MOON...... 11 THE PLANETS...... 17 THE MOONS OF JUPITER ...... 24 THE MOONS OF SATURN...... 28 COMETS AND METEORS...... 29 THE STARS...... 31 ORDINARY OCCULTATIONS...... 41 GRAZING OCCULTATIONS...... 45 OCCULTATIONS BY MINOR PLANETS...... 50 TIME SYSTEMS AND TELESCOPESETTING...... 51 JULIAN DATES...... 53 ASSA OFFICE BEARERS...... 54

NOTE

All times are SAST unless otherwise stated. Right Ascension and Declination are given for equinox of date unless otherwise stated.

This handbook is produced for the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. The data it contains has been adapted for Southern Africa from data obtained from The Astronomical Almanac for 1993, the Handbook of the British Astronomical Association for 1993 and the International Lunar Occultation Centre,Tokyo. The star charts on pages 32, 34, 36 and 38 are from "A Beginner's Guide to the Southern Stars" by J.S. Bondietti, published by the South African Museum. The Minor Planet Occultations were provided by Edwin Goffin, who wishes to thank Dr. Josef de Kerfo, General Manager of Agfa-Gevaert I W (Mortsel, Belguim) for making the computing facilities available.

Assistance in the compilation of this booklet was received from the Directors of the sections of the ASSA.

Further copies of this booklet are available at R5,00 per Copy from The Business Manager, Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, P 0 Box 9, Observatory, 7935. All other correspondence concerning this booklet should be addressed to the Handbook Editor, Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, 10 Bristol Rd., Observatory, 7925.

Although every care has been taken in the compilation of the Handbook,it is sold and distributed on the explicit understanding that neither the Society nor its members accept any responsibility for errors therein.

Dit spyt oss dat as gevolg van beperkte fondse en produksie fasillteite dit nie moontlik is om die handboek in Afrikaans te laat druk nie.

P.J.Booth Editor 1 ASTRONOMY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Southern Africa, enjoying the rich southern skies and a suitable climate, has a number of professional observatories engaged in research while many individuals have become enthusiastic amateur astronomers. Thus South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have numerous private observatories, built and operated by amateur astronomers. Planetaria and visiting nights at observatories convey to the general public much of what goes on in this field.

OBSERVATORIES The SOOTH AFRICAN ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY (SAAO), directed by Dr. R. Stobie is part of the Foundation for Research and Developement. It has headquarters in Cape Town and an observing station at Sutherland in the Karoo,'where there are 1.9-m, 1.0-m, 0.75-m and 0.5-m telescopes. The headquarters in Cape Town also carries out a limited amount of observing. Research is undertaken in many areas, with considerable effort being put into the study of variable stars, the Galactic Centre, the Magellanic Clouds and sources detected by satellites. These studies involve the use of spectroscopic, photometric and infrared techniques. Besides providing research facilities for its own staff, SAAO observing time is allocated to astronomers from South African universities and elsewhere in the world.

BOYDEN OBSERVATORY, situated at Mazelspoort, 25 km from Bloemfontein, is owned by the Dept of Physics and Astronomy of the University of the Orange Free State. Observing facilities include a 1.52-m and two 0.41-ra telescopes, as well as the 0.25-m Metcalf camera, a 0.33-m refractor and a 0.20-m solar Installation.

The HARTEBEESTHOEK RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY, 30 km NW of Krugersdorp, is a national facility managed by the Foundation for Research Development. The Director is Dr G D Nicolson. The 26 m telescope operates at 18, 13, 6, 3.6 and 2.5 cm wavelengths and is used for observations of interstellar and circumstellar molecules, pulsars, x-ray sources as well as quasars and active galaxies. The observatory provides research facilities for astronomers in South African universities as well as its own staff and frequently collaborates in global networks of telescopes using the technique of very long baseline interferometry.

The NOOITGEDACHT GAMMA RAY TELESCOPE, established in 1985 in the Vredefort area south of Potchefstroom, is operated as a facility of the FRD/PU Cosmic Ray Research unit of the Potchefstroom University, under the leadership of Prof B C Raubenheimer. It consists of twelve parabolic mirrors with a total reflecting area of 21 square metres. The weak blue Cerenkov light emitted by high energy gamma rays in the atmosphere is detected by fast coincidence techniques. Radio pulsars, X-ray binaries. Supernova Remnants and Cataclysmic Variables are some of the objects studied.

OBSERVATORIES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SAAO headquarters in Observatory, Cape Town is open to visitors on the second Saturday of each month at 20h00. It is not necessary to make a booking, unless there are more than ten persons in a party. Day visits are possible to the SAAO observing site near Sutherland, and enquiries should be made to Sutherland prior to the intended visit.

BOYDEN OBSERVATORY, BLOEMFONTEIN. Enquiries as to visits should be made to the Dept of Physics and Astronomy of the University of the Orange Free State. Tel 051-4012321 (Mr. Hofman) or 051-4012843 (Mr. J. Calitz).

THE NOOITGEDACHT TELESCOPE, POTCHEFSTROOM. Interested individuals or groups are welcome to contact Prof. B C Raubenheimer to arrange visits.

The PORT ELISABETH PEOPLES OBSERVATORY SOCIETY. The Observatory, situated on the comer of Westview Drive and MacFarlane Road, is open to the public on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month and on every Wednesday during December and January. Admission is free. Donations are accepted to help with running costs. Viewing evenings are arranged for groups at other times during the month. 2 THE CEDERBERG OBSERVATORY. This observatory, situated 250 km by road north of Cape Town, is operated by 6 amateur astronomers. It has excellent dark skys and public open nights are held twice monthly at Last Quarter and New Moon. Enquiries to Mr. Chris Forder Tel 021-9134200.

PLANETARIA A planetarium is located within the South African Museum in Cape Town, containing a Minolta Series 4 projector and seating 120.

A planetarium is situated in the grounds of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (entrance in Yale Road, alongside the Ml). It is equipped with a Zeiss projector and seats over 400 persons.

Regular shows are given at both of these planetaria, from which details may be obtained.

UNIVERSITIES Several universities undertake research in astronomy and offer teaching courses. The chair of astronomy at UCT is occupied by Brian Warner, whose department uses the SAAO observing facilities at Sutherland. The Dept of Applied Mathematics, UCT has a group carrying out research in theoretical cosmology lead by Profs C F R Ellis and D R Matravers. The University of OFS has a Dept of Physics and Astronomy, headed by Prof. P E Viljoen, incorporated with the Boyden Observatory. The Dept of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University, under Prof. E E Baart, specialises in radio astronomy, and has its own observatory outside Grahamstown. The Dept of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Astronomy at UNISA offers a number of courses in astronomy and astrophysics. Prof. W F Wargau is the head of Astronomy at UNISA. Courses in Gamma Ray Astronomy and General Astrophysics form part of the regular honors and masters courses of the Department of Physics at Potchefstroom. 3 ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETIES THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE. The society holds meetings on the second Monday of every month at the City Club, 95 Josiah Tongara St. Visitors are welcome. The Society also publishes monthly newsletters. Secretarial address: c/o Mr. Derek Shaw, 2 Sinclair Ave., Bulawayo - Tel. 75439.

THE ASTRONOMICAL WORK GROUP, NAMIBIA. The Society, situated in Windhoek, is active in the fields of astrophotography, solar and occultation observing. It has an observing site, housing a ,36m telescope, at the Brakwater Agricultural Centre outside Windhoek. Exlbitlons and public viewing sessions are organised. For further information contact Mrs. S. Enke, P 0 Box S198, Windhoek.

THE HELDERBERG ASTRONOMY CLUB, SOMERSET WEST. The society holds meetings on the last Thursday of every month at the Hottentots Holland High School at 7:30pm. Secretarial address: P. 0. Box 358, Somerset West, 7129. Tel. 024-21405 o/h or 024-24630 a/h.

THE LADYSMITH ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, NATAL. The society holds meetings on the third Wednessday of every month which are alturnatly a talk or an observing evenung. Visitors are welcome. For further information contact 0361-22992 a/h.

THE PORT ELISABETH PEOPLES OBSERVATORY SOCIETY. Society meetings are held bi-monthly on the 3rd Monday. Secretarial address: P. 0. Box 7988, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth, 6055.

THE RHODES ASTRONOMY AND HAM RADIO SOCIETY, RHODES UNIVERSITY, GRAHAMST0WN. The society meets twice monthly in Physics Department during the university terms. Meeetings consist of talks, discussions, slide shows and videos. Frequent observing sessions including public evenings are held. The society is active in fields of astrophotography, variable star and comet observing. It also has an astronomy education program for schools. Although this is largely a student society membership is open to all interested persons as well as bodies such as school clubs. Secretarial address: c/o The Physics Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown. 6140. For information about meetings contact 0461-22023 ext 450 o/h or 0461-26063 a/h.

THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. This Society is a body consisting of both amateur and professional astronomers. Membership is open to all interested persons, regardless of knowledge or experience. In addition, to this Handbook, the Society issues the "Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa* (MNASSA). Members also receive the popular monthly magazine "Sky and Telescope" published in the USA, which provides information on professional and amateur activities, together with news of space research and other related subjects. The Society's annual subscription is R85.00 and there is an entrance fee of R10.00. A prospectus and application form may be obtained from the Honorary Secretary, Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, c/o S A Astronomical Observatory, P 0 Box 9, Observatory 7935, or telephone 021-7612112 (Mrs. A. Joubert).

AUTONOMOUS LOCAL CENTRES OF THE ASSA hold regular meetings in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria and Harare.Visitors are very welcome at meetings and may, if they wish, join a Centre without becoming a full member of the Society. Centre members receive neither Society publications, nor "Sky and Telescope". Some Centres publish newsletters and journals carrying information on meetings, centre activities and topics of interest.

CAPE CENTRE (Cape Town): Formal meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month (except in January and December) when lectures on the latest topics in Astronomy are presented. Informal meetings involving discussion groups and observing sessions are held on most other Wednesdays except during January and December. Meetings are held at the SAA0, Observatory Road, Observatory at 20h00. Two or three out-of-town weekend observing sessions are held annually in areas where dark skies are available. The Centre publishes a Journal, the "Cape Observer" and a monthly newsletter. Secretarial address: P.O.Box 13018, Mowbray, 7705, or tel. 021-725897. 4 TRANSVAAL CENTRE (Johannesburg): General meetings, consisting of lectures, films or observing evenings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, excluding December, in the Sir Herbert Baker building in the grounds of the former Republic Observatory, 18A Gill Street, Observatory, Johannesburg at 20h00. There are two small observatories on the site, one houses the 30cm F8 Newtonian Jacobs telescope, and the Papadopoulos Dome houses a combined instrument comprising a 18cm F16 refractor, a 15cm refractor and a 30cm F16 Cassegrain reflector. Informal observing evenings are held every Friday night. The Centre publishes a monthly newsletter "Canopus". Secretarial address: P 0 Box 93145, Yeoville 2143, tel. 011-8865602.

NATAL CENTRE (Durban): Regular monthly meetings are held at 19h45 on the second Wednesday of each month at Marist Brothers School, South Ridge Road, Durban. The Centre publishes a monthly magazine "Ndaba”. Secretarial address: P 0 Box 5330, Durban, 4000, or telephone 031-3072093 / 7011104 / 7013178 / 0323-51647.

NATAL MIDLANDS CENTRE (Pietermaritzburg): Regular monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month starting at 19h45 are held at St Charles College, Harwin Rd. Secretarial address: P 0 Box 2106, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 or by phoning 0331-33646.

BLOEMFONTEIN CENTRE: Meetings are held every fourth Friday of the month. Secretarial address: Mrs. T Venter, P 0 Box 1238, Bloemfontein, 9300 or tel.051-224977.

PRETORIA CENTRE: Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month (except December) at 19h00 at the Christian Brothers' College, Silverton Road, where the Centre's observatory containing a 30cm reflecting telescope is situated. Secretarial address: Mr N Young at 201 Kritzinger St., Meyers Park, Pretoria, 0184 tel. 012-833765.

HARARE CENTRE: The Centre holds a meeting on the last Wednesday of each month (except December). These are usually held at 17h30 at the Queen Victoria Museum and consist of lectures, films or general discussions. Informal observing sessions are also held at the homes of members. Secretarial address: P 0 Box UA 428, Union Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe.

SECTIONS OF THE ASSA These sections exist to co-ordinate the activities of special interest groups within the Society. Several of these sections co-ordinate constructive observing programmes and more information on an observing section is given in the appropriate parts of this handbook.

THE COMPUTING SECTION. This section invites all those Interested in Astronomical Computing in any form to share their expertise and any Software they may have with other members in the Society.

The objectives of the Computing Section were outlined in MNASSA. Vol 46 Nos. 5 6 6 June 1987 Page 66. Please refer to this write up for detailed information. Persons interested in the activities of the Computing Section are urged to contact the Director of the Societies Computing Section: Mr Tony Hilton, P 0 Box 68846, Bryanston, 2021. Phone (w) (011) 53 8714 (h) (011) 465 2257. Mr Hilton has compiled a comprehensive DATA BASE of all interested person's, equipment, available software etc. This report will be available to all interested persons. If you wish to become a subscriber to this DATA BASE list please contact Mr Hilton for the relevant questionnaire.

Furthermore, if you are embarking on any Computer Projects, Mr Hilton would like to hear from you, and would make himself or any other competent individuals available to supply expert advice or additional information where necessary.

THE HISTORICAL SECTION. This section has been formed (during 1992) for the purpose of establishing a stronger historical record than hitherto available relating to astronomy in Southern Africa and in particular, to the ASSA and its members. Amongst the activities are - maintaining an archive of photographic and other material of historical interest; 5 - undertaking research into specific topics and publishing articles, obituaries etc; - following up specific enquiries.

All members (and families of deceased members) are invited to donate material to the archive and to participate in the other activities of the Section.

For further information, contact the Director : Jonathan H. Spencer Jones, P 0 Box 398, Cape Town, 8000. Tel: 021-4623412 6 DIARY OF PHENOMENA

d b d b Jan 1 6 fllSt QUIKTEK ipr 13 22 UST QUIKTEK 3 16 Kars closest approach 14 17 Kars 5' S. of Pollui 4 5 Earth at perihelion 16 13 Kercury 8‘ S. of Venus 8 1 Kars at opposition 16 22 Saturn 7' S. of Koon 8 11 Oranus in conjunction with Sun 18 7 Koon at apogee 8 15 FULL KOOK 19 19 Venus O’-S S. of Koon 8 15 Kars 6' S. of Koon 20 4 Venus stationary 9 0 Keptune in conjunction vith Sun 20 6 Kercury 8* S. of Koon 10 14 Koon at perigee 22 2 XEW HOCK 14 16 Jupiter 7' X. of Koon 22 23 Keptune stationary 15 6 u s r QCAXra 26 14 Oranus stationary 19 18 Venus greatest elong. E. (47*) 29 2 Kars 6‘ K. of Koon 20 20 Vesta O’-l S. of Koon 29 15 FIKST QUiKTEK 22 20 KEKKOOK 23 is Hercury in superior conjunction Hay 3.17 Jupiter 7' H. of Koon 23 18 Pallas in conjunction with Sun 4 2 Koon at perigee 25 22 Oranus 1 -1 S. of Keptune 6 6 FULL KOOK 26 12 Koon at apogee 7 6 Venus greatest brilliancy 27 7 Venus 5' S. of Koon 11 1 Keptune 3’ S. of Koon 29 15 Jupiter stationary 11 4 Oranus 4' S. of Koon 31 1 FIKST Q0AKTEK 13 14 UST QUiKTEK 14 9 Saturn 7 S. of Koon Feb 3 19 Juno stationary 15 1 Pluto at opposition 4 12 Kars 6' K. of Koon 16 0 Koon at apogee 7 2 FULL BOX 16 5 Kercury in superior conjunction 7 22 Koon at perigee 18 2 Venus 6* S. of Koon 9 18 Saturn in conjunction vith Sun 21 16 HEX KOOK 11 0 Jupiter 6' K. of Koon 26 8 Juno l‘>2 S. of Koon 13 17 UST QOAKTEK 27 9 Kars 7’ K. of Koon 15 13 Kars stationary 28 20 FIKST QUiKTEK 18 2 Keptune 2* S. of Koon 30 23 Jupiter 7' K. of Koon 18 3 Oranus 3 S. of Koon 31 13 Koon at perigee 21 11 Hercury greatest elong. E. (18*) 21 15 KEN KOOK Jun 1 18 Jupiter stationary 22 20 Koon at apogee 4 15 FULL KOOK, 23 9 Hercury 3 S. of Koon 7 10 Keptune 3‘ S. of Koon 24 12 Venus greatest brilliancy 7 12 Oranus 4' S. of Koon 25 6 Venus 0 -5 K. of Koon 10 15 Venus greatest elong. X. (46‘) 27 11 Kercury stationary 10 19 Saturn 7 S. of Koon 11 2 Saturn stationary Kar 1 15 Pluto stationary 12 8 UST QUITS! i is fikst oomni 12 18 Koon at apogee 3 23 Kars 5 K. Of Koon 16 12 Venus 6' S. of Koon 5 10 Ceres in conjunction vith Sun 17 19 Kercury greatest elong. E. (25') 8 11 Koon at perigee 20 4 HE* «X» 8 12 FULL HOOK 2110 Kercury 7' S. of Pollux 9 6 Kercury in inferior conjunction 21 11 Solstice 9 23 Venus stationary 22 3 Kercury 4' I. of loon 10 6 Jupiter 6‘ K. of Koon 22 12 Kars 0 >8 I. of Kegulus 15 6 US? Q0AÏ7B 23 11 Juno l'-l I. of loon 17 9 Keptune 2' S. of Koon 24 11 Pallas stationary 17 11 Uranus 3) S. of Koon 24 19 Kars 7' i. of Koon 20 10 Saturn 6* S. of Koon 25 19 loon at perigee 20 17 Equinox 27 1 FIKST QUIKTEK 21 15 Kercury 4’ S. of Koon 27 6 Jupiter 7 K. of Koon 21 15 Kercury stationary 21 21 Koon at apogee Jul 1 1 Kercury stationary 23 9 KEK KOOK 4 2 FULL KOOK 24 10 Venus 4' I. of Koon 4 17 Keptune j* S. of Koon 30 14 Jupiter at opposition 4 19 Uranus 4' S. of Koon 31 6 FUST QUIKTEK 5 o Earth at aphelion 31 21 Kars 5 K. of Koon 8 1 Saturn 7' S. of Koon 10 13 Koon at apogee Ipr 1 15 Venus in inferior conjunction 12 1 FIKST QUIKTEK 5 20 Kercury greatest elong. K. (28*) 12 5 Keptune at opposition 5 21 Koon at perigee 12 16 Uranus at opposition 6 12 Jupiter 7' K. Of Koon 15 3 Kercury in inferior conjunction 6 21 FULL KOOK, 15 9 Venus 3’ I. of ildebaran 13 17 Keptune 3' S. Of Koon 16 5 Venus 2' S. of Koon 13 19 Uranus 4‘ S. of loon 17 11 Vesta stationary 7 CONFIGURATIONS OK SUN, MOON AND PLANETS 4 h 4 b Jul 19 13 IKK »0* Oct 13 3 Pallas stationary 22 10 Noon at perigee 13 12 Vesta stationary 23 5 Hars 6* K. of Hood 14 3 Venus 7' M. of Moon 24 16 Jupiter 6' M. of Moon 14 6 Mercury greatest elong. 8. (25') 25 16 Mercury stationary 15 4 Noon at perigee 26 5 FUST Q0AKEI 15 14 MEM M00M 31 23 Meptune 3” S. of Moon 17 0 Mars l’*7#M. of Moon 17 7 Mercury l'»7 S. of Moon Aug 1 0 Uranus 4’ S. Qf Moon 18 12 Jupiter in conjunction with Sun 2 14 FULL MOQM 21 16 Meptune 3' S. of Moon 4 4 Mercury greatest elong. K. (19') 21 16 Uranus 4 S. of Moon 4 6 Saturn 7 _S. of Moos 22 2 FTÏST QUAKE! 6 4 Mercury 8' S. of Pollux 22 21 Ceres at opposition 7 3 Pluto stationary 24 15 Saturn 7' S. of Moon 7 6 Moon at apogee 26 6 Mercury stationary 10 17 LAST QUAKE! 28 2 Moon at apogee 15 4 Venus 2' ». of Moon 28 8 Mercury 2 S. of Mars 17 21 MEM DOOM 28 12 Saturn stationary 19 9 Moon at perigee 30 15 FULL MOOM 20 1 Saturn at opposition 20 18 Mars 5' M. of Moon Mov 3 1 Venus 4' 8. of spica 21 6 Jupiter 6' M. of Moon 6 6 Mercury in inferior conjunction, 23 1 Venus 7' S. of Pollur transit over Sun 24 12 FIÏST Q0AKTEK 7 9 LAST QUAKE! 25 4 Pallas at opposition 8 19 Venus 0 «4 M. of Jupiter 28 4 Meptune 3' S. of Moon 12 14 Moon at perigee 28 4 Uranus 4* S. of Moon 12 16 Jupiter 4' 8. of loon 28 6 Vesta at opposition 12 23 Venus 4' I. of Moon 29 10 Mercury in superior conjunction 14 0 MEM M00M 31 8 Saturn 7’ S. of Moon 14 15 Mercury 0'*7 M. of Venus 15 2 Mercury stationary Sep 1 5 FULL M00M 17 20 Pluto in conjunction with Sun 3 19 Moon at apogee 18 2 Meptune 3' S. of Moon 4 6 Ceres stationary 18 3 Uranus 4' S. of Moon 7 2 Mars o'*9 S. of Jupiter 21 0 Saturn 7' S. of Moon 9 8 LAST QUAKE! 21 4 FUST QUAKE! 10 6 Juno in conjunction vith Sun 22 18 Mercury greatest elong. K. (20') 14 5 Venus 6' M. of Moon 24 15 Moon at apogee 16 5 MEM DOOM 29 9 FULL »0* 16 12 Mars 2' M. of Spica 16 17 Moon at perigee Dec 6 18 LAST QGAiJE! 17 10 Mercury 5 M. of Moon 10 10 Jupiter 4 M. of Moon 18 0 Jupiter 5' M. of Moon 10 16 Moon at perigee 18 8 Mars 4‘ m , of Moon 13 0 Mercury 5 8, of Antares 21 8 Venus 0'-4 M. of ïegulus 13 11 MEM M008 22 22 FIÏST QUAKE! 15 14 Meptune 3' S. of Moon 23 2 Eguinor 15 15 Uranus 4' S. of Moon 24 9 Meptune 3' S. of Moon 16 20 Ceres stationary 24 9 Uranus 4’ S. of Noon 18 12 Saturn 7 S. of Moon 24 14 Mercury 2' S. of Jupiter 18 17 Pallas l'*2 S. of Hoon 26 10 Mercury l‘*l K. of Spica 21 0 FUST QUAKE! 27 11 Saturn 7' S. of Moon 21 22 Solstice 27 16 Uranus stationary 22 10 Moon at apogee 30 5 Meptune stationery 27 4 Mars is conjunction with Sun 30 21 POLL MOO* 29 1 FULL MOOM 30 23 Moon at apogee

OCt 6 19 Mercury 2' S. of Mars 8 22 LAST QUAKE! B T H E S U N BASIC DATA: Diameter: 1 392 000 Van (109 times Earth diameter)

Mass: 1,99 x 103°kg (330 000 times Earth mass)

Surface Temperature: Approximately 6 000’c

Temperature at centre: Approximately 10 million”C

The Sun is our nearest star. It is composed chiefly of hydrogen and is in a gaseous state throughout. So hot and dense is its interior that nuclear reactions occur there - thus producing the energy that is eventually radiated from its surface. At times its surface is disturbed by sunspots (which may persist for some weeks) and short-lived flares.

The Earth's orbit round the Sun is not quite circular. In 1993 we will be closest to the Sun on January 4 (perihelion - approximate distance 147 million km) and furthest from the Sun on July 5 (aphelion - approximately 152 million km). During the year, the Sun appears to us to make a complete circuit of the sky (i.e. relative to the starry background) as indicated in the diagram.

S u m m e r Solstice

Permanent damage to the eye can be caused by looking directly at the Sun. The diagram below shows how a small telescope (or half a binocular) may be used to project an image of the solar disc onto a piece of white card. It may also be advisable to stop down the telescope aperture so that the eyepiece is not damaged by the intense light passing through it. Tiny black sunspots are generally visible on the otherwise white solar disc - if monitored over a period of a week or so, the rotation of the Sun should be apparent.

C*rtfte»rd Utftl IW*1d

Sunils hi -lm»<* Sun ■3 T«tMC9p*a A*** THE SUN'S DECLINATION AT 02 HOURS: Jan 1 -23’' 1' Apr ii 8‘'14' Jul 20 20’*42 Oct 28 -13'' 3 11 -21 50 21 11 47 30 18 34 Nov 7 -16 13 21 -19 57 May 1 15 1 Aug 9 15 55 17 -18 56 31 -17 26 11 17 50 19 12 50 27 -21 5 Feb 10 -14 25 21 20 8 29 9 26 Dec 7 -22 35 20 -10 59 31 21 53 Sep 8 5 46 17 -23 21 Mar 2 -7 17 Jun 10 23 0 18 1 57 27 -23 20 12 -3 24 20 23 26 28 -1 56 22 0 33 30 23 11 Oct 8 -5 48 Apr 1 4 28 Jxil 10 22 16 18 -9 33 g TIMES OF SUNRISE AND SUNSET FOR THE MAIN CITIES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

CAPETOWN DURBAN BLOEMFONTEIN JOHANNESBURG HARARE sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset h D h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h D Jan 1 05 38 20 01 04 58 19 01 05 21 19 18 05 18 19 04 05 24 18 35 11 05 66 20 02 05 06 19 02 05 29 19 18 05 25 19 05 05 29 18 37 21 05 55 19 59 05 14 19 00 05 37 15 17 05 33 19 04 05 37 18 38

Feb 1 06 07 19 52 05 24 18 55 05 46 19 13 05 42 19 00 05 42 18 36 11 06 17 19 44 05 32 16 48 05 54 19 06 05 49 18 55 05 47 18 32 21 06 26 19 33 05 41 18 39 06 02 18 57 05 54 18 47 05 52 18 27

Mar 1 06 33 19 23 05 46 18 30 06 08 18 48 06 00 18 39 05 55 18 21 11 06 41 19 11 05 53 18 19 06 13 18 38 06 04 18 29 05 57 18 15 21 06 49 18 58 05 59 18 06 06 18 18 27 06 11 18 19 06 00 18 06

Apr 1 06 58 18 41 06 06 17 53 06 25 18 13 06 17 18 06 06 02 17 57 11 07 04 18 30 06 11 17 43 06 30 18 03 06 21 17 56 06 04 17 50 21 07 13 18 17 06 17 17 31 06 35 17 52 06 25 17 47 06 07 17 43

May 1 07 20 18 06 06 24 17 22 06 42 17 44 06 31 17 38 06 10 17 37 11 07 28 17 57 06 31 17 14 06 49 17 36 06 37 17 31 06 13 17 32 21 07 34 17 50 06 36 17 06 06 54 17 30 06 41 17 26 06 16 17 29

Jun 1 07 4 3 17 45 06 43 17 04 07 01 17 27 06 47 17 23 06 20 17 28 11 07 48 i / 44 06 48 17 03 07 05 17 26 06 52 17 22 06 23 17 27 21 07 51 17 44 06 51 17 04 07 06 17 27 06 55 17 24 06 26 17 29

Jul 1 07 53 17 48 06 53 17 07 07 10 17 30 06 57 17 27 06 27 17 32 11 07 51 17 52 06 51 17 11 07 06 17 34 06 55 17 30 06 2 7 17 35 21 07 47 17 58 06 48 17 16 07 05 17 39 06 53 17 35 06 26 17 40

Aug 1 07 39 18 06 06 42 17 22 07 00 17 45 06 48 17 41 06 23 17 42 11 07 30 18 13 06 34 17 29 06 53 17 51 06 41 17 46 06 18 17 46 21 07 19 18 20 06 24 17 35 06 42 17 55 06 32 17 50 06 11 17 48

Sep 1 07 06 18 27 06 12 17 40 06 31 18 01 06 21 17 54 06 04 17 49 11 06 52 18 34 06 00 17 46 06 19 18 06 06 11 17 59 05 55 17 51 21 06 38 18 41 05 48 17 51 06 0/ 18 10 05 59 18 03 05 46 17 52

Oct 1 Q6 25 18 48 05 37 17 57 05 57 18 16 05 50 18 08 05 39 17 54 11 06 12 18 55 05 25 18 03 05 45 18 22 05 39 18 12 05 30 17 57 21 05 58 19 04 05 12 18 09 05 33 18 27 05 27 18 17 05 23 17 59

Nov 1 05 46 19 13 05 02 18 17 05 24 18 35 05 19 18 24 05 16 18 03 11 05 38 19 23 04 55 18 26 05 17 18 44 05 13 18 32 05 14 18 08 21 05 31 19 33 04 45 18 34 05 12 18 52 05 06 18 39 05 11 18 13

Dec 1 05 29 19 43 04 48 18 42 05 11 19 00 05 0 7 18 46 05 12 18 19 11 05 28 19 50 04 48 18 50 05 11 19 07 05 08 18 53 05 14 18 25 21 05 32 19 57 04 52 18 57 05 15 19 14 05 12 19 00 05 18 18 31

ECLIPSES OF THE SUN Two partial eclipses of the Sun, one on May 21 and the other on November 13, take place during the year. Neither will be visible from Southern Africa. 10 SOLAR SECTION The work undertaken by this section covers a broad range of techniques to observe activity on the sun's disk. Members of the section note their observations on appropriate forms, which are then forwarded to various organisations in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany and South Africa. The results we provide are further reduced by these organisations and incorporated with the Information provided by other world-wide groups of Solar Observers, such as ours. The data produced is then fed to over 450 scientific institutions all over the world, where it is used by a very wide range of scientific disciplines.

Observational techniques employed include the visual observation of the sun's disk (using suitable filters or by projecting the image onto an appropriate screen) to determine sun spots and active areas, the monitoring of solar flares by very low frequency radio waves and monitoring changes in the earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity. Other activities such as photographing and the drawing of visible solar features are also undertaken.

Towards the end of 1986, the Sun entered the new 11 year Solar cycle and this cycle is characterised by a steady climb over approximately 4*3 years, followed by a slower decline to minimum lasting approximately 6*3 years. The present Solar (cycle 22) has been rather special and very unusual, with the fastest rise to maximum yet recorded. It is also experiencing a protracted level of high activity after its very early maximum, and this activity is expected to continue in 1993.

A word of caution - NEVER observe the sun directly without adequate filtration as permanent eye damage can occur,and do not use the screw-in filters provided with some commercial telescopes, as they are inclined to shatter! Large instruments are not a prerequisite! Any telescope from 50mm, reflector or refractor can be used and provides an ideal opportunity for owners of small instruments to contribute immediately to Science. If one has no filter, then the only safe method is to project the image on to a white card. Image quality will be enhanced if the card is kept in the shade, or enclosed in a screen. Details of suitable filters are best sought from experienced solar observers or from the Director of the Solar Section.

Persons interested in observing the sun,or requiring information are invited to contact The Director of the Solar Section: Jim Knight, 17 Mars Street, Atlasville, Boksburg, 1459 or tel. 011-9731380. 11 T h e M o o n

BASIC DATA Diameter: 3 480 km (0,27 of Earth)

Mass: 7,35 x 1022 x kg (1/81 of Earth)

Surface Gravity: 0,16 of Earth

Average distance from Earth: 384 000 km

THE SURFACE OF THE MOON In common with the bodies of our solar system, the Moon's surface suffered bombardment by numerous minor bodies during the period 4,5 to 3,0 billion years ago. This has produced the heavily cratered topography now visible. Some particularly large impacts caused large circular depressions, which were flooded by molten lava from the Moon's interior. These are the mare basins which appear smoother and darker then the rest of the surface (the latln words mare and maria come from older times when the basins were mistaken for seas). The maria surfaces being younger, have fewer large craters, but the entire surface is peppered with tiny craters produced by tiny bodies which have also served to plough up the ground thus forming the regolith - a layer of loose material a metre or so deep.

THE MOON'S ORBIT As a result of its motion around the Earth, the Moon appears to make a complete circuit of the heavens in just under a month.

The Moon's orbit around the Earth is SCALE DRAW1NO MOON slightly elliptical; the Earth is situated at one of the foci of the ellipse. Thus the Earth-Moon distance varies slightly during the course of a Perigee/ revolution. Dates of Apogee, when the moon is furthest from the Earth V; (approximately 407 000 km) and of Perigee, '< RAKTH .Apogee when the Moon is closest to the Earth * (approximately 357 000 km) are given on \ the next page.

The Moon is best positioned for evening viewing from 3 to 4 days before First Quarter to shortly after Full Moon.

ECLIPSES OF THE MOON There are two eclipses of the moon during the year. The total eclipse on June 4 will still be in progress as the moon rises at Cape Town but the moon leaves penumbra a few minutes later. The partial eclipse on November 29 will begin shortly after moon set at Durban. 12 TERMINATOR AND LI BRAT I ON During the changing phases,the terminator (the boundary between illuminated and dark portions) progresses from left to right in the diagram on the next page Since the moon does not follow a perfectly circular orbit and its axis is not parallel to the Earth's axis, it is sometimes possible to see a slightly greater proportion of one limb than the opposite one. This effect is known as libration.

PHASES and VISIBILITY NEW MOON

d h m d h m d h m Jan 22 20 27 May 21 16 06 Sep 16 05 10 Feb 21 15 05 Jun 20 03 52 Oct 15 13 36 Mar 23 09 14 Jul 19 13 24 Nov 13 23 34 Apr 22 01 49 Aug 17 21 28 Dec 13 11 27

FULL MOON

d h m d h m d h n Jan S 14 37 Jun 4 15 02 Oct 30 14 38 Feb 7 01 55 Jul 4 01 45 Nov 29 08 31 Mar 8 11 46 Aug 2 14 10 Dec 29 01 05 Apr 6 20 43 Sep 1 04 33 May 6 05 34 30 20 54

MOON at AP06F.E

d h d h d h d h d h d h Jan 10 14 May 31 13 Oct 15 4 Jan 26 12 Jun 12 18 Oct 28 2 Feb 7 22 Jun 25 19 Nov 12 14 Feb 22 20 Jul 10 13 Nov 24 15 Mar S 11 Jul 22 10 Dec 10 16 Mar 21 21 Aug 7 6 Dec 22 10 Apr 5 21 Aug 19 9 Apr 18 7 Sep 3 19 Hay 4 2 Sep 16 17 May 16 0 30 23 13

Jan 2 7.7 115 Jan 8 4.9 53 Jul 7 7.1 186 Jul 13 5.6 109 Jib 14 7,9 343 Jan 21 5.1 233 Jul 21 6.7 35 Jul 28 5.4 293 Jan 11 7.8 98 Feb 6 6.0 43 Aug 3 7.1 190 Aug 9 5.4 118 Feb 12 8.1 326 Feb 18 6.0 212 WJ 15 7.5 63 Aug 21 6.2 347 far 1 8.0 78 far 8 6.5 20 Aug 29 7.5 207 Sep 5 4.9 118 far 11 7.7 293 far 25 6.2 116 Sep 12 8.6 64 Sep 18 5.5 351 Apr 1 8.2 66 Apr 7 5.9 152 Sep 25 8.5 222 Oct 3 4.2 116 Apr 11 7.5 234 Apr 23 5.4 104 Oct 10 9.2 64 oct 16 4.4 344 Apr 10 7.9 57 fay 6 4.9 331 Oct 22 9.2 218 Oct 31 3.4 113 fay 12 7.5 205 fay 21 5.0 96 lOY 7 9.1 61 «OY 13 3.2 336 fay 28 7.3 45 Jun 3 4.2 315 lov 19 9.2 211 lov 27 3.0 UO Jon 9 7.3 192 Jun 17 5.1 93 Dec 4 8.3 54 Dec 11 2.3 327 Jun 24 6.9 34 Jun 30 4.4 301 Dec 17 8.6 203 Dec 24 3.1 111 Dec 31 7.6 49

NOTE: Size of libration is given as an angle measured at the centre of the Moon. Position Angle (P.A.) is measured through East on the face of the Moon from the North point of the disk. 14 1993 TIKES OF BOOH USE AKD SET CAPE TOW for POET ELIZABETH subtract 28 EMOTES JAIOAIÏ FEBECAEÏ , HAECB APEIL m jure Else set Eise Set Eise Set Else Set E lse Set set h ■ b ■ b • b l b ■ b « b ■ fc 11 h 1 b 1 r . b ■ 1 13 16 14 56 oo a 13 43 a 53 14 56 00 44 14 49 01 52 15 18 04 11 2 14 13 00 34 15 55 01 09 14 38 15 37 01 50 15 a 03 00 16 03 05 19 3 15 12 01 07 16 52 02 04 15 31 00 49 16 16 02 58 16 02 04 08 16 52 06 26 4 16 13 01 46 17 44 03 06 16 20 01 52 16 53 04 08 16 42 05 18 17 47 07 30 5 17 14 02 31 18 32 04 13 17 04 02 59 17 31 05 18 17 25 06 28 18 46 08 28

6 18 13 03 23 19 15 05 24 17 45 04 09 18 10 06 a 18 13 07 37 19 46 09 19 7 19 09 04 23 19 55 06 37 18 24 05 21 18 51 07 41 19 06 08 44 20 47 10 04 8 19 59 05 29 20 32 07 48 19 02 06 33 19 37 08 52 20 03 09 46 a 46 10 43 9 20 44 06 39 21 09 09 00 19 40 07 45 20 27 10 01 a 02 10 41 22 43 11 17 10 21 24 07 50 a 46 10 10 20 19 08 56 21 21 11 04 a 02 11 a a 38 11 48

11 22 01 09 01 22 25 11 18 a 02 10 07 22 18 12 02 a 01 12 10 12 17 12 22 36 10 10 23 08 12 26 21 48 11 15 a 16 12 52 a 58 12 46 00 32 12 45 13 23 11 11 18 23 54 13 30 22 38 12 20 13 36 13 18 01 26 13 14 14 23 47 12 24 14 31 23 32 13 19 00 14 14 14 00 53 13 48 02 21 13 45 15 13 30 00 44 15 26 14 12 01 11 14 47 01 48 14 16 03 16 14 18 16 00 26 14 35 01 37 16 16 .00 28 14 58 02 07 15 18 02 42 14 45 04 13 14 54 17 01 08 15 37 02 33 17 00 01 25 15 39 03 02 15 47 03 36 15 14 05 11 15 37 18 01 55 16 36 03 30 17 38 02 22 16 14 03 55 16 15 04 31 15 45 06 09 16 a 19 02 46 17 30 04 27 18 13 03 18 16 46 04 49 16 44 05 a 16 20 07 06 17 19 20 03 41 18 18 05 23 18 44 04 13 17 16 05 44 17 13 06 a 16 59 08 00 18 19 21 04 38 19 01 06 18 19 13 05 07 17 44 06 39 17 46 07 a 17 43 08 49 19 a 22 05 36 19 38 07 12 19 41 06 01 18 12 07 36 18 a 08 20 18 34 09 34 20 30 23 06 33 20 11 08 06 20 09 06 55 18 41 08 33 19 02 09 15 19 30 10 15 a 34 24 07 29 20 41 09 00 20 38 07 50 19 11 09 31 19 48 10 07 20 30 10 52 2 2 43 25 08 24 21 10 09 55 21 08 08 46 19 44 10 27 20 39 10 53 21 34 11 a a 49

26 09 18 21 38 10 51 a 42 09 42 20 21 11 20 a 36 11 35 22 39 12 02 27 10 12 22 05 11 48 a 20 10 39 21 02 12 09 2 2 37 12 14 a 44 12 38 00 55 28 U 07 22 35 12 45 a 03 11 36 21 49 12 54 23 40 12 50 13 17 02 0 2 29 12 02 23 06 12 31 22 42 13 35 13 a 00 50 13 59 03 08 30 12 59 23 42 13 a a 41 14 13 00 46 14 00 01 56 1* 45 04 14 31 13 57 14 12 14 38 03 03 JULY AOGGST SEPTEEBEE OCTOBEE ■ o v n u i DECEXBEl Else Set Erse Set use .Se­ Use Set Else Set Else Set b ■ b ■ r ■ b ■ r * ll • b i b ■ b i b ■ b 1 b • 1 15 37 05 18 17 22 06 36 19 01 06 51 19 38 06 2;! 21 12 06 46 a 40 07 12 2 16 33 06 17 18 21 07 14 19 55 07 20 20 33 06 5:! 2 2 05 07 32 22 a 08 11 3 17 33 07 10 19 17 07 48 20 49 07 49 21 28 07 Z I 2 2 55 08 22 23 05 09 12 4 18 33 07 57 20 13 08 19 21 43 08 19 22 23 08 0!> 23 42 09 18 23 43 10 14 5 19 32 08 39 21 08 08 48 22 38 08 51 a 17 08 4:1 10 16 11 17 6 20 31 09 15 22 02 09 17 a 34 09 26 09 34 00 25 11 18 00 19 12 21 7 21 27 09 48 22 56 09 46 10 05 00 09 10 26 01 04 12 21 00 54 13 26 8 22 22 10 18 a 51 10 17 oo a 10 49 00 58 11 23 01 42 U 25 01 30 14 32 9 23 16 10 47 10 50 01 23 11 38 01 44 12 24 02 18 14 31 02 08 15 40 10 11 15 00 46 11 26 02 16 12 34 02 27 13 28 02 55 15 a 02 49 16 49 11 00 11 11 45 01 43 12 08 03 05 13 34 03 07 14 34 03 33 16 49 03 36 17 57 12 01 05 12 16 02 39 12 55 03 51 14 39 03 45 15 41 04 14 18 00 04 28 19 02 13 02 01 12 51 03 34 13 48 04 34 15 46 04 23 16 51 04 59 19 10 05 a 20 01 14 02 58 13 30 04 27 14 48 05 15 16 55 05 01 18 02 05 49 20 18 06 a 20 54 15 03 55 14 15 05 16 15 53 05 53 18 06 05 42 19 14 06 45 a a 07 30 a 39 16 04 53 15 06 06 02 17 00 06 32 19 17 06 25 20 26 07 45 22 17 08 32 22 19 17 05 48 16 04 06 44 18 10 07 11 20 29 07 13 21 36 08 47 23 05 09 33 22 54 18 06 40 17 07 07 a 19 20 07 52 a 40 08 06 22 40 09 49 a 47 10 31 a 26 19 07 27 18 13 08 01 20 30 08 37 22 49 09 03 23 38 10 49 11 a a 57 20 08 11 19 22 08 39 21 40 09 26 a 55 10 02 11 47 00 a 12 22 21 08 51 20 30 09 17 22 49 10 18 11 03 00 29 12 43 00 56 13 16 00 26 22 09 28 21 39 09 58 23 57 11 14 00 54 12 02 01 12 13 38 01 a 14 10 00 56 23 10 04 22 46 10 43 12 12 01 47 13 00 01 51 14 31 01 56 15 05 01 27 24 10 40 23 54 11 31 01 03 13 11 02 34 13 56 02 a 15 a 02 a 16 00 02 01 25 11 18 12 24 02 05 14 09 03 15 14 51 02 56 16 20 02 56 16 56 02 39

26 11 59 01 01 13 20 03 01 15 06 03 51 15 45 03 a 17 15 03 a 17 51 03 2 2 27 12 44 02 07 14 17 03 51 16 01 04 23 16 38 03 54 18 10 04 04 18 44 04 09 28 13 33 03 10 15 16 04 35 16 56 04 54 17 32 04 24 19 06 04 43 19 a 06 03 29 14 27 04 10 16 14 05 14 17 50 05 a 18 a 04 55 20 00 05 28 20 2 2 06 01 30 15 24 05 05 17 11 05 49 18 44 05 52 19 22 05 28 20 52 06 18 a 05 07 02 31 16 23 05 53 18 06 0 6 a 20 18 06 05 21 44 08 06 15 1993 TUBS OF ROCK RISE AK) SET JOSAEHESBGRG

juioary February ÍAK3 APRIL KA( JURE Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set b i b • b i b ■ b ■ b l b i b i h l b ■ h ■ b • 1 12 28 23 47 13 59 00 22 12 44 23 32 14 04 00 19 14 07 01 17 14 50 03 20 2 13 22 00 04 14 56 00 48 13 40 14 48 01 22 14 47 02 20 15 38 04 25 3 14 18 00 41 15 53 01 43 14 33 00 28 15 31 02 26 15 28 03 24 16 30 05 29 4 15 16 01 22 16 48 02 44 IS 25 01 29 16 13 03 31 16 12 04 30 17 26 06 32 5 16 15 02 09 17 39 03 49 16 13 02 33 16 54 04 37 16 58 05 36 18 24 07 30 6 17 14 03 02 18 26 04 56 16 58 03 39 17 38 05 44 17' 49 06 42 19 22 08 23 1 18 11 04 02 19 10 06 04 17 41 04 46 18 23 06 51 18 44 07 47 20 20 09 10 8 19 04 05 06 19 52 07 12 18 23 05 54 19 12 07 58 19 41 08 48 21 16 09 51 9 19 52 06 13 20 33 08 18 19 06 07 01 20 04 09 04 20 39 09 44 22 10 10 29 10 20 37 07 20 21 15 09 23 19 50 08 08 21 00 10 06 21 37 10 33 23 02 11 04 11 21 18 08 26 21 58 10 28 20 36 09 15 21 56 11 04 22 33 11 17 23 52 11 36 12 21 58 09 31 22 43 11 32 21 25 10 20 22 53 11 55 23 27 11 56 00 32 12 08 13 22 37 10 34 23 31 12 33 22 17 11 22 23 49 12 41 12 32 00 43 12 40 14 23 17 11 37 13 33 23 11 12 21 00 14 13 22 00 19 13 05 01 34 13 14 15 24 00 12 39 00 23 14 28 23 45 13 14 00 43 13 59 01 10 13 37 02 26 13 50 16 00 26 13 40 01 16 15 18 00 06 14 02 01 35 14 33 02 00 14 09 03 20 14 29 17 00 45 14 40 02 11 16 04 01 01 14 45 02 26 15 05 02 51 14 41 04 15 15 14 18 01 33 15 38 03 05 16 45 01 55 15 23 03 16 15 37 03 43 15 16 05 12 16 03 19 02 25 16 31 03 59 17 23 02 48 15 59 04 07 16 09 04 36 15 53 06 08 16 58 20 03 20 17 21 04 52 17 57 03 40 16 32 04 58 16 42 05 30 16 35 07 02 17 56 21 04 15 18 06 05 44 18 30 04 31 17 04 05 50 17 17 06 26 17 21 07 54 18 58 22 05 10 18 46 06 35 19 01 05 21 17 35 06 44 17 56 07 22 18 12 08 41 20 01 23 06 04 19 22 07 25 19 33 06 12 18 07 07 38 18 38 08 17 19 08 09 26 21 04 24 06 57 19 56 08 16 20 05 07 03 18 41 08 34 19 26 09 10 20 07 10 07 22 06 25 07 49 20 28 09 07 20 39 07 55 19 17 09 29 20 17 09 59 21 07 10 47 23 08 26 08 39 20 59 09 59 21 16 08 49 19 56 10 22 21 13 10 44 22 09 11 26 23 59 27 09 30 21 31 10 53 21 56 09 43 20 40 11 13 22 12 11 26 23 11 12 06 00 10 28 10 20 22 03 11 49 22 41 10 38 21 28 12 OO 23 13 12 06 23 5« 12 48 01 12 29 11 12 22 38 11 33 22 21 12 45 23 58 12 45 00 12 13 33 02 15 30 12 06 23 16 12 26 23 18 13 26 00 15 13 25 01 14 14 22 03 18 31 13 01 23 59 13 16 23 59 14 06 02 17 . JULY ADOTST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER MOVEEBER DECEMBER Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise set Rise Set Rise Set b ■ b i h a b a b a h a h a b a b a h a b a b a 1 15 15 04 20 16 55 05 43 18 22 06 09 18 50 05 49 20 16 06 23 20 45 06 49 2 16 11 05 19 17 50 06 23 19 13 06 42 19 42 06 23 21 08 07 09 21 31 07 46 3 17 09 06 13 18 44 07 01 20 03 07 14 20 34 07 00 21 59 08 00 22 15 08 44 4 18 08 07 02 19 36 07 35 20 54 07 47 21 27 07 40 22 47 08 54 22 56 09 43 5 19 04 07 46 20 27 08 08 21 46 08 22 22 20 08 24 23 32- 09 51 23 35 10 43 6 19 59 ' 08 26 a 18 08 40 22 39 09 00 23 12 09 12 DO 25 10 49 00 19 11 43 7 20 52 09 02 22 09 09 12 23 32 09 41 23 57 10 04 00 15 11 49 00 14 12 44 8 21 44 09 35 23 OO 09 46 00 29 10 26 00 02 10 59 00 56 12 50 00 54 13 46 9 22 35 10 08 23 53 10 22 00 26 11 16 OO 50 11 58 01 36 13 52 01 36 14 50 10 23 25 10 40 00 46 11 01 01 18 12 11 01 35 12 58 02 17 14 55 02 a 15 55 11 00 11 11 12 00 47 U 45 02 09 13 10 02 19 14 01 02 59 16 01 03 11 17 01 12 00 17 11 47 01 42 12 33 02 58 14 11 03 01 15 04 03 43 17 08 04 05 18 04 13 01 09 12 24 02 36 13 27 03 44 15 15 03 43 16 09 04 32 18 15 05 03 19 04 14 02 03 13 06 03 30 14 25 04 28 16 20 04 25 17 16 05 25 19 21 06 04 19 58 15 02 59 13 53 04 21 15 27 05 11 17 27 05 10 18 24 06 22 20 24 07 05 20 46 16 03 55 14 44 05 10 16 32 05 54 18 33 05 57 19 32 07 22 2i a 08 04 21 29 17 04 50 15 42 05 55 17 37 06 37 19 41 06 48 20 39 08 23 22 U 09 02 22 08 18 05 43 16 43 06 39 18 43 07 22 20 48 07 43 21 43 09 22 22 55 09 57 22 43 19 06 33 17 46 07 21 19 48 08 10 21 54 08 41 22 41 10 20 23 35 10 49 23 17 20 07 20 18 51 08 03 20 54 09 02 22 57 09 39 23 33 11 14 00 23 11 41 23 50 21 08 04 19 55 08 45 21 59 09 56 23 57 10 38 00 29 12 07 00 11 12 32 00 26 22 08 45 20 59 09 30 23 04 10 52 00 54 11 34 00 19 12 58 00 45 13 22 00 23 23 09 26 22 03 10 18 U 49 00 51 12 29 01 00 13 49 01 18 14 14 00 57 24 10 06 23 06 11 08 00 07 12 45 01 39 13 22 01 38 14 40 01 50 15 07 01 34 25 10 48 12 02 01 07 13 41 02 22 14 14 02 12 15 31 02 24 16 00 02 14 26 11 32 00 09 12 57 02 03 14 34 03 01 15 04 02 45 16 23 02 59 16 54 02 58 27 12 20 01 12 13 54 02 55 15 27 03 37 15 55 03 17 17 16 03 37 17 47 03 47 28 13 11 02 13 14 50 03 41 16 18 04 11 16 45 03 50 18 10 04 19 18 38 04 40 29 14 05 03 12 15 45 04 23 17 08 04 43 17 37 04 24 19 03 05 05 19 27 05 37 30 15 01 04 07 16 38 05 01 17 59 05 16 18 29 05 00 19 55 05 55 20 13 06 36 31 15 59 04 57 17 31 05 36 19 23 05 40 20 56 07 36 16 1993 TIMES OF SOCK EISE AID SET DCEBAK For BIDEIFOifTHX add 19 KHTOTES JABOAEV FEBEPAEi KASCH APEIL KAY JOSE Else Set Else Set Else Set Else Set Else Set Else Set h i b ■ b i b i b ■ b i b i b ■ b ■ b • b ■ b i 1 12 19 23 47 13 54 00 22 12 40 23 11 13 57 00 44 13 56 01 02 14 32 03 12 2 13 14 00 34 14 52 00 27 13 35 14 40 01 03 14 34 02 07 15 18 04 18 3 14 11 00 22 15 49 01 22 14 29 00 07 15 21 02 09 15 13 03 13 16 09 05 24 4 15 11 01 02 16 42 02 23 15 19 01 08 16 00 03 16 15 55 04 20 17 05 06 27 5 16 11 01 48 17 32 03 29 16 05 02 14 16 40 04 24 16 40 05 28 18 03 07 25 6 17 10 02 41 18 18 04 38 16 49 03 22 17 21 05 33 17 29 06 36 19 02 08 17 7 18 06 03 41 19 00 05 48 17 30 04 31 18 05 06 42 18 23 07 42 20 01 09 03 8 18 58 04 46 19 40 06 57 18 10 05 40 18 53 07 51 19 20 08 43 20 58 09 44 9 19 45 05 54 20 19 08 06 18 50 06 50 19 44 08 58 20 19 09 39 21 54 10 20 10 20 28 07 03 20 58 09 13 19 32 07 59 20 38 10 02 21 17 10 28 22 47 10 53 11 21 07 08 11 21 40 10 20 20 17 09 07 21 35 10 59 22 15 11 10 23 40 11 24 12 21 45 09 17 22 23 11 25 21 05 10 14 22 33 11 50 23 10 11 48 00 32 U 55 13 22 22 10 23 23 11 12 28 21 56 n i7 23 29 12 35 12 22 00 32 12 25 14 23 00 11 27 13 28 22 50 12 16 00 14 if 15 00 04 12 54 01 24 12 57 15 23 41 12 31 00 01 14 23 23 45 13 09 00 25 13 50 00 56 13 24 02 18 13 32 16 00 26 13 34 00 55 15 14 00 28 13 57 01 19 14 23 01 48 13 55 03 13 14 10 17 00 25 14 35 01 50 15 59 00 41 14 39 02 11 14 54 02 40 14 26 04 10 14 53 18 01 13 15 33 02 46 16 39 01 36 15 16 03 03 15 24 03 34 14 59 05 07 15 42 19 02 04 16 27 03 41 17 15 02 31 15 50 03 55 15 54 04 28 15 35 06 03 16 37 20 02 58 17 16 04 35 17 48 03 24 16 22 04 48 16 26 05 24 16 15 06 57 17 36 21 03 55 18 00 05 28 18 19 04 16 16 52 05 41 17 00 06 21 17 OO 07 48 18 39 22 04 51 18 39 06 21 18 49 05 08 17 22 06 36 17 37 07 18 17 51 08 35 19 43 23 05 46 19 14 07 13 19 19 06 00 17 52 07 32 18 18 08 13 18 47 09 17 20 47 24 06 41 19 46 08 05 19 49 06 53 18 24 08 29 19 05 09 05 19 46 09 57 21 52 25 07 34 20 17 08 58 20 22 07 47 18 59 09 24 19 56 09 53 20 48 10 35 22 55 26 08 26 20 46 09 52 20 57 08 42 19 37 10 17 20 53 10 37 21 51 11 12 23 59 27 09 18 21 16 10 47 21 36 09 38 20 19 11 07 21 52 11 17 22 55 11 50 00 55 28 10 10 21 47 11 43 22 21 10 33 21 07 11 54 22 54 11 56 23 58 12 30 01 04 29 11 04 22 20 11 28 22 00 12 37 23 58 12 33 00 50 13 14 02 08 30 11 59 22 57 12 21 22 57 13 17 00 46 13 10 01 02 14 02 03 12 31 12 56 23 39 13 11 23 59 13 50 02 07 JOH AOGBST SEPTKHBEE OCTOBEE WYffiBEB DECESBKE Else Set Else Set Else Set Else Set Else Set Else Set b ■ b 1 b t b ■ b I b ■ b i h i h i b • b 1 b l 1 14 54 04 15 16 36 05 36 18 09 05 58 18 41 05 33 20 11 06 03 20 39 06 29 2 15 50 05 14. 17 33 06 16 19 01 06 29 19 34 06 06 21 03 06 49 21 25 07 26 3 16 49 06 08 18 28 06 52 19 53 06 59 20 28 06 42 21 53 07 39 22 07 08 26 4 17 48 06 56 19 22 07 25 20 46 07 31 21 21 07 21 22 41 08 34 22 47 09 26 5 18 46 07 39 20 15 07 56 21 39 08 05 22 15 08 04 23 25 09 31 23 24 10 27 6 19 43 08 18 21 07 08 26 22 33 08 41 23 07 08 51 00 25 10 31 00 19 11 29 7 20 37 08 52 21 59 08 57 23 27 09 21 23 57 09 43 00 07 11 32 00 02 12 32 8 21 30 09 24 22 52 09 30 00 29 10 06 00 58 10 39 00 46 12 35 00 40 13 36 9 22 23 09 55 23 46 10 04 00 21 10 56 00 44 11 38 01 25 13 38 01 20 14 42 10 23 15 10 25 00 46 10 42 01 13 11 60 01 28 12 40 02 03 14 44 02 03 15 48 11 00 11 10 57 00 41 11 24 02 04 12 50 02 10 13 44 02 43 15 51 02 51 16 55 12 00 08 11 30 01 37 12 12 02 51 13 53 02 51 14 50 03 26 17 00 03 44 17 59 13 01 02 12 06 02 31 13 06 03 36 14 58 03 30 15 57 04 14 18 09 04 42 18 59 14 01 57 12 46 03 25 14 04 04 19 16 05 04 11 17 06 05 05 19 16 05 43 19 52 15 02 53 13 32 04 15 15 08 05 00 17 13 04 54 18 16 06 02 20 19 06 45 20 40 16 03 50 14 23 05 03 16 13 05 40 18 22 05 39 19 25 07 02 21 15 07 46 a a 17 04 45 15 21 05 47 17 21 06 22 19 31 06 29 20 34 08 03 22 05 08 45 21 58 IS 05 38 16 23 06 28 18 28 07 05 20 40 07 23 21 38 09 03 22 48 09 41 22 32 19 06 27 17 28 07 09 19 36 07 52 21 48 08 20 22 36 10 02 23 27 10 36 23 04 20 07 12 18 34 07 48 20 44 08 42 22 52 09 19 23 27 10 58 00 23 11 29 23 36 21 07 54 19 40 08 29 21 51 09 35 23 52 10 18 00 29 11 52 00 01 12 21 00 26 22 08 34 20 46 09 12 22 57 10 31 00 54 11 16 00 13 12 45 00 34 13 13 00 07 23 09 13 21 51 09 58 11 29 00 45 12 12 00 53 13 37 01 05 14 06 00 40 24 09 51 22 56 10 48 00 01 12 26 01 33 13 07 01 28 14 29 01 36 15 00 01 16 25 10 31 11 41 01 02 13 23 02 15 14 00 02 01 15 22 02 08 15 54 01 55 26 11 14 00 01 12 36 01 58 14 18 02 53 14 52 02 33 16 15 02 42 16 49 02 38 27 12 00 01 06 13 33 02 49 15 U 03 28 15 44 03 04 17 10 03 19 17 42 03 26 28 12 50 02 08 14 31 03 35 16 04 04 00 16 36 03 35 18 04 04 00 18 33 04 20 29 13 44 03 07 15 27 04 15 16 56 04 31 17 29 04 08 18 58 04 45 19 21 05 17 30 14 41 04 02 16 22 04 52 17 48 05 02 18 23 04 43 19 50 05 35 20 06 06 17 31 15 39 04 52 17 16 05 26 19 17 05 21 20 47 07 18 THE PLANETS

BASIC DATA Dist fro* Period of Equatorial Rotation Inclination Ko. of Sun Revolution Xass Diaieter Period of Equator Xiomt 10 X* years (Earth ■= 1) 103 X* to orbit satellites Xercury 5« 0.24 0.055 4.98 58.65d 0‘ 0 Venus 108 0.62 0.815 12.10 243d R 178' 0 Earth 150 1.00 1.000 12.76 23h56l 23*27' 1 Xsrs 228 1.88 0.107 6.79 24h37* 23*59' 2 Jupiter 778 11.9 318.867 142.80 091)511 03*04' 16 Saturn 1 426 29.5 95.142 120.00 10hl4l 26*44' 18 Oranus 2 868 84.0 14.559 52.00 17.2h 97*52’ 15 Septune 4 494 164.8 17.207 48.40 17.8h 29*34' 8 Pluto 5 896 247.6 0.002 3.00 6.39d 118*? 1

GENERAL Apart from Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, the planets of our solar system are amongst the brightest objects in the night sky. Their apparent brightness is measured in magnitudes. A planet of magnitude 1,0, that of the brightest stars, will be 100 times brighter than one of magnitude 6.0, the limit of visibility to the naked eye in the total absence of artificial lighting. Unlike the distant stars, the relative positions of the planets do not remain fixed, but continually change as, like the Earth, they orbit around the Sun. Their apparent movements against the starry background are complicated as they result from a combination of their own motion and the Earth's motion. Their brightnesses also vary considerably, as both their distances from the Earth and the visible portions of their sunlit hemispheres change. Since the period of a planet Increases with increasing distance from the Sun, so we find that the inner planets - Mercury and Venus - appear to "overtake" the Earth in their orbits, while the Earth in turn "overtakes" the outer planets - Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The terms given in astronomy to the various Sun-Earth- Planet configurations are illustrated in the accompanying diagram. Dates of such configurations occuring during the year are listed chronologically in the DIARY OF PHENOMINA and are also mentioned in the text below.

OBSERVING THE PLANETS To the naked eye, planets appear as virtually point sources of light. However, their disks can be readily resolved with the aid of a small telescope. Even so, their angular diameters are of the order of 10 seconds of arc - roughly 1/200 of the Moon's angular diameter - so it is not always possible to distinguish details on their disks. The disks of Mercury and Venus are only seen fully illuminated when they are furthest from us - as they draw closer, their disks grow larger but the phase changes to a crescent as we see more of their dark hemispheres. In contrast, the disks of the outer planets are always seen fully or near fully illuminated. 18

t i m e s o f r i s i n g a n d s e t t i n g

The times of rising and setting given by the diagram are accurate for position 30* East, 30° South and approximately correct for other places in Southern Africa. Strictly speaking, corrections for latitude and longitude should be applied, but the latitude correction is in general sufficiently small to be ignored and in no case will exceed 15 minutes. 19 CORRECTION FOR PUCES NOT ON THE 30° E MERIDIAN Approximate longitude corrections from the 30° East meridian are:

Bloemfontein +15" East London +8" Port Elizabeth +18' Bulawayo +6“ Grahamstown +14" Pretoria +7' Cape Town +46" Johannesburg +8“ Harare -4' Durban -4" Kimberley +21" Windhoek +52' 20 MERCURY The planet may be seen low In the east before sunrise between the following approximate dates: January 1 (at nag.-0.5) to January 8 (at mag.-0.7), March 16 (at mag.+2.6) to May 8 (at mag.-1.3), July 24 (at mag.+2.5) to August 21 (at mag.-1.4) and November 12 (at mag.+1.6) to December 18 (at mag.-0.7). The best conditions for viewing will be from the third week of March until the end of April as Mercury passes through Aquarius and Pices. Mercury may also be seen low in the west after sunset between the following approximate dates: February 5 (at mag.-1.2) to March 2 (at mag.+1.8), May 24 (at mag.-1.4) to July 6 (at mag.+2.9) and September 9 (at mag.-0.9) to October 31 (at mag.+1.9) The best conditions for viewing will be for most of June when Mercury is in Gemini and from the third week in September until late October as the planet passes through Virgo and Libra. d h d h d h Superior Conjunction Jan 23 18 May 16 5 Aug 29 10 Greatest Elongation East Feb 21 11 (18*) Jun 17 19 (25*) Oct 14 6 Stationary Feb 27 11 Jul 1 1 Oct 26 5 Inferior Conjunction Mar 9 6 Jul 15 3 Nov 6 6 Stationary Mar 21 15 Jul 25 16 Nov 15 2 Greatest Elongation West Apr 5 20 (28*) Aug 4 4 (19*) Nov 22 18

A near graze transit over the solar disk will occur on November 6. Predictions are: h m s PA* Ingress, exterior contact 5 05 52.7 188.1 interior contact 5 11 46.2 190.1 Least angular distance 5 56 33.5 Egress, interior contact 6 41 21.4 221.7 exterior contact 6 47 14.8 223.7

VENUS The planet will be in the evening sky until the end of March (at mag. -4. 4), reaching greatest brilliancy on Feb 24 at magnitude -4.6. It returns to the morning sky from early April (at mag.-4.0) until early December (at mag.-3.9) reaching greatest brilliancy on May 7 at magnitude -4.5. d h d h Greatest Elongation East Jan 19 18 (47*) Stationary Apr 20 4 Stationary Mar 9 23 Greatest Elongation West Jun 10 15 (46°) Inferior Conjunction Apr 1 15

MARS Mars, initially visible throughout the night, begins the year in Gemini (at mag. -1.4), passing to Cancer after mid April (at mag. +0.9), to Leo near the end of May (mag. +1.3), to Virgo in late July (at mag. +1.6), to Libra in early October. After early November it will be too close to the sun to be seen for the rest of the year.

JUPITER Jupiter will be found in Virgo for most of the year. In January (at mag.-2.1) it is visible for more than half the night and by the end of March becomes an all night object. It will be an evening sky object in late June (at mag.-2.1), becoming too close to the Sun in early October to be seen. Jupiter re-appears in the morning sky at the beginning of November (at mag. -1.8). It passes to Libra in mid December reaching magnitude -2.0 at the end of the year. N o r t h P o l e SATURN South Cassini Division Saturn, seen in Capricomus, will be found in the evening sky until late - R in g B January. It will reappear in the morning sky in late February (at mag.+0.8). It passes into Aquarius in late March where it will be an all night object by mid August (at mag. C r e p e R in g N o rth P o le +0.4). It returns to Capricornus in early September. By mid November, the planet will be an evening sky object at magnitude +0.7 and in late December it will pass back into Aquarius.

URANUS AND NEPTUNE Uranus and Neptune are both in Sagittarius all year. Both planets are at opposition on July 12 with Uranus at magnitude 5.6 and Neptune at magnitude +7.9. Sevral occasions, when Uranus will be found within l’-10 south of Neptune, occur during the year; January 25, February 2, August 20, September 20 - 25, October 24 The paths of Uranus and Neptune.

PLUTO Pluto at magnitude +14 in Serpens is visible only in a telescope of at least 25cm aperture.

EVENTS OF INTEREST Evening Sky: 1 Jan. to 6 Jan Venus and Saturn visible. 7 J a n . to 23 Jan Venus, Mars and Saturn visible. 24 Jan. to 4 Feb Venus and Mars visible. 5 Feb. to 2 Mar Mercury, Venus and Mars visible. 3 M a r . to 28 Mar Venus and Mars visible. 30 M a r . to 23 May Mars and Jupiter visible. 24 May to 26 Jul Mercury, Mars and Jupiter visible. 27 J u l . to 18 Aug Mars and Jupiter visible. 19 Aug. to 8 Sep Mars, Jupiter and Saturn visible. 7 S e p . Mars and Jupiter in conjunction. 9 Sep. to 5 Oct Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn visible. 6 Oct. Mercury and Mars in conjunction. 6 Oc t . to 31 Oct Mercury, Mars and Saturn visible. 28 O c t . Mercury and Mars in conjunction. 1 Nov. to 2 Nov Mars and Saturn visible. 22 Morning Sky: 1 Jan. to 7 Jan Mercury, Mars and Jupiter visible. 27 Feb. to 15 Mar Jupiter and Saturn visible. 16 Mar. to 30 Mar Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn visible. 51 M a r . to 5 Apr Mercury and Jupiter visible. 6 A p r . to 8 May Mercury, Venus and Jupiter visible. 16 Apr. Mercury and Venus in conjunction. 9 May to 23 Jul Venus and Jupiter visible. 24 Jul. to 19 Aug Mercury, Venus and Saturn visible. 20 Aug. to 21 Aug Mercury and Venus visible. 1 N o v . to 11 Nov Venus and Jupiter visible. 8 Nov. Venus and Jupiter in conjunction. 12 Nov. to 6 Nov Mercury, Venus and Jupiter visible. 14 Nov. Mercury and Venus in conjunction. 7 Nov. to 18 Nov Mercury and Jupiter visible.

APPARENT PLACES: Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC

h m W * h m * t h m • • h m t Jan 1 17 49 .3 -23 51 21 57 .8 -14 5 7 30 .9 25 43 12 51 .7 -4 7 Jan 11 18 57..1 -24 13 22 38.,5 -9 31 7 13..6 26 28 12 54 .3 -4 21 Jan 21 20 7 .2 -22 17 23 15 .8 -4 41 6 57 .6 26 54 12 55 .9 -4 28 Jan 31 21 17 .7 -17 50 23 49..7 0 10 6 45..7 27 1 12 56..3 -4 28 Feb 10 22 25 .5 -11 1 0 19 .3 4 50 6 39 .7 26 55 12 55 .6 -4 20 Feb 20 23 19 .4 -3 21 0 43..2 9 1 6 39..4 26 40 12 53..7 -4 6

Mar 2 23 32 .4 0 32 0 CO .9 12 24 6 44 .3 26 19 12 50 .7 -3 45 Mar 12 23 2..6 -2 34 1 2..8 14 27 6 53 .5 25 53 12 46 .9 -3 20 Mar 22 22 45 .7 -6 46 0 52 .6 14 28 7 6 .0 25 21 12 42 .5 -2 51 Apr 1 23 3..1 -7 18 0 32,.1 12 6 7 21 .2 24 41 12 37..8 -2 20 Apr 11 23 41 .7 -4 32 0 13 .5 8 21 7 38 .3 23 52 12 33 .1 -1 51 Apr 21 0 32 .8 0 39 0 7..5 5 13 7 56..9 22 54 12 28..8 -1 24

May- 1 1 34 .1 7 36 0 15..5 3 44 8 16 .6 21 44 12 25 .1 -1 2 May 11 2 48..0 15 28 0 34..5 3 54 8 37..0 20 24 12 22..3 -0 46 May 21 4 15 .3 22 18 1 1 .1 5 18 8 58 .0 18 53 12 20 .5 -0 36 May 31 5 42..9 25 27 1 32..7 7 32 9 19.,4 17 11 12 19,.8 -0 34 Jun 10 6 53 .7 24 45 2 8 .1 10 15 9 41 .0 15 18 12 20 .1 -0 40 Jun 20 7 40..7 21 54 2 46 .5 13 8 10 2..8 13 16 12 21 .6 -0 52

Jun 30 7 59 .4 18 41 3 27,.7 15 56 10 24 .7 11 6 12 24 .0 -1 10 Jul 10 7 47,.6 16 48 4 11..4 18 25 10 46,,7 8 48 12 27..4 -1 35 Jul 20 7 22 .2 17 14 4 57,.5 20 21 11 8 .9 6 23 12 31 .7 -2 4 Jul 30 7 20..5 19 7 5 45..6 21 32 11 31,,3 3 53 12 36 .7 -2 39 Aug 9 8 0..9 20 5 6 35 .0 21 51 11 53..9 1 19 12 42 .3 -3 17 Aug 19 9 13..3 17 30 7 25..1 21 13 12 16..9 -1 18 12 48..6 -3 58

Aug 29 10 31,.2 11 11 8 15..1 19 35 12 40 .3 -3 56 12 55 .4 -4 42 Sep 8 11 39..7 3 26 9 4..4 17 3 13 4..2 -6 33 13 2..6 -5 28 Sep 18 12 39..4 -4 13 9 52,.6 13 41 13 28..8 -9 8 13 10..1 -6 15 Sep 28 13 33. 5 -11 4 10 39. 6 9 41 13 54..1 -11 38 13 17..9 -7 4 Oct 8 14 22..8 -16 42 11 25 .8 5 12 14 20..2 -14 2 13 25..9 -7 52 Oct 18 15 2. 8 -20 28 12 11. 5 0 25 14 47. 2 -16 17 13 34. 1 -8 40

Oct 28 15 16..3 -20 55 12 57, 3 -4 26 15 15..3 -18 20 13 42,.3 -9 27 Nov 7 14 40. 8 -15 36 13 43. 8 -9 11 15 44. 3 -20 9 13 50 .5 -10 13 Nov 17 14 21..0 -11 37 14 31,,7 -13 35 16 14.,4 -21 41 13 58..5 -10 57 Nov 27 14 55. 7 -14 34 15 21. 3 -17 27 16 45. 5 -22 53 14 6. 4 -11 39 Dec 7 15 51. 9 -19 10 16 12, 9 -20 32 17 17. 4 -23 42 14 14.,0 -12 18 Dec 17 16 55. 5 -22 49 17 6. 3 -22 38 17 50..0 -24 8 14 21, 1 -12 53 Dec 27 18 3.,2 -24 40 18 0. 9 -23 37 18 23..1 -24 7 14 27 .8 -13 25 23

Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC • • h m h m • > h n » h m • • Jan 1 21 16.5 -16 54 19 16.8 -22 41 19 19.1 -21 31 15 42.7 -5 8 Jan 11 21 20.8 -16 35 19 19.4 -22 36 19 20.8 -21 28 15 43.8 -5 9 Jan 21 21 25.4 -16 14 19 21.9 -22 31 19 22.4 -21 25 15 44.8 -5 9 Jan 31 21 30.1 -15 52 19 24.4 -22 27 19 23.9 -21 22 15 45.6 -5 7 Feb 10 21 34.8 -15 29 19 26.7 -22 22 19 25.4 -21 19 15 46.1 -5 5 Feb 20 21 39.6 -15 7 19 28.9 -22 18 . 19 26.7 -21 16 15 46.4 -5 2

Mar 2 21 44.2 -14 44 19 30.9 -22 14 19 28.0 -21 13 15 46.5 -4 58 Mar 12 21 48.7 -14 23 19 32.5 -22 10 19 29.0 -21 11 15 46.4 -4 53 Mar 22 21 52.9 -14 2 19 34.0 -22 8 19 29.8 -21 - 9 15 46.1 -4 48 Apr 1 21 56.9 -13 42 19 35.0 -22 5 19 30.5 -21 8 15 45.5 -4 43 Apr 11 22 0.5 -13 25 19 35.8 -22 4 19 30.8 -21 7 15 44.8 -4 38 Apr 21 22 3.7 -13 9 19 36.1 -22 3 19 31.0 -21 6 15 44.0 -4 33

May 1 22 6.4 -12 56 19 36.2 -22 4 19 30.9 -21 6 15 43.0 -4 28 May 11 22 8.6 -12 46 19 35.8 -22 5 19 30.6 -21 7 15 42.0 -4 24 May 21 22 10.2 -12 40 19 35.2 -22 7 19 30.1 -21 8 15 40.9 -4 21 May 31 22 11.2 -12 36 19 34.2 -22 9 19 29.4 -21 9 15 39.9 -4 19 Jun 10 22 11.5 -12 36 19 33.0 -22 12 19 28.6 -21 11 15 38.9 -4 18 Jun 20 22 11.3 -12 40 19 31.5 -22 15 19 27.6 -21 13 15 38.0 -4 18

Jun 30 22 10.4 -12 47 19 29.9 -22 19 19 26.5 -21 15 15 37.2 -4 19 Jul 10 22 9.0 -12 57 19 28.2 -22 23 19 25.4 -21 18 15 36.6 -4 21 Jul 20 22 7.0 -13 9 19 26.5 -22 26 19 24.2 -21 20 15 36.1 -4 25 Jul 30 22 4.7 -13 24 19 24.8 -22 30 19 23.1 -21 23 15 35.8 -4 29 Aug 9 22 2.0 -13 40 19 23.3 -22 33 19 22.1 -21 25 15 35.8 -4 35 Aug 19 21 59.1 -13 56 19 21.9 -22 35 19 21.2 -21 27 15 35.9 -4 41

Aug 29 21 56.2 -14 12 19 20.8 -22 38 19 20.4 -21 29 15 36.3 -4 48 Sep 8 21 53.4 -14 27 19 19.9 -22 39 19 19.8 -21 30 15 36.8 -4 55 Sep 18 21 50.9 -14 40 19 19.4 -22 40 19 19.4 -21 31 15 37.6 -5 3 Sep 28 21 48.8 -14 51 19 19.3 -22 40 19 19.2 -21 32 15 38.6 -5 11 Oct 8 21 47.2 -14 58 19 19.5 -22 39 19 19.3 -21 32 15 39.7 -5 19 Oct 18 21 46.2 -15 3 19 20.0 -22 38 19 19.6 -21 32 15 40.9 -5 27

Oct 28 21 45.9 -15 4 19 20.9 -22 36 19 20.2 -21 31 15 42.3 -5 34 Nov 7 21 46.2 -15 1 19 22.2 -22 34 19 20.9 -'21 30 15 43.8 -5 41 Nov 17 • 21 47.2 -14 55 19 23.8 -22 30 19 21.9 -21 28 15 45.3 -5 48 Nov 27 21 48.8 -14 46 19 25.6 -22 27 19 23.0 -21 26 15 46.8 -5 53 Dec 7 21 51.0 -14 34 19 27.7 -22 22 19 24.4 -21 24 15 48.3 -5 58 Dec 17 21 53.8 -14 18 19 29.9 -22 17 19 25.8 -21 21 15 49.7 -6 1 Dec 27 21 57.1 -14 1 19 32.4 -22 12 19 27.3 -21 18 15 51.1 -6 4 24 THK MOONS OF JUPITER

One of the most popular sights for an observer with a small telescope is Jupiter and its moons. Four of the sixteen - lo. Europa, Ganymede and Callisto - are generally clearly visible - they would just be visible to the naked eye were it not for the glare from the mother planet. As the diagram on the next page indicates, the system is seen almost edge-on so the moons always lie close to a straight line extending from the planet's equator. As they orbit, so they appear to oscillate from one side to the other, alternately passing in front and behind the planet. This motion is represented in the following diagrams which show how their positions along such a straight line change during the 8 months when Jupiter is prominent. For each month, time increases downward; the disc of Jupiter is stretched to make the central column, and horizontal lines representing midnight 25 (0 am SAST), are shown for every day of the month. The wavy lines show how the moons appear to ossilate from each side of the planet to the other.

South

Jupiter West Osnymede 26 When the noons pass in front and behind the planet, transits, occultations and eclipses occur. Details of such phenomena, occurring between the end of astronomical twilight in the evening and its commencement in the morning when the planet is above the horizon in Southern Africa, are given in the table below.

EXPLANATION OF THE TABLE. • Date and predicted times are given; these are for mid-phenomean and are not instantaneous. - The moon concerned are I - Io, II - Europa, III - Ganymede and IV - Callisto. - Phenomena - the abbreviations used are D - Disappearance; Ec - Eclipse ie.the satellite passes through the shadow of Jupiter; R - Reappearance; Oc - Occultation ie.the satellite is obscured by the disc of Jupiter; I - Ingress; Sh - Shadow Transit ie.the shadow of the satellite transits the disc; E - Egress; Tr - Transit ie.the satellite crosses the disc of Jupiter.

d h l d h ■ d h 1 d h 1 J M 01 02 13 I.sh.l. Fab 09 00 36 i.a.i. Ear 04 21 52 I.Ec.D. Ear 26 01 02 m . a . i . 03 27 I.Tr.I. 01 36 I.Tr.I. 05 00 39 I.Oc.l. 01 37 Ill.lr.t. 04 26 I.sh.l. 02 49 I.a.E. 21 26 I.Sb.E. 03 33 I.EC.D. 02 02 46 l.OC.l. 03 47 l.Tr.E. 21 58 l.Tr.E. 03 53 m . a . E . 0« 04 07 I.Sh.I. 10 00 55 I.Oc.l. 07 03 36 n.a.i. 04 09 III.Tr.E. 09 01 15 I.Ec.D. 22 14 l.Tr.E. 08 03 11 III.Ec.D. 05 52 I.Oc.S. 10 00 36 i i i.o c .d . 11 01 15 m . a . i . 22 45 n.ec.D. 19 49 II.Oc.K. 00 48 i.a.E. 04 10 ui.a.B. 09 02 12 U.0C.Ï. 27 00 54 i.a.i. 01 59 l.Tr.E. 12 01 43 II.EC.D. 10 20 16 n.ir.B. 01 06 I.Tr.I. 03 17 III.Oc.l. 13 21 48 II.Tr.I. 11 02 38 i.a.i. 03 06 i.a.E. U 02 06 i i .e c .d . 22 23 n.a.E. 03 06 I.Ti.I. 03 11 l.Tr.E. 13 01 13 II.Tr.E. 14 00 10 II.Tr.E. 04 51 i.a.E. 22 02 I.lc.D. 16 03 08 I.Ec.D. a 44 111.05.1. 05 17 l.Tr.E. 28 00 18 I.Oc.l. 17 00 28 i.sh.l. 16 02 30 i.a.i. 19 5$ III.».». 19 a i.a.i. 01 48 I.Tr.I. 03 24 I.Tr.I. a 34 III.Tr.E. 19 26 I.Tr.I. 02 27 III.Ec.l. 23 37 I.Ec.D. 23 48 I.Ec.D. 21 35 i.a.i. 02 41 i.a.E. 17 02 42 I.Oc.l. 12 02 24 I.Oc.S. 21 36 l.Tr.E. 03 51 l.Tr.E. 21 50 I.Tr.I. a 06 i.a.i. 29 IS 44 I.Oc.S. 04 28 III.OC.D. 23 10 i.a.s. a 32 I.R.I. Apr 01 00 38 II.Tr.I. IS 01 00 I.Oc.l. 18 00 01 l.Tr.E. 23 19 i.a.K. 00 40 n.a.i. 20 01 18 II.Tr.I. 19 04 18 II.Ec.D. 23 43 I.ïrX 03 02 II.Tr.E. 01 25 II.a.E. 20 22 27 n.a.i. 13 20 50 I.Oc.S. 03 10 n.a.E. 03 42 II.Tr.E. 21 OO 08 II.Tr.I. 16 01 19 II.EC.D. 02 04 52 III.Tr.I. 24 02 21 i.a.i. 00 57 n.a.E. 04 27 II.Oc.K. K 00 m . a . i . 03 24 III.Sc.D. 02 31 II.Tr.E. 17 20 09 II.Tr.I. 05 24 I.OC.D. 03 31 I.Tr.I. 22 n III.Ec.l. a 59 ii.a.E. 19 39 n.oc.D. 23 29 I.Ec.D. 22 42 III.OC.D. 22 32 II.Tr.E. 22 15 II.Bc.E. 25 02 50 l.OC.l. 22 01 12 III.Oc.l. 18 04 32 i.a.i. 03 02 41 I.Tr.I. 26 00 09 l.Tr.E. 21 37 II.Oc.I. M 50 I.Tr.I. 02 48 i.a.i. 27 01 28 n.a.i. 23 04 23 i.a.i. 21 04 m . a . i . 04 54 l.Tr.E. 03 47 II.Tr.I. 24 01 30 I.Ec.D. 22 22 III.Tr.I. 05 00 i.a.E. 03 59 II.a.E. 04 28 I.Oc.l. 23 56 III.a.E. 23 50 i.ocJ). 26 00 31 III.Tr.E. 22 51 i.a.i. 19 00 53 III.Tr.E. 04 02 09 I.lC.K. 29 01 18 II.Oc.I. 23 36 I.Tr.I. 01 39 I.Ec.D. 21 09 I.Tr.I. 31 04 15 i.a.i. 25 01 04 i.a.E. 04 08 I.Oc.l. 21 16 i.a.i. Ftb 01 01 22 I.Ec.D. 01 47 l.Tr.E. 23 00 i.a.i. a 20 l.Tr.E. 22 43 i.a.i. 22 54 I.Oc.l. 23 16 I.Tr.I. a a i.a.E. 23 48 I.Tr.I. 28 01 01 n.a.i. 20 01 13 i.a.E. 05 20 38 I.Ec.l. 02 00 56 i.a.E. 02 27 II.Tr.I. 01 27 l.Tr.E. 21 55 III.EC.I. 01 59 l.Tr.E. 03 32 n.a.E. 20 08 I.Ec.D. 08 02 53 II.Tr.I. 23 06 I.Oc.l. 23 13 III.Ec.D, 22 34 I.0C.Ï. 03 16 n.a.i. 03 04 02 n.a.i. Ear 01 04 37 III.Oc.l. 21 19 41 i.a.E. 05 It II.Tr.E. 04 00 13 III.Sb.E. 23 55 n.oc.i. 19 53 l.Tr.E. 09 a 53 h .o c .d . 01 45 III.Tr.I. 03 03 23 I.Ec.D. 23 03 54 II.EC.D. 10 00 49 n.Ec.i. 04 17 III.Tr.E. 04 00 45 i.a.i. 24 22 04 n.a.i. 04 27 I.Tr.I. 23 09 II.EC.D. 01 22 I.Tr.I. 22 24 II.Tr I. 04 42 i.a.i. 05 03 43 II.Oc.I. 02 57 i.a.E. 25 00 34 II.a.E. 11 01 34 I.OC.D. 06 03 15 I.EC.D. 03 32 l.Tr.E. 00 47 II.Tr.E. 04 03 I.Ec.l. d b I d b i d h » d h i Apr 11 19 03 ii.a.E. lay 08 oo 17 m.Tr.E. Jun 05 19 30 III.a.E. Jul 14 18 39 II.Oc.D. 22 53 I.Tr.l. 00 54 Ill.a.I. 19 57 i.a.i. 19 26 I.Tr.E. 23 10 i.a.i. 10 01 15 II.Tr.I. 20 58 I.Tr.E. M 37 i.a.E. 12 01 04 I.Tr.l. 03 oi n.a.i. 21 23 II.Ec.l. 21 48 III.OC.D. 01 22 i.a.E. 11 03 04 I.OC.D. 22 07 i.a.E. 16 18 23 n.a.E. 20 00 I.Oc.D. 20 09 II.OC.D. 06 19 22 I.Ec.K. 18 19 20 III.a.E. 21 52 IH.Oc.D. 12 00 23 I.Tr.l. 11 00 19 II.Tr.I. 20 21 57 I.OC.D. 22 32 I.fc.i. 00 a Il.fc.S. 23 21 I.OC.D. 21 19 11 I.Tr.l. 13 01 53 III.Ec.ï. oi 16 i.a.i. 12 18 37 III.Tr.E. 20 22 i.a.i. 19 30 I.Tr.E. 02 34 I.Tr.E. 19 03 II.Oc.D. 21 18 II.OC.D. 19 51 i.a.t. 21 31 I.OC.D. 20 38 I.Tr.l. 21 23 I.Tr.E. 17 00 07 II.OC.D. 13 00 48 I.fc.i. 20 49 m . a . i . 22 32 i.a.E. 03 23 II.Ec.l. 18 48 n.a.E. 21 51 i.a.i. 22 19 51 I.fc.i. 18 03 19 I.Oc.D. 18 50 I.Tr.l. 22 50 I.Tr.E. a 18 35 n.a.i. 19 10 n.a.i. 19 45 i.a.i. a a m . a . E . 18 41 II.Tr.E. 20 43 II.Tr.I. 21 01 I.Tr.E. 23 57 n.fc.i. 21 OO II.Sb.B. 21 39 ii.a.E. 21 56 I.a.E. 13 00 02 i.a.E. 25 18 48 III.Tr.E. 19 00 38 I.Tr.l. 14 19 08 I.fc.i. a is i.fc.i. 20 44 m . a . i . 01 04 i.a.i. 15 01 02 III.Tr.l. 14 IS 30 i.a.E. 28 21 09 I.Tr.l. 02 49 I.Tr.E. 18 11 59 III.fc.D. It 34 n.a.E. a 16 i.a.i. 03 16 i.a.E. 21 44 III.fc.1. 19 19 37 in.Tr.I. 29 21 48 I.fc.i. a 45 I.Oc.D. 22 31 II.OC.D. 21 35 II.Oc.D. 30 18 53 II.Tr.I 20 00 27 I.fc.i. 19 02 11 I.Tr.l. 22 30 III.Tr.E. 18 55 I.a.E. 01 09 III.OC.D. 23 20 I.Oc.D. 22 32 I.Tr.l. 21 12 n.a.i. 19 04 I.Tr.l. 20 02 35 I.fc.i. 23 46 i.a.i. a 25 II.Tr.E. 19 33 i.a.i. 18 57 n.a.i. 20 00 05 n.oc.i. Aug 01 20 08 III.Tr.l. 21 15 I.Tr.E. 19 20 II.Tr.E. 00 06 ii.ec.d . 05 20 24 I.Oc.D. 21 45 i.a.E. 20 38 I.Tr.l. 19 43 I.Oc.D. 06 18 40 i.a.:. 21 18 55 I.fc.i. 21 25 Ii.a.E. 23 13 I.fc.i. 19 49 I.Tr.E. 23 19 43 III.a.E. 21 39 i.a.i. 21 18 15 i.a.i. 20 50 i.a.E. 24 02 23 II.OC.D, 22 50 I.Tr.E. 18 40 II.Tr.E. a 38 II.Tr.I. 25 20 34 II.Tr.I. a so i.a.E. It 46 n.a.i. 08 20 33 n.fc.i. 21 47 n.a.i. 21 21 03 I.fc.i. 19 11 I.Tr.E. 12 18 53 III.fc.D. 23 01 II.Tr.I. 22 18 18 I.a.E. 20 25 i.a.E. 21 26 III.fc.1. 26 00 16 n.a.E. 25 18 30 III.OC.D. 21 12 n.a.E. 13 19 36 I.Tr.l. 02 23 I.Tr.l. 2i a ni.oc.i. 26 23 33 III.Tr.l. 20 34 i.a.i. 02 59 i.a.i. 22 58 III.fc.D. a 00 08 II.Oc.D. 14 20 05 i.fc.i. 23 31 I.Oc.D. 26 00 54 II.OC.D. a is I.Oc.D. 15 18 48 II.Oc.D. 27 02 21 I.fc.i. 01 42 III.fc.1. 28 18 46 II.Tr.I. 19 19 01 UI.OC.D. 19 15 II.Ec.l. 27 01 10 I.OC.D. 18 54 I.Tr.l. 21 18 54 I.Oc.D. 20 49 I.Tr.l. 19 18 II.Tr.I. 20 09 i.a.i. 22 19 08 i.a.E. a 27 i.a.i. a 35 n.a.i. 21 06 I.Tr.E. 24 19 06 II.Tr.E. a 00 I.Tr.E. 21 48 II.Tr.E. 21 18 II.Tr.E. 20 46 n.a.E. a 39 i.a.E. 22 28 I.Tr.l. a a n.a.i. 29 18 52 i.a.i. 28 20 50 I.EC.S. 23 34 I.a.i. 22 19 i.a.E. 20 17 I.Tr.E. 30 20 49 III.Tr.E. 28 00 02 Ii.a.E. 23 49 n.a.E. 30 19 10 III.a.E. 20 55 III.Sh.I. 00 39 I.Tr.E. 29 19 37 i.fc.i. 31 19 24 II.Tr.I. a 4i in.a.E. 01 44 I.a.E. 30 18 a II.Ec.l. Sep 05 20 05 I.Tr.l. Kay 02 a 54 II.Tr.I. 19 38 I.OC.D. 18 55 III.fc.D. 14 18 48 I.Tr.E. 03 00 24 ii.a.i. 22 58 I.fc.i. a 35 HI.fc.1. fcv K 05 09 II.Tr.I. oi a II.Tr.E. » 18 49 II.Ec.l. Jul 04 a 34 I.Oc.D. Dec 05 03 46 I.Tr.l. 02 52 n.a.E. 19 07 I.Tr.E. 05 20 49 I.Tr.l. 09 03 37 III.Tr.l. 04 01 17 I.Oc.D. 20 13 i.a.E. a 25 II.Tr.I. 11 03 a II.fc.D. 21 49 ii.ic.r. Jim 01 22 11 III.OC.D. 22 04 i.a.i. i6 04 it m . a . i . 22 35 I.Tr.l. 02 01 04 UI.OC.l. a 01 I.Tr.E. 20 03 15 n.a.E. a 22 i.a.i. 03 a 47 II.Tr.I. 06 21 32 I.fc.i. 04 05 I.Ec.D. 05 00 47 I.Tr.E. 04 oo 12 n.a.i. 07 18 43 i.a.E. 21 03 27 i.a.E. 01 33 i.a.E. 00 17 II.Tr.E. 20 39 III.Oc.l. 27 02 34 III.OC.D. 19 44 I.Oc.D. 00 19 I.Tr.l. 20 58 II.Ec.l. 03 27 n.a.i. 22 45 I.fc.i. 01 28 I.a.i. 22 56 III.fc.D. 28 03 10 i.a.i. 06 19 13 I.Tr.E. a 29 I.OC.D. 12 22 45 I.Tr.l. 04 12 I.Tr.l. 20 02 i.a.E. 05 OO 54 I.fc.i. 13 20 00 I.Oc.D. 29 02 24 n.oc.i. 07 a 32 III.Tr.l. 18 46 I.Tr.l. 14 18 22 i.a.i. 03 38 I.Oc.l. 28 THE MOONS OF SATURN

Saturn's moons are considerably fainter than the 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter. The diagram shows the orbits of 4 of Saturn's moons at opposition on August 20. The easiest to find is Titan (magnitude +8.5).according to the diagram and information in the table below.

TITAN Eastern Elongation Inferior Conjunction Western Elongation Superior Conjunction d h d h d h d h Jan 2 09.1 Jan 6 12.0 Jan 10 16.1 Jan 14 13.3 18 09.5 22 12.6 26 16.7 30 13.8 Feb 3 10.1 Feb 7 13.4 Feb 11 17.3 Feb 15 14.3 19 10.7 23 14.1 27 17.9 Mar 3 14.8 Mar 7 11.3 Mar 11 14.7 Mar 15 18.4 19 15.1 23 11.7 27 15.1 31 18.7 Apr 4 15.3 Apr 8 11.9 Apr 12 15.4 Apr 16 18.8 20 15.2 24 11.8 28 15.3 May 2 18.6 May 6 14.9 May 10 11.4 May 14 14.9 18 18.0 22 14.2 26 10.6 30 14.0 Jun 3 17.0 Jun 7 13.1 Jun 11 09.5 Jun 15 12.8 19 15 .'7 23 11.7 27 07.9 Jul 1 11.1 Jul 5 13.9 Jul 9 09.9 Jul 13 06.0 17 09.1 21 11.9 25 07.8 29 03.8 Aug 2 06.8 Aug 6 09.6 Aug 10 05.5 Aug 14 01.4 18 04.3 22 07.1 26 03.1 29 23.0 Sep 3 01.7 Sep 7 04.7 Sep 11 00.7 Sep 14 20.6 18 23.4 23 02.3 26 22.6 30 18.5 Oct 4 21.3 Oct 9 00.5 Oct 12 20.7 Oct 16 16.7 20 19.6 24 22.9 28 19.3 Nov 1 15.3 Nov 5 18.3 Nov 9 21.7 Nov 13 18.2 17 14.4 21 17.5 25 21.0 29 17.5 Dec 3 13.8 Dec 7 17.1 Dec 11 20.6 Dec 15 17.2 19 13.6 23 17.0 27 20.6 31 17.2 29 COMETS AND METEORS

COMETS A typical comet consists of a solid nucleous surrounded by a very large envelope of gas and dust, called the coma; in some instances, comets might develop a tall. Depending on the length of their periods around the Sun, comets are classed into 2 groups: Short-period comets, with an average of a 7 year period, an orbital inclination of about 13 degrees and small orbital eccentricities, (0.2 to 0.9) and usually travel in a direct motion; Long-period comets have a period greater than 200 years, random orbital inclinations and about 0.9999 eccentricity and random motion.

About a dozen comets are observed each year and of these, 5 or 6 are new discoveries. As a comet approaches or moves away from the Sun its visual appearance changes drastically and it might become bright enough to be observed with modest equipment such as a good pair of binoculars or a telescope with an aperture not less than 75mm; on rare occasions a very bright comet may become visible to the naked-eye.

Interested observers can contribute with valuable information by reporting on their visual appearance such as coma magnitude, apparent diameter and degree of condensation; if the comet sports a tail, its length in degrees and its p.a. (position angle) should also be reported, as well as the type of instrument and magnification used.

Another area much in need of observers, is that of regularly conducting visual searches of possible new comets, namely in the southern celestial hemisphere. Interested members are asked to contact the Director of the Comet and Meteor Section.

METEORS Orbiting within the solar system, METEOROIDS often collide with the Earth's atmosphere and as a result, they heat to incandescence by friction with the atmosphere's gaseous molecules and an emission of light takes place due to ionization; while in flight through the atmosphere they are called METEORS and they disintegrate completely. There are two types of meteors: Sporadic ones which may be seen at any time of the night, anyvhere in the sky; the shower meteors are associated with known meteor showers that are active during certain times of the year (See the Table on the next page). Bright meteors of visual magnitude equal or greater than that of Venus (-4.0 mag.), are classed as Fireballs and if they explode while in flight, they are termed Bolides. Fireballs of visual magnitude equal or brighter than that of the Full Moon are known to produce debris that when found on the ground are called METEORITES. Interested persons are asked to contact the Director of the ASSA Comet and Meteor Section c/o P 0 Box 9, Obse rvatory, 7935. In the event of Fireballs, please phone 021-470025 30 Eeconended ïatch Predicted Heteor iadiant Date Transit of Conditions a t Han V L ilits Sbouer (1950) at fadiant at 2.B.8. Beqinning: Esdinq: k*/s Ï.A . Dec Hariiuii SAST Alt Haiinm SAST Alt SAST Alt

Jan 06-2« Alha Crucids 12h48 -63 Jan 19 04h56 57 PaYourahle ? . 50 Jan 23-Har 12 Theta Centaurids 14600 -40 Peb 08 05W5 76 Full Boon 7 oohoo 31 04600 70 60 Kar 01-12? Pyrids (new) 09b00 -35 Har 06? 22D02 85 Poor 6? 20hoo 63 03615 26 liar 13-18 Corona Australids 16h20 -48 Har 16 04)143 72 PaYourahle 5 23615 26 04630 71 Kar 21-Apr 0! Delta Pavonids 201H0 -65 Har 29? 07h43 55 Good 7 021)00 28 04600 41 Apr 16-25 April Lyrids 18h05 +34 Apr 22 04h06 28 Good 15 03b00 26 05600 26 49

Apr 11-Hay 12 Alpha Scorpids 16D00 -22 Hay 03 01)116 12 PaYourahle 7 21h00 33 04h30 46 Apr 20-JuL 30 Sco-Sqr Systei 18D00 -30 Jun 14 00h29 90 PaYourahle 10 21H00 45 04600 44 30 Apr 19-Hay 2« Eta Aquarids 22)124 -01 Hay 03 07h23 60 PaYourahle 30 14)100 31 051)00 43 65 Hay 25-JOB 20 Qii Scorpids 16h28 -13 Jun 05 23h30 73 Pull Hoon 6? 19600 25 04610 25 21 Jus 08-16 Saqittarids 20hl6 -35 Jun U 02H59 85 Poor 4? 21645 26 05610 62 52 Jus 08-16 Theta Ophiuchids 17h48 -28 Jun 13 00H23 88 Favourable 5? 20600 34 05600 30 27

Jun 10-21 June Lyrids 18h32 +35 Jun 16 00h53 25 Good 5 23630 22 01630 24 31 Jus 17-26 Ophiuchids 17h20 -20 Jun 20 231122 80 Good 10 19600 30 02600 53 Jun 26-29 Cetids (new) 02h00 -15 Jun 28 07h35 75 Poor ? 031)00 25 05620 56 Jul 10-Auq 05 Capricomids 21h00 -15 Jul 26 00647 75 Favourable 8 20630 30 05bl5 25 Jul 14-Auq 25 Horth Delta Aquarids 22h36 -05 Auq 12 0UH3 65 Favourable 5 21600 26 04630 37 42 Jul 03-Auq 25 Alpha Capricomids 20b36 -10 Jul 30 23641 70 Poor 8 20600 33 04600 29 23

Jul 09-Auq 17 Piscis Australids 22h40 -30 Jul 29 02603 89 Poor 12 21630 32 05600 51 35 Jul 15-Auq 25 South Iota Aquarids 22h20 -15 Auq 05 01h29 75 Poor 3 22b00 40 04600 52 34 Aug ll-Sep 20 north lota Aquarids 21D48 -06 Auq 20 23651 66 Good 10 20600 31 04600 28 31 Jul 08-Aug 19 South Delta Aquarids 22hl2 -17 Jul 29 026D7 77 Poor 20 22600 33 05600 47 41 Sep 15-Hov 26 Southern Taurids 03h22 +14 Hoy 03 00h31 46 Poor 12 21630 28 03600 34 27 Sep 13-Dec 01 northern Taurids 03h53 +22 Hoy 13 00h27 38 Good 8 23630 36 01600 37 29

Oct 02-Hoy 07 orionids 06h24 +15 Oct 22 04h23 45 Good 20 02600 33 03620 42 66 hoy H-21 Leonids lObOS +22 Hoy 17 06)121 38 Good 10 03600 18 03630 23 71 Hoy 28-Dec 09 Deceiber Pboenicids OlhOO -55 Dec 05 20b07 65 PaYourahle 5? 20h30 64 01600 33 18 Dec 04-16 Geiinids 07H28 +33 Dec 14 01h55 28 Hev Hoon 50 23630 19 03600 26 35 Dec 05-Jan 07 Velaids 09h56 -51 Dec 29 03h25 69 Pull Hoon IS? 23600 37 03630 69 40

The times (SAST) and the altitudes (Alt) given, are for an observer stationed at E 30.5 S 29.5 (Durban), to be used as a guide for meteor observers elsewhere. The times for the recommended watch and the conditions, are based on the radiant altitude and on moonlight and twilight interference during the date of the predicted maximum meteor activity. The Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) is the probable number of meteors expected to be seen by an experienced observer during 1 hour, when the radiant is at the zenith and with seeing conditions corresponding to a naked-eye limiting magnitude of +6.5 mag. near the zenith.

For meaningful visual work, the minimum altitude of the radiant should be 25 degrees above the horizon. Depending on the altitude (Alt) of the radiant at the time of observations, the following table gives the factor (F) by which the hourly observed rate should be multiplied to compute the ZHR: Alt (deg) 21 27 35 43 52 66 90 F 2.0 1.67 1.43 1.25 1.11 1.0

The perception coefficient (P-value) varies from observer to observer, hence the absolute necessity of keeping the count per hour (hourly rate) on an individual basis when working in group. A high P-value can mean that a specific observer gets a higher ZHR under the reported seeing conditions than the "average" observer and this can be explained by the fact that the observer may have really seen more meteors/hour or more frequently, that the limiting magnitude at the time of the observation, is not properly estimated. Hence, it is important that the faintest naked-eye star seen near the zenith, be carefully derived from reliable star atlases or catalogues. 31 The Stars

CONSTELLATIONS Apart from our Sun all the stars that we see are so incredibly distant that, despite their high speed velocities, their apparent positions change by only minute amounts each year. Consequently the patterns that they form appear unchanged. The Greeks and other ancient civilisations identified these patterns, or constellations, with various mythological characters and creatures, and most of the names they gave are still used today. In all there are 88 constellations, roughly one half of which would be above the horizon at any one time. Some contain distinctive patterns of bright stars and are relatively easy to find; others are difficult to locate, even with suitable maps. The Southern Cross and Centaurus, Orion and Taurus, Scorpius and Sagittarius, are featured later in this section. Detailed information on other constellations is beyond the scope of this handbook and interested observers are advised to obtain a suitable star atlas.

STAR NAMES Within each constellation, the brightest star is generally labelled o (Alpha), the next 8 (Beta) and so on through the Greek alphabet. Most of the brightest stars also have their own names - usually of Arabic origin. For example a Canis Majoris, otherwise known as Sirius, is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.

STELLAR MAGNITUDES AND STELLAR DISTANCES The apparent brightness of a star - which depends both on its true luminosity and its distance - is indicated by its magnitude. Equal intervals of magnitude represent equal ratios in light intensity. Distances are often expressed in units of light years - the distance light would travel in a year (equal to 9,5 x 1012km).

DOUBLE STARS It now appears that single stars such as our Sun are the exception, the majority of stars being double or multiple - two or more suns in orbit around one another.

STAR CLUSTERS These are two completely different sorts. Galactic clusters, having of the order of 100 stars, are found close to the plane of the Milky Way. The ones we can see are relativelynearby. Globular clusters are much larger and far more distant. They contain of the order of 100 000 stars each and are seen above and below the Milky Way on that side of the sky towards the centre of our galaxy. So great is their distance that small telescopes fail to resolve individual stars - instead they appear as fuzzy balls.

NEBULAE Possibly one third of the matter in our region of the Galaxy is in the form of gas and dust (the remainder being contained in stars, plus a tiny amount in planets). Condensations of this material are called nebulae, some of which are illuminated by nearby stars while others are dark. They are usually referred to by their numbers in Messier's catalogue (M) or the New General Catalogue (NGC).

THE STAR CHARTS The star charts in this section show the night sky for each of the four seasons of the year. These seasonal charts depict stars down to magnitude 3.5 which is approximately what will be visible to the naked eye in city areas. Charts of 3 of the most interesting regions in the sky (showing stars down to magnitude 4.5) - the Orion region, visible in Summer; the Scorpius region, visible in Winter and the Southern Cross Region, visible all year round - are featured. They are rich in interesting objects visible to the naked eye, or with the aid of binoculars or a small telescope. To use them locate the constellations in the sky from the seasonal chart and rotate the regional chart to match the orientation of the constellations in the sky. 32 THE SUMMER SKY The chart below represents the sky in Cape Town on December 1 at midnight, January 1 at 10 pm and February 1 at 8 pa. Corrections for places other than Cape Town are Bloemfontein and Port Elisabeth -30 minutes Johannesburg -40 minutes Durban -50 minutes Harare -52 minutes Correct times for places elsewhere may be found by subtracting 4 minutes for each degree of longitude east of Cape Town or adding 4 rain for each degree of longitude west of Cape Town. 33

THE ORION REGION

LEPUS Rigen#f • . C A K IS • ■ ( . • A © v © . MAJOR . • ï if - * Hyades Great Nebula . • © G © •* • (j^-Sirius 0 * VAldebaran .* * • ^ O RIO N * * •

x ' - _ ^ © ^ - # Betelgeuse

• Nebula

IX \ ^

© .

(Ï) The constellation of Orion. The figure of the legendary hunter of Greek mythology is unfortunately upside down when seen from Southern Africa. The faint stars by X represent the head, a and Y the shoulders, 6 - e - n the belt, and 8 and < the legs. Orion forms part of the "great hunting scene" in which he faces the onslaught of ( 2) Taurus, the bull. Only the forepart of the bull is depicted and, like Orion, it is upside down. a and z are the eyes, Y the nose. Orion is accompanied by ( 3) Cards major, the large dog, and the small dog (off map) while Lepus, the hare, crouches at his feet.

( 4 ) A section of the Ecliptic - a line encircling the entire sky and representing the plane of the Eai*th's orbit. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the Sun appears to move along the ecliptic through the constellations of the Zodiac, of which Taurus is one.

( 5) A portion of the Milky Way (looking out towards the edge of our Galaxy). ® SI rius - the brightest star in the night sky. It is somewhat brighter than our Sun and relatively close by - at a distance of 9 light years. It is a double star but the companion Is a white dwarf (only slightly larger than the Earth, and with a mass comparable to our Sun ) and is only visible through a large telescope. (j) Betelgeuse - most famous Of the red giant stars. Its diameter Is of the order of the size of the Earth's orbit and its luminosity is nearly 10 000 times that of our Sun. Its red colour should be obvious to the eye. It is 520 light years distant.

(3) Rigel, despite being physically smaller than Betelgeuse, is more luminous (higher surface temperature - bluish colour) and more distant.

( 9) The stars in Orion's belt are distant hot blue stars. (l^ The Pleiades or Seven Sisters form the best known nearby star cluster. Six or seven stars are visible to l)ic naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope show more.

(T£) The Hyades is another nearby galactic cluster, but Aldebaran Is not a member (it lies closer to us). (£g) The Great Nebula in Orion, just visible to the naked eye, shows up as a fan shaped mass of luminous gas through binoculars or a telescope. A telescope will also show a tiny "Trapezium" of four stars in the centre. (l^ The Crab Nebula, the remnant of a supernova recorded by the Chinese in 1054, requires a moderate sized telescope for observation. In its heart is located the extraodinary pulsar which emits a double flash of light 30 times every second. The current belief is that it is a rapidly rotating neutron star - a star with the mass of our sun but with a diameter of only 10 km. 3 4 THE AUTUMN SKY The chart below represents the sky in Cape Town on March 1 at midnight, April 1 at 10 pm and May 1 at8 pm. Corrections for places other than Cape Town are Bloemfontein andPort Elisabeth -30 minutes Johannesburg -40 minutes Durban -50 minutes Harare -52 minutes Correct times for places elsewhere may be found by subtracting 4 minutes for each degree of longitude east of Cape Town or adding 4 min for each degree of longitude west of Cape Town. 35 THE SOUTHERN CROSS REGION

Crux, the Southern Cross, Is one of the most compact patterns of bright stars to be found in the sky. It lies on the border of that region of the sky which never sets as seen from Southern Africa. ( 2) The two "Pointer" stars lie close to the Cross. (A similar pattern to the Southern Cross - called the False Cross - lies just outside and above the map, but has no accompanying pointer stars). (j) The South Celestial Pole: This Is one of two opposite points in space towards which the Earth's axis of rotation is directed. As the Earth rotates so the sky appears to pivot about this point. It always lies above the south point on the horizon, elevated by an angle equal to the observer's southern latitude. (The north celestial pole lies below the northern horizon and can never be seen from the Earth's southern hemisphere) (7) The intersection of a lice extended through the major axis of the Cross and the perpendicular bisector to the Pointers indicates the approximate position of the South Celestial Pole.

( 5) a Centauri has the distinction of being the closest star to our solar system - at a distance of approximately 40 million million km or 4,3 light years. A small telescope readily shows that it is a double star - the two components take 80 years to revolve about one another. A much fainter third star also belongs to the system.

(J) a Crucis can also be resolved as a double star by a small telescope (separation 5 sec of arc).

( 7) The region indicated is one of the brightest sections of the entire Milky Way. (J) The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are the nearest of the external galaxies (see also next section). They can be seen with the naked eye provided the sky is reasonably dark.

( 9) The Great Looped Nebula - possibly the remnant of a supernova explosion - in the Large Magellanic Cloud. (Naked eye or binoculars). The "Coal Sack" - á dark mass of g3s and dust obscuring a part of the Milky Way. (Naked eye or bino­ c u la rs). Herschel's "Jewel Box" - a galactic cluster containing stars of different colours. (Small telescope or binoculars). © u Centauri and Í5 ) 47 Tucanae are perhaps the best known globular clusters. Binoculars will show their fuzzy appearance. (Q) NGC 362 and @ NGC 2808 are fainter globular clusters. @ NGC 3760 - a fine galactic cluster. (Binoculars or small telescope). (l7) The rj Carinae nebula - site of a slow supernova tha» brightened to magnitude -0,8 In 1843 and is now of magnitude 6,4. 36

THE WINTER SKY The chart below represents the sky in Cape Town on June 1 at midnight, July 1 at 10 pm and August 1 at 8 pm. Corrections for places other than Cape Town are Bloemfontein and Port Elisabeth -30 minutes Johannesburg -40 minutes Durban -50 minutes Harare -52 minutes Correct times for places elsewhere may be found by subtracting 4 minutes for each degree of longitude east of Cape Town or adding 4 min for each degree of longitude west of Cape Town. 37 THE SCORPIUS REGION

i* ..."

© \ % © Omega Nebula A n tare s S • „ (3 ) • . MJ9» . «Y „ . © " . -'i.cV _ 'Lagoon Nebula 0 , SC O R H U S # '.-**'»** G a la ctic Centre « * . ...-"M2?. . * - " **. © 0 - ► 1> - " M6 . • m * © ' r SAGITTARIUS ' M7° ' •• - • / » •$

- ® ' v O N G C 6067

Qj) The constellation of Scorpius. The creature Is depicted with a in the centre of the body and B and n the claws. The distinctive tail e — c — 6 curls round to the s tiD g X. (2) Sagittarius - the figure of the centaur archer is very difficult to make out. A section of the Ecliptic. Like Taurus, Scorpius and Sagittarius are constellations of the Zodiac.

( 4) The direction of the centre of our Galaxy - the Milky Way is that part of our Galaxy visible to us. Un­ fortunately the central nucleus is obscured by foreground gaseous and dusty matter - both dark and luminous - hence the irregular shape of the Milky Way in this region. Luminous nebulae include the Lagoon nebula and (^) the Omega nebula. These are best seen with the aid of binoculars. © Antares - a distant red giant, several hundred times the diameter of our Sun - is so named because its red colour rivals that of the planet Mars. @ 6 Scorpii can be resolved as a double star (separation 16 sec of arc) with a small telescope. In fact the brighter component is in itself a triple star, and the fainter component a double start

This region includes a number of galactic clusters including (jj) M7, M8, (Í3) M4 and (T£) N G C 6067. (Use binoculars or a small telescope).

Further from the plane of the Milky Way are some globular clusters: (^) M80 (H) M19 and (l|) M22. 38 THE SPRING SKY The chart below represents the sky in Cape Town on September 1 at midnight, October 1 at 10 pm and November 1 at 8 pm. Corrections for places other than Cape Town are Bloemfontein and Port Elisabeth -30 minutes Johannesburg -40 minutes Durban -50 minutes Harare -52 minutes Correct times for places elsewhere may be found by subtracting 4 minutes for each degree of longitude east of Cape Town or adding 4 min for each degree of longitude west of Cape Town. 39 VARIABLE STAR OBSERVING The latest (1985) edition of the "General Catalogue of Variable Stars" lists more than 28 000 stars. Professional observatories cannot possibly monitor all of these, and this makes the observation of variable stars a field in which amateurs can make a real contribution to astronomical knowledge.

Of these 28 000 stars at least 2 000 are suitable for visual monitoring in the southern hemisphere. However, the number of active observers in this part of the world remains woefully small, and less than 400 variables are at present being observed from Southern Africa.

The Variable Star Section of the A.S.S.A. exists for the purpose of encouraging observers and of acting as a medium communication. The Section disseminates incoming information amongst observers, and will forward (on request) the observations of individuals to various variable star bodies. These include the American Association of the Variable Star Observers (AAVS0) and the Variable Star Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. These bodies combine the South African light estimates with those from other parts of the world. The resulting "light curves" and tables are made available to a large number of professional observatories where astronomers are interested in investigating certain of the stars more fully.

In recent years amateur observers have played an invaluable part by alerting the operators of orbiting satellite observatories whenever outburst occurred of certain eruptive variables.

Visual estimates of magnitude are made by comparing the variable with two or more comparison stars, respectively brighter and fainter than the unknown variable. Suitable comparison stars are shown on special charts, which have been prepared for each variable, mainly by the two variable star organisations mentioned above. The use of these charts is essential for accurate, standardized observations and intending new observers are therefore advised to obtain the necessary data by contacting the Director of the Variable Star Section, Mr. J. Hers, P.0. Box 48, Sedgefield, 6573, Telephone (04455) 31736. They will then be sent charts of a few easy objects and data on stars which may be observed with the equipment at their disposal.

Prospective observers should, when writing, give brief details of their equipment. Larger, more powerful telescopes will naturally greatly increase the number of stars which may be measured, but many variables are bright enough to be observed through most of their cycles with quite modest equipment, e.g. binoculars. Some stars, such as 071044 L2 Puppis, are so bright that they may be observed without optical aid whatever.

Variable stars are designated in two ways. The first of these, the Harvard designation, consists of six figures which give the position for 1900; the first four figures give hours and minutes of R.A., the last two give the declination in degrees, underlined for southern declinations. The second name consists of one or two letters (or letter V plus a number) and the name of constellation.

Variables can be divided into three main classes: pulsating, eruptive and eclipsing binary stars.

Most suitable for beginners are the long period variables (or Mira variables, named after the typical representative Mira - o Ceti) which belongs to the class of pulsating stars. They are giant stars which vary through a range of brightness of 2.5 to 5 magnitudes or more, and which have well defined periodicities, ranging from 80 to 1000 days. In most cases one observation per observer every 10 days will suffice. 4 0 Typical examples include: Approximate magnitude range 0214A2 o Ceti(Mlra) 2. 0- 10.1

0929£2 R Carinae 3.9-10.0

100661 S Carinae 4.5-9.9

Among the eruptive variables, two groups are of special importance:

U Geminorum type. These are dwarf novae which have long periods of apparent quiescence at minimum, with sudden rises to maximum. A typical representative in the southern hemisphere is 040971 VW Hydri.

R' Coronae Borealis type. These are high luminosity variables with slow, non-periodic drops in brightness. A typical representative is 191033 RY Sagittarii.

Eclipsing Binary Stars have orbital planes which lie close to the line of sight of the observer. The two components periodically eclipse each other, thus causing variations in the apparent brightness of the system. Periods are generally short, of the order of hours, so that observational programmes need very careful planning. Monitoring these interesting stars is therefore for experienced observers only.

NOVA SEARCHING On rare occasions a star may undergo a nova outburst, its light increasing tremendously. The result is that a "new” star appears where previously no star was visible to the naked eye, or even with a small telescope. The light of the nova may fluctuate for a time, then gradually fades over a period of days, weeks or months. Even observers having no telescopes can perform a useful task in keeping a watch for such novae in an allocated area of the sky. A good knowledge of the constellations is a recommendation, since part of the procedure is to scan the whole sky for bright novae before the more detailed search in the allocated area is begun. However, anyone can be given training in star recognition.

DEEP SKY SECTION This new ASSA Section was formed in 1992.

The study of deep sky objects gives the novice observer an opportunity to acquire basic observing skills and to enjoy the beauty of astronomy. Deep sky objects don’t move about rapidly and their observing does not depend on critical timing. They are pleasant targets, waiting patiently to be studied. If the observer starts with a carefully selected list of objects he will not be disappointed. This will boost his feeling of competence, engendering self- confidence as he sees his list of successes grow rapidly. The acquired skills could with little effort be adapted to suit the other disciplines (occultations, variables, comet and nova searches). Of course, deep sky observing isn't only for the beginner. Nor is it necessary to have a large telescope atop an (extinct) volcvanic island: a pair of binoculars in the suburbs provide as much challenge.

The Section’s goal will be to encourage and promote the visual art of deep sky observing by helping newcomers to the Society to get started and promoting this form of observing amongst existing ASSA members.

Observations and experiences could be shared, perhaps through an informal newsletter, thereby encouraging less-active observers to get involved. The news­ letter could also contain articles contributed by the participants on relevant topics such as basic observing techniques, favourite star-hops, astrophotography etc.

Interested persons are encouraged to contact the Director of the Section and to indicate an interest in participating in such activities. Auke Slotegraaf, PO Box 608, Stellenbosch 7600 (Tel: 02231-78878). 41 ORDINARY OCCULTATIONS

These phenomena concern a specialised branch of observational astronony in which both professional and amateur participate. The tables of predictions must necessarily occupy a number of pages as this handbook is the sole published source for Southern Africa.

An occultation occurs when the disk of the Moon moves in front of a star. Timings of occultations, to a precision of one-tenth of a second if possible are very valuable for studies of the Moon's shape and motion. Since only very modest equipment is required, amateurs can make important contributions in this field. Persons Interested in making and reporting occultation observations are urged to contact the Director of the Society's Occultation Section: Mr. M.D. Overbeek, P.0. Box 212, Edenvale, 1610 Tel: (Oil) 453 6918

Predictions of occultations of all stars brighter than magnitude 7.5 supplied by Hydrographic Dept., Tokyo are given below. The main set of tables give predictions for three stations, namely: Longitude Latitude Cape Town 18*.475 E 33*.933 S Johannesburg 28*.075 E 26*.182 S Harare 31*.000 E 17*.800 S

This does not restrict its use to observers in those centres. The approximate time of an occultation at a place AX degrees west and A

Occulted stars have been identified by their Z.C. numbers, that is their numbers in the "Catalogue of 3539 Zodiacal Stars for the Equinox 1950.0" by James Robertson (U S Naval Observatory, 1939).

Note: That the times of ordinary occultations are given in U.T.

EXPLANATIONS OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TABLES:

Z.C. the number of the star in the Zodiacal Catalogue. An "m" following the number indicates the star is not single, Mag. the visual magnitude P h the Phase: D - Disappearance, R - Reappearance h.m. the time of the occultation in CT a,b parameters in minutes for predicting times other than at standard stations.« (as explained above in the text) P.A. The Position Angle on the Moon's limb measured eastward from the north point

CU>E TONE JOBA0ESBOK IAIAKE TUB Dl or E 18.5 S 33.9 E 28.1 S 26.2 E 31.0 S 17.8 DUE l.C . *aq. Ft ELG TIRE a. b. P .l. THE a. b. P .l. THE a. b. P.1, 1 D ' it l ■ ■ b i 1 1 * b l l ■ * Jan 3 3991 5.7 00 121 20 25.4 -2.0 +1.6 56 a i.3 -2.0 +2.9 36 JaB 4 524 6.6 CD 133 2118.1 -2.2 +2.2 42 Jan 6 »39 5.3 CD 157 19 22.9 -1.5 +0.4 53 19 50.3 -2.3 +2.5 35 Jan 10 142» 3.» ED 214 22 59.7 -1.4 -L 7 312 22 56.6 -1.0 -2.9 343 Jan 12 1662 6.3 ID 240 21 28.6 -1.0 -0.2 259

Jan 17 2172 4.7 ID 294 1 7.7 +0.3 -2.5 329 Jan 31 459 6.7 CO 98 17 6.6 -3.7 -1.7 121 Jan 31 472 5.0 X IX 20 45.6 -0.5 -0.6 129 20 47.1 -0.8 +0.4 99 Feb 3 916 4.3 X 135 17 10.9 -2.0 -0.5 »5 17 17.6 -2.2 +0.7 64 Feb 3 929 S.S X 137 20 20.6 -2.2 -0.3 107 20 44.6 -2.5 +0.8 80 a 9.1 42 42 CAPE r o w XHABBES30K EAÍA1E TIKE n BT E 18.5 S 33.9 E 28.1 S 26.2 E 31.0 S 17.8 DATE I.C. Bag. ft ELC TIKE a. b. P.A. the a. b. P.A. THE a. b. P.A. K D b i i i b i i i b a i i

Fab 3 931 6.7 DO 137 20 54.4 -1.8 -0.6 124 21 12.2 -2.1 +0.4 95 21 27.2 -2.8 +1.8 64 Fab 3 942 6.3 DO 138 21 58.3 -1.4 -0.2 122 22 15.2 -1.7 +0.8 88 22 34.1 -2.8 +2.9 50 Feb 3 946 3.2 X 139 23 44.3 -0.1 -0.6 135 23 43.8 -0.6 +0.2 103 Feb 4 1086 6.5 I» 150 19 44.6 -2.4 40.9 52 Feb 5 12361 5.1 DO 164 20 32.7 32

Feb 5 12361 5.1 B 164 20 46.6 11 Feb 9 1623 5.4 © 210 2 11.0 -1.6 -0.6 300 2 12.5 -0.7 -2.4 342 Feb 16 2557 6.2 ED 299 1 42.2 -0.9 +0.0 236 1 45.7 -0.8 -1.0 274 1 35.2 -0.3 -2.0 306 Feb 18 2865 5.9 FD 323 3 38.2 335 Feb 28 566 5.9 DD 80 19 24.3 -1.1 +0.4 113 19 40.2 -1.0 +1.1 83 19 56.5 -1.3 +2.2 51

Feb 28 563 6.9 DO 80 19 24.6 -1.9 *2.8 41 Her 1 716 6.2 DD 92 19 35.8 -2.2 +2.2 53 Her 2 859 6.5 DO 103 18 29.3 -2.1 -0.4 116 18 50.9 -2.3 +0.6 89 19 8.4 -3.0 +2.1 59 Har 2 865 6.1 DC 104 19 30.4 -1.4 -0.6 133 19 44.3 -1.7 +0.4 101 19 56.8 -2.2 +1.4 71 Bar 3 1021 6.3 x 115 17 26.3 -2.6 -0.3 94 17 36.9 -3.3 +1.0 69

Har 4 1175 5.0 DD 131 22 2.5 -0.8 -0.8 143 22 10.4 -1.2 +0.3 104 22 22.2 -2.0 +1.8 68 Bar 6 1428 3.8 DC 157 20 11.7 -2.2 -0.5 88 Bar 10 1930 5.6 B 214 19 21.7 -0.4 -0.4 246 19 19.7 -0.4 -1.0 276 19 10.9 -0.2 -1.3 300 Bar 10 1949 5.8 EE 216 23 6.0 -0.4 -3.1 342 Bar 12 2212 6.1 © 242 22 27.6 224 22 36.5 -1.5 -0,4 266

Bar 12 2214 6.2 © 243 22 45.8 +0.5 -3.4 343 Bar 13 2228 5.9 © 245 3 3.1 -2.5 +0.6 259 3 26.1 -2.5 -0.8 292 3 17.3 -2.5 -3.7 329 Bar 17 2825 6.4 © 292 2 28.8 -1.3 +0.5 232 2 42.0 -1.7 -0.7 266 2 35.1 -1.7 -2.5 301 Bar 28 660 4.4 DC 61 17 13.9 -1.4 -0.4 129 17 28.0 -1.4 +0.6 98 17 40.5 -1.7 +1.4 70 Bar 28 664 5.4 DD 61 17 41.5 -1.6 +1.2 84 IS 11.0 -1.8 +2.6 49

Bar 31 1109 7.3 DO 98 19 48.5 -0.2 -1.7 156 19 41.4 -1.1 -0.6 122 Apr 1 1238 6.1 DD 110 17 12.9 181 16 49.8 -2.0 -2.3 144 Apr 1 1247 6.8 X 1U 20 24.9 -1.1 -0.7 136 20 36.4 -1.6 +0.5 98 20 54.3 55 Apr 1 1246 6.6 X 112 20 59.0 186 Apr 2 1381 6.3 X 125 21 33.0 -1.6 +0.4 102 22 10.6 37

Apr 2 1381 6.3 © 126 22 19.4 22 Apr 3 1489 6.8 X 138 19 40.2 188 Apr 4 1623 5.4 DO 154 23 45.6 -1.6 +0.9 91 Apr 8 2029 5.1 © 199 2 38.9 -1.5 +0.5 281 2 51.4 -1.3 -0.7 309 2 36.4 354 Apr 9 2172 4.7 © 212 3 7.1 -1.7 +1.1 263 3 27.1 -1.5 +0.1 287 3 25.8 -1.9 -1.9 319

Apr 9 2175 6.1 © 213 3 38.1 -1.6 -0.4 302 Apr 12 2614 6.2 © 249 0 44.9 -1.3 -2.5 303 Apr 17 3272 5.1 © 306 2 27.0 -0.6 +3.3 191 2 46.3 -1.2 +1.2 227 Apr 25 761 6.7 X 42 16 15.5 -2.5 +2.8 49 Apr 27 1077 3.7 X 68 18 41.5 -2.3 +2.8 56

Apr 28 1207 5.8 X 81 18 58.0 -1.6 +0.7 96 Apr 30 1440 6.7 X 105 17 7.4 -1.0 -2.4 159 17 8.2 -2.0 -1.3 123 17 8.8 -3.1 -0.2 95 Apr 30 1457 6.7 X 108 22 » .8 -1.0 +1.5 81 Bay 1 1566 6.6 X 121 20 7.4 192 19 54.0 -1.4 -1.4 138 19 51.9 -2.2 -0.3 106 Bay 2 16881 6.3 X 133 18 7.4 -2.0 -0.9 97

Bay 2 1705 7.5 X 136 23 35.7 -1.0 +0.4 107 23 52.2 -0.7 +1.9 71 Bay 7 2376 4.6 © ©2 18 58.0 +0.2 -2.2 317 Bay 9 2547 4.9 © 218 0 45.8 339 Bay 9 2708 5.9 © 229 23 49.2 -2.7 +3.6 212 Bay 11 2865 5.9 © 243 2 11.8 186 2 49.8 -2.0 +2.8 219 cape ïowt jobaxhesbck ia ïa k THE H Ot E 18.5 S 33.9 E 28.1 S 26,2 E 31.0 S 17.8 DAH I.C. lag., a ELG Tim a. b. P.A. th e a. b. P.A. the a. b. P.A. X D h i a i b > ■ l * b ■ > ■ * Kay 11 2969 3.3 is 252 21 58.7 AO.4 -3.2 314 lay 12 3093 4.5 ED 264 22 16.0 -0.3 +0.1 241 22 14.2 -0.3 -0.8 273 lay 13 3104 6.5 ED 265 1 7.7 -1.6 -3.5 301 lay 14 3229 5.6 ED 277 3 5.6 -0.2 +5.3 179 3 40.0 -1.6 +2.9 208 lay 24 1031 7.0 DO 38 16 19.5 -0.3 -1.2 140

lay 27 1410 5.3 DO 76 16 49.2 188 16 37.6 -1.4 -1.3 137 16 35.5 -2.3 -0.4 107 lay 29 1655 6.7 EC 105 21 30.8 177 lay 29 1662 6.3 Li- 105 22 14.3 -1.0 A3.6 55 lay 30 177» 7.1 CC 119 22 59.6 -0.8 +1.7 78 lay 31 lt»5 7.4 DO 129 17 15.2 -1.1 -2.8 153

Jan 1 1919 7.1 SC 134 0 49.8 -0.3 +1.1 88 Jua 1 2029 5.1 DC 144 19 59.6 -1.7 -1.7 130 20 13.9 -2.6 +0.1 92 20 37.5 46 Jun 2 2172 4.7 DC 158 21 19.2 -1.8 -2.2 137 21 30.9 -2.4 -0.3 101 21 »3.8 -2.7 +1.7 68 Jui 5 2633 4.0 ED 19! 22 43.2 339 Jun 6 2773 6.1 10 20» 19 5.1 +0.4 -2.6 312

Jun 6 2791 5.4 ID 210 21 57.0 -1.5 -1.0 271 22 0. -2.1 -3.1 306 Jun 6 279» 6.3 ID 210 22 36.3 189 Jun 7 2»14 5.0 it 212 3 36.1 184 4 5.0 +0.4 +3.7 194 Jun 1 3045 6.0 ID 233 21 24.8 -0.2 -2.9 303 Jun 26 1743 6.S EC »9 20 47.0 -0.7 -0.1 141 20 50.8 -0.5 +0.2 n o 20 57.2 -0.4 +1.1 78

Jun 27 1845* 6.5 ID IX 16 6.1 -0.5 -4.1 171 Jul 1 2212 5.9 DC 143 0 12.4 -0.5 +2.3 57 0 33.4 +0.4 +3.0 38 Jul 2 2547 4.9 DC 164 16 55.9 -0.7 -0.5 70 Jul 7 3133 5.» ID 216 0 31.8 -2,3 +0.6 251 1 2.2 -2.8 +0.8 258 1 14.7 -3.9 -0.4 279 Jul 16 709 4.3 ID 318 3 33.3 -1.6 -2.8 309 3 26.6 327

Jul 21 1457 6.7 DO 30 16 41.9 -0.9 +0.8 98 Jul 23 1705 7.5 DO 58 17 49.7 -0.9 -0.7 136 17 57.6 -0.9 +0.4 102 18 9.4 -0.9 +2.1 64 Jul 25 1968 6.9 ED 87 21 59.7 -0.2 +0.4 111 Jul 27 2214 6.2 DC 111 17 46.6 -2.5 +0.4 81 1» 33.4 31 Jul 27 2212 6.1 EC 111 17 59.7 -2.4 -3.9 151

Jul 29 2529 6.6 X 138 22 19.4 -2.6 -1.5 131 22 35.0 -1.9 -0.2 115 22 41.6 -1.3 +0.6 90 Jul 30 2535 6.7 DO 139 0 18.1 144 0 24.5 -1.1 -0.6 128 0 25.8 -0.5 +0.2 102 Jul 30 25*7 4.9 DO 140 2 22.1 -0.6 -0.7 139 Ju l 31 2»!< 5.0 EC 159 16 27.9 -0.3 -1.6 103 16 27.9 -1.1 -0.1 68 16 41.4 -2.0 +3.1 28 Aug 10 371 6.4 IS 263 0 8.0 -0.2 +0.8 216 0 18.7 -0.8 *0.8 226 0 27.3 ♦1.5 +0.4 246

Aug 11 417 5.3 B) 274 0 50.5 327 Aug 11 492 5.9 ID 275 2 7.9 -2.2 -1.9 291 2 I t . 4 -3.4 -2.4 299 Aug 20 177» 7.1 SC 41 17 53.6 -0.6 -2.6 169 17 48.5 -0.4 -0.6 132 Aug 23 2172 4.7 DD 81 16 14.6 174 Aug 23 2175 6.1 DO 81 16 31.7 -2.1 -3.5 153 16 21.9 -2.6 -1.0 115

Aug 23 2189 7.0 EC <2 19 37.5 -1.2 +0.6 101 19 53.1 -0.6 +1.1 83 20 6.7 -0.1 +2.0 55 Aug 24 2327 6.7 DC 94 17 0.9 •2.6 +0.0 95 17 16.4 -2.6 +1.9 63 Aug 24 2330 6.3 X 94 17 15.8 -2.5 +2.4 54 Aug 24 2337 6.4 X 95 18 42.1 -2.0 +0.7 90 19 8.5 -1.4 +1.7 68 19 32.1 -0.4 +3.5 36 Aug 25 2472 6.9 X 106 17 35.0 7

Aug 25 2509 6.0 X n o 23 45.3 +0.1 +1.5 70 Aug 26 261» 6.6 X U8 16 31.4 -2.4 -1.5 109 16 34.7 -2.9 *0.4 77 Aug 26 2633 4.0 X 119 19 40.7 -2.3 +0.6 86 20 9.4 -1.8 +1.5 71 20 29.6 -1.2 +2.3 48 Aug 26 263» 5.4 X 120 21 1.6 -0.6 +3.8 27 21 34.9 10 Aug 27 2791 5.4 X 131 19 30.3 -2.8 -0.8 104 19 56.3 -2.7 +0.5 8» 2012.4 -2.2 +1.5 66 44 CAPE TOM* JOEAXESBCK HAÏAEE TIE a DT £ IS.5 S 33.9 E 28.1 S 26.2 E 31.0 S 17.8 DATE l.C . lag.. Pfc ELG TIE a. b. P.A. TIE a. b. P.A. TIE a . b. P.A. 8 D ' b 1 ■ a b 1 1 1 b l i i ' Aug 27 2794 6.7 DC 131 20 8.5 -1.6 +2.9 37 20 46.6 -0.7 +3.9 2 2 Aug 29 3045 6.0 DD 154 20 16.5 -1.3 +3.3 21 20 56.7 -0.4 +4.8 7 Sep 18 1992 7.2 7 j 36 16 45.4 -0.8 -0.2 119 16 49.3 -0.6 +0.6 90 Sep 20 2282 5.9 DC 65 18 52.0 158 Sep 21 2432 6.8 DC 76 17 19.5 -1.8 +1.4 74 17 40.6 -1.1 +2.7 45

Sep 21 2445 7.4 DO 78 19 40.8 -1.0 +1.0 93 19 55.8 -0.4 +1.1 81 20 7.3 +0.0 +1.5 59 Sep 22 2599 6.9 OD 91 21 49.0 •0.2 +1.5 73 Sep 23 2758 7.0 1» 103 a 42.3 -0.8 +1.3 83 21 57.4 -0.3 +1.2 76 a 9.0 ♦0.1 +1.5 57 Sep 24 2889 7.1 DD 114 20 0.9 147 20 16.3 127 20 19.5 -2.3 +0.2 99 Sep 25 3002 6.2 DD 124 17 23.2 -1.7 +2.1 36 18 2.5 -1.2 +4.2 16

Sep 26 3133 5.8 DD 136 19 31.8 -2.8 -0.1 89 20 2.3 -2.9 +0.7 83 20 19.9 -2.4 +1.5 65 Oct 3 402 6.5 ED 213 19 8.3 +0.0 +1.2 a 9 Oct 3 415 6.0 ED 214 21 36.2 -0.1 +1.7 201 a 53.7 -0.8 +1.8 210 a 10.2 -1.8 +1.3 230 Oct 5 534 6.0 ED 227 1 40.3 -2.2 +1.4 2 2 t 2 16.1 -2.7 +1.5 243 2 33.4 -2.7 +0.6 266 Oct 6 817 4.8 ED 248 23 21.0 -1.0 +1.5 2 a

Oct 7 828 6.5 ED 249 1 17.0 -2.4 -1.8 301 1 26.8 -3.1 -2.7 317 Oct 17 2217 5.5 DD 32 18 9.6 -0.6 -0.4 135 Oct 18 2376 4.6 DD 45 17 40.8 160 Oct 22 2968 6.2 DD 95 18 59.1 i a Oct 22 2969 3.3 DD 95 19 16.6 137

Oct 22 2972 6.7 DD 95 20 7.4 -1.7 +0.8 97 20 27.9 -1.1 +0.9 92 20 39.3 -0.7 +1.2 73 OCt 22 2975 7.0 DD 96 20 38.2 -1.2 +1.3 86 20 56.8 -0.7 +1.2 80 a 9.1 -0.3 +1.4 62 Oct 26 3452 6.8 DO 139 19 10.2 +0.3 +4.6 357 19 44.7 352 *ov 1 631 5.6 ED 207 22 9.8 -1.1 +0.9 a 9 22 33.2 -2.1 +1.2 229 a 48.8 -2.9 +0.7 250 80V 1 634 5.3 ED 207 23 15.7 -2.2 +0.1 252 a 41.8 -2.9 +0.3 263 a 5o.i -3.3 -0.6 284 lOY 2 766 6.0 ID 217 19 41.0 +0.5 +2.3 206 lov 3 784 6.2 ED 219 0 42.8 -2.5 -0.1 265 1 7.6 -2.8 -0.3 283 1 8.3 -2.7 -1.7 309 8ov 17 2787 6.4 DD 51 18 34.9 -1.2 -1.4 131 Hoy 18 2927 7.2 DD 64 19 15.9 -1.0 +0.8 102 19 29.1 -0.5 +0.8 94 19 37,4 -0.1 +1.0 75 Hoy 19 3054 6.4 DO 75 18 54.3 -0.1 +3.3 16 19 20,0 +0.4 +3.7 8 lov 21 3309 6.3 DD 99 21 18.7 -0.9 +1.6 76 a 37.1 -0.4 +1.6 66 lov 22 3417 6.8 DD n o 21 1.6 -1.9 +0.6 105 21 22.3 -1.2 +0.9 94 a 34.1 -0.8 +1.2 74 lov 24 89 6.5 DD 130 17 44.9 -2.3 +1.0 61 18 4.0 -2.1 +2.0 44 lov 27 465 4.5 DD 165 22 0.9 -2.6 +0.2 90 a 30.7 -2.5 +1.1 77 Dec 2 1158 5.2 ED 222 20 52.6 a 6

Dec 5 1410 5.3 ED 249 0 27.9 221 0 56.1 -2.6 -0.3 263 0 57.2 -2.4 -1.2 289 Dec 6 1623 5.4 ED 274 23 4.2 -0.6 +0.1 250 Dec 9 1884 5.3 ID 302 2 18.4 -1.8 +0.2 244 2 19.5 -1.3 -0.8 277 Dec 10 2017 6.4 ID 315 1 *9.2 227 1 52.9 -0.6 -0.4 264 Dec 17 3125 6.9 DD 55 18 20.8 -0.3 +1.9 49 18 39.0 +0.1 +2.4 29 Dec 17 3128 6.2 DD 55 18 30.5 -0.8 +1.5 79 18 47.1 -0.3 +1.4 71 19 0.1 -0.0 +1.6 52

Dec 18 3260 6.4 DD 67 19 54.6 -0.5 +1.5 75 Dec 22 177 7.1 DD 110 18 45.3 -1.8 +2.0 40 19 a.3 -1.8 +2.8 33 19 57.9 4 Dec 24 415 6.0 DD 132 19 0.5 -4.2 -1.9 119 Dec 25 525 6.4 DD 143 18 38.6 8 Dec 25 534 6.0 DD 144 a 39.9 -2.3 +0.5 94 2 2 8.1 -2.1 +1.4 73 a 31.0 -2.4 +2.8 44 Dec 31 1364 6.5 ID 216 19 34.5 -0.5 +0.8 a 7 Dec 31 1381 6.3 ED 218 23 57.4 -0.7 -3.6 354 4 5 GRAZING OCCULTATIONS

When a star naves tangentially to the limb of the Moon, and is occulted for a very short period only - a few minutes, or even seconds - a grazing occultation is said to occur. Because the limb, as seen from the Earth, is in fact the outline of numerous mountains and valleys, there may be several disappearances and reappearances, which are not only fascinating to observe, but which may be accurately timed to yield valuable data on the relative positions of star and Moon, as well as on the shape of the Moon. Some of this data cannot readily be obtained in any other way. The maps on the following pages have been prepared by the Hydrographic Dept., Tokyo to show the tracks of stars brighter than 7.5 magnitude which will graze the limb of the Moon when it is at a favourable elongation from the Sun and at least 10 above the observer's horizon (2* in the case of bright star9). Each track starts in the west at some arbitrary time given in the key and ends beyond the area of interest, except where the Moon is at a low altitude, the bright limb or sunlight interferes. The tracks as shown on the maps are approximate only. Since the observer's location is very critical, successful observations call for very accurate predictions. Such predictions, which include graphical representations of the probable profile of the Moon, are computed annually for a number of centres in Southern Africa. By plotting the predicted graze track on a reliable survey map (e.g.South African 1:50 000 series) it is usually possible to select a convenient site from where the graze may be observed. Ideally a team of observers would be stationed at intervals along a line running at right angles to the graze track - say,along a main road - each with his own telescope and timing equipment. Each observer will see a different sequence of events, the combined results forming an accurate picture of the limb of the Moon. The equipment needed is similar to that used for ordinary or "total” occultations, but must, of course, be portable. A 75 mmn refractor is ideal for average events, but Instruments with a larger aperture have often shown their superiority under difficult conditions. Timing is best carried out with a portable tape recorder and a small FM radio tuned to a pre-arranged transmission. It will be seen from the maps that many grazing occultations occur in regions which are rather far removed from the main cities, and which cannot easily be reached by teams of observers from one of the ASSA centres. It is worth remembering, however, that a team of many observers.while ideal, is by no means essential, that a single good observer is worth more than many unsuccessful ones, and that one good observation is worth infinitely more than no observation at all. Interested observers - especially those living in the more distant regions - who wish to be informed of favourable grazes occurring in their neighbourhood, are therefore invited to contact the co-ordinator for grazing occultations: Mr.M.D. Overbeek, P.O. Box 212, Edenvale, 1610. Tel: (Oil) 453 6918

EXPLANATION OF THE COLUMN HEADINGS IN THE TABLES: SEQ : Sequential number in the year. The same number is attached to the corresponding track on the map. NZC NO : Zodiacal Catalogue number of the star. MAG : Magnitude of the star. MON, DAY, H, M, S : Month, day, hour, minute and second in SAST for the vest end of the track. SUNLIT (X) : Percentage of the Moon sunlit (a minus sign indicates a waning Moon). LIMIT : Whether the track is the north (N) or the south (S) limit of the occultation. (A) denotes that the Moon is at a low altitude. (B) denotes that the star is occultated at bright limb. (S) denotes that the daylight interferes. The map gives the graze tracks or the limits of occultations. Along each track on the map tick marks are qiven for the points corresponding to the multiples of five minutes of every hour, while the prediction for the west end of each track is shown in the table, e.g.if the time for the vest end of a track is 5h 43m 21s, the tick marks proceeding eastward correspond to 5h 45m 00s, 5h 50m 00s, 5h 55m 00s etc. 4 6

YEAR 1933 MONTH 1 - 3 ( 1 - 12 )

SEQ NZC NO MAG MON DAY H M S SBNLIT(X) LIMIT 1 399m 5.72 1 3 23 6 50.77 75.46 N ( ) (A) 2 2604 6.57 1 20 4 15 50.09 -6.42 S ( ) ( ) 3 336 7.40 1 30 19 58 43.82 47.68 N (S) ( ) A 459 6.68 1 31 19 24 42.20 57.51 S (S) (B> 5 2434 5.60 2 15 5 27 38.80 -33.70 s < ) (S) 6 2567 7.07 2 16 4 51 32.42 -24.62 s ( ) (S) 7 2865 5.87 2 18 5 22 2.37 -9.86 N ( ) (S) 8 563 6.91 2 28 21 48 9.84 41.07 N ( ) (A) 9 716 6.17 3 1 21 58 49.53 51.39 N ( ) (A) 10 859 6.49 3 2 21 48 34.05 61.58 N ( ) ( ) 11 1175 5.02 3 5 0 47 55.41 82.46 N ( ) ( ) 12 664 5.41 3 28 20 29 27.12 25.35 N ( ) (A) 4 7

YEAR 1993 MONTH 4 - 6 ( 13 - 26 )

-zo

- 3 0

SEQ NZC NO MAG MON DAY H M S SUNLIT(X) LIMIT 13 1247 6.79 4 1 23 9 4.56 67.86 N < ) ( ) 14 2614 6.22 4 12 2 29 8.05 -67.50 N (B) < ) 15 2^18 6.58 4 12 3 6 5.34 -67.24 N (B) ( ) 16 2760 6.73 4 13 . 0 6 23.99 -58.14 S ( ) ( ) 1? 5.41 4 13 6 11 22.62 -56.23 N ( ) (S) ia 761 6.66 4 25 18 43 25.53 12.73 N ( ) ( ) 19 LOW 3.70 4 27 20 53 53.78 30.70 N ( ) ( ) 20 1207 5.79 4 28 21 16 5.25 41.37 N ( ) (A) 21 W57 ; 6.72 5 1 0 40 0.02 65.15 N ( ) (A) 22 270% 5.91 5 10 0 45 47.52 -82.28 S ( ) (B) 23 3104 6.49 5 13 2 33 27.76 -53.94 N < ) ( ) 24 1662 j •6.28 5 30 0 24 23.73 62.59 N ( ) (A) 25 3417 6.77 6 12 4 12 7.82 -50.67 N ( ) ( ) 26 23$ . 6.20 6 15 7 5 34.27 -22.52 N ( > (S) 'Í -

; ■ i ( a ', •: v ; f 40

YEAR 1993 MONTH 7 - 9 ( 27 - 48 )

__ L_ ...t-- 4 «-- 1- - _____

o i w w c y ^

a #

■ H i t __ IsjS S ^ *~~S

s ' G' • * s ' G VCNM

* V

r* ■ TOW

— r— t— ■< ■■r -r' t11 ITT- 1 0 20 3 0 4 0

SEQ NZC NO MAG MON DAY H M S SUNLIT(X) LIMIT 27 65 7.29 7 11 6 43 28.59 -56.96 N ( ) 28 421 6.59 7 14 3 13 16.14 -29.40 N (A) ( ) 29 709 4.33 7 16 5 10 18.09 -12.53 N (A) ( ) 30 1809 6.90 7 24 17 51 12.59 32.92 N

YEAR I9B3 MONTH 10-12 ( 49 - 64 )

SEQ NZC NO MAG MON DAY H M S SUNLIT(X) LIMIT 49 828 6.49 10 7 2 25 58.97 -67.53 N ( ) (B) 50 1109 7.30 10 9 2 19 38.08 -47.32 N (A) (B) 51 1364 6.46 10 11 2 23 35.17 -26.13 S (A) ( ) 52 2376 4.57 10 18 19 28 28.96 14.10 S (S) ( ) 53 2968 6.19 10 22 20 17 7.24 53.89 s ( ) ( ) 54 2969 3.25 10 22 20 28 33.15 53.93 s ( ) ( ) 55 3104 6.49 10 23 23 59 54.76 64.56 s ( ) ( ) 56 3111 6.85 10 24 1 34 52.21 65.17 s ( ) (A) 57 1210 5.91 11 6 3 25 53.87 -62.58 s ( ) (S) 58 2774 6.33 11 17 18 40 59.04 17.51 s (S) ( ) 59 2787 6.37 11 17 20 22 51.55 18.14 s (S) (A) 60 3045 5.99 11 19 19 15 51.52 36.30 s (S) ( ) 61 1623 5.40 12 7 0 49 49.31 -46.10 s (B) ( ) 62 1884 5.26 12 9 3 47 25.72 -23.04 s ( ) (S) 63 2017 6.36 12 10 3 36 38.18 -14.02 s (A) (S) 64 51 7.18 12 21 20 5 39.79 57.73 s (S) ( ) 50 MINOR. RLANET OGCTJLTATIONS

A number of A.S.S.A. members and professional observatories form part of a worldwide network which observes the above events. The Southern Africa network comprises approximately 35 observers and more observers are badly needed. Very little experience is needed, apart from the ability to locate some of the fainter naked eye stars and familiarity with the user's telescope, which does not have to be a large equatorial. The only other equipment needed is a small FM radio and portable tape recorder.

Observations, especially when made by more than one observer, can be used to refine our knowledge of the size, shape and orbit of a minor planet, to greater accuracy than that obtainable with large Earth-based instruments.

Further information and detailed instructions on finding the occulted stars can be obtained from: M.D. Overbeek, P 0 Box 212, Edenvale, 1610. Tel (Oil) 453-6918.

OCCULTATAONS BY MINOR PLANETS Date SAST MINOR PLANET CAT STAR d h m Jan 3 4 36 42 Isis Lick2 2963 Jan 16 23 10 18 Melpomene FAC 297069 Jan 23 19 55 191 Kolga PPM 147513 Feb 2 4 37 504 Urhixidur PPM 75061 Feb 12 1 00 545 Massalina PPM 548570 Feb 14 4 05 6 Hebe FAC 403604 Feb 15 19 47 635 Vundtia PPM 145502 Feb 26 2 43 24 Thermis DM -24*3761 Mar 8 2 49 1428 Mombasa PPM 509497 Mar 9 0 53 1330 Spiridonia PPM 125839 Apr 2 2 30 624 Hektor PPM 578896 May 29 0 13 638 Moira PPM 526584 Jun 24 1 02 409 Aepasia PPM 511622 Jun 26 19 09 1258 Sicilia PPM 548665 Jul 7 4 45 220 Stephania PPM 181355 Jul 17 4 03 2494 Xnqe DM +12*5055 Jul 19 4 17 2 Pallas FAC 883958 Jul 20 21 14 667 Denise PPM 166349 Jul 22 20 32 2196 Ellicott PPM 511188 Jul 24 22 51 604 Tekmessa PPM 531783 Jul 25 20 52 1303 Luthera PPM 581784 Jul 1 1 58 49 Pales PPM 116983 Aug 3 22 45 595 Polyxena PPM 601547 Aug 8 22 28 1031 Artica PPM 509316 Aug 12 2 14 1819 La puts PPH 532900 Aug 18 20 01 634 Ute PPM 531340 Aug 24 18 52 31 Euphrosyne PPM 621138 Aug 29 21 36 218 Bianca PPM 512316 Sep 6 1 24 45 Eugenia FAC 67046 Sep 15 4 12 75 Eurydike PPM 143578 Sep 16 2 39 45 Eugenia FAC 66711 Oct 6 3 35 1269 Rollandia DM +07*0293 Oct 18 0 01 735 Marghanna PPM 118619 Oct 18 1 49 444 Cyptis PPM 118783 Nov 25 21 52 654 2elinda PPM 171404 Dec 12 1 53 156 Xanthippe PPM 123007 Dec 22 4 54 97 KLotho PPM 152733 51

TIME SYSTEMS

This section is intended to serve established amateurs and professional astronomers - i.e. those having some knowledge of time and coordinate systems. Space in this booklet does not permit full explanation, which in any case would appear complicated to the layman.

TIME SIGNALS CSIR has recently developed a new time service available through the telephone line with an accuracy to within one millisecond. This service replaces the ZUO service which has been discontinued. Prospective users need have access to a telephone, an IBM-compatible PC with a modem and a "pulse buffer unit" which will be needed to synchronise other timing equipment external to the PC. Registered users will be supplied with an authorised access code and user manual on a floppy disc. On running the software supplied, the user’s computer automatically dials the CSIR time service number and establishes a link with the time service computer. The user's PC is then set to within one electronic "clock tick" of CSIR's national time standard. At the same time a pulse is generated at a pin on the printer port of the user's computer which is accurate to within one millisecond of the national time standard. This pulse can be used to synchronise other timing equipment external to the PC. Users must pay a registration fee, a monthly fee and a fee for each call made to the-system to the CSIR. In addition the user incurs the normal Post Office telephone charges. Enquiries to: CSIR Time Service, Rm 230, Division of Production Technology, CSIR, P 0 Box 3«, Pretoria, 0001. Tel: (012) 841-2036/841-4623. Telefax: (012) 841-2131.

SOUTH AFRICAN STANDARD TIME South African Standard Time (as in everyday use) is mean solar time on the 30“ East meridian (which runs east of Johannesburg and just west of Durban) and is exactly 2 hours ahead of Universal Time.

TIME OF SUN’S TRANSIT OVER 30* MERIDIAN The table below gives the SAST when the Sun transists the 30° meridian - and a sundial on-that meridian reads noon. • i ,h m s h m s h m s Jan i 12 3 40 May ii 11 56 19 Sep 18 11 54 7 ii 12 8 0 21 11 56 33 28 11 50 38 21 12 11 22 31 11 57 38 Oct 8 11 47 32 31 12 13 30 Jun 10 11 59 23 18 11 45 10 Feb 10 12 14 15 20 12 1 31 28 11 43 49 20 12 13 44 30 12 3 38 Nov 7 11 43 43 ttai l 12 12 9 Jul 10 12 5 19 17 11 45 1 :A 12 12 F 9 45 20 12 6 19 27 11 47 41 X 22 12 ,6 52 30 12 6 24 Dec 7 11 51 31 Apr 1 12 3 52 Aug 9 12 5 27 17 11 56 11 11 12 1 ‘ 1 19 12 3 35 27 12 1 8 21 11 58 41 29 12 0 54 31 12 3 4 May 1 11 57 4 Sep 8 11 57 38

CORRECTION FOR PLACES SOT ON THE 30* MERIDIAN Approximate longitude corrections from the 30* East Meridian are provided below To find the time of Sun's transit over the local meridian, apply the longitude corrections to the data in the table.

Bloemfontein ♦15° East London +8° Port Elizabeth +18*

Bulawayo +6= Grahamstown +14* Pretoria +7*

Cape Town +46“ Johannesburg +8° Harare -4*

Durban -4= Kimberley +21* Windhoek +52* 52 SIDEREAL TIME ON THE 30° MERIDIAN

At At At At At At 0 hrs 21 hrs 0 hrs 21 hrs 0 hrs 21 hrs h m h m h m h m h m h m Jan 1 6 42 3 46 May ii 15 15 12 18 Sep 18 23 47 20 51 11 7 22 4 25 21 15 54 12 58 28 0 27 21 30 21 8 1 5 5 31 16 34 13 37 Oct 8 1 6 22 10 31 8 41 5 44 Jun 10 17 13 14 17 18 1 46 22 49 Feb 10 9 20 6 23 20 17 53 14 56 28 2 25 23 29 20 9 59 7 3 30 18 32 15 35 Nov 7 3 5 0 8 Mar 2 10 39 7 42 Jul 10 19 11 16 15 17 3 44 0 47 12 11 18 8 22 20 19 51 16 54 27 4 23 1 27 22 11 58 9 1 30 20 30 17 34 Dec 7 5 3 2 6 Apr 1 12 37 9 41 Aug 9 21 10 18 13 17 5 42 2 46 11 13 17 10 20 19 21 49 18 53 27 6 22 3 25 21 13 56 10 59 29 22 29 19 32 31 6 37 3 41 May 1 14 35 11 39 Sep 8 23 8 20 11

CORRECTION FOR PLACES NOT THE 30° MERIDIAN Approximate longitude corrections from the 30° East Meridian are provided belov. To find the sidereal times at SAST 0 hrs and SAST 21 hrs apply the following corrections to the data in the table.

Bloemfontein -15* East London -8" Port Elizabeth -18"

Bulawayo -6* Grahamstown -14* Pretoria -7*

Cape Town -46* Johannesburg -8* Harare +4*

Durban +4* Kimberley -21" Windhoek -52"

TELESCOPE SETTING When a telescope equipped with setting circles is aimed on the meridian, its R.A. circle should read the sidereal time. Thus one can calculate the sidereal time and then set the circle, but it is usually simpler to aim the telescope at one of the well known stars given below and then to adjust the R.A. circle.

A LIST OF BRIGHT STARS FOR CHECKING TELESCOPE CIRCLES (1993.5)

Star R.A. D e c . Mag. Sp. Star R.A. D e c . Mag. Sp * » h m h m • » ACHERNAR 1 37.5 -57 16 0.6 B5 PR0CY0N 7 39.0 5 14 0.5 F5 ALDEBARAN 4 35.5 16 30 1.1 K5 REGULUS 10 8.0 12 0 1.3 B8 RIGEL 5 14.2 -8 13 0.3 B8 SPICA 13 24.9 -11 8 1.2 B2 BETELGEUSE 5 54.8 7 24 0.4 M0 ARCTURUS 14 15.4 19 13 0.2 KO CANOPUS 6 23.8 -52 42 -0.9 F0 ANTARES 16 29.1 -26 25 1.2 Ml SIRIUS 6 44.9 -16 42 -1.6 A0 ALTAIR 19 50.5 8 51 0.9 A5 53

joliak DATE IT 1400 BOOK - SAST 1993

J i l . m . baï. í p ï . HAT JOB. JOl. AOC. SEP. OCT. BOY. DEC. 244 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 2449 1 *989 020 048 079 109 140 170 201 232 262 293 323 2 6990 í 021 049 080 110 141 171 202 233 263 294 324 3 6991 022 050 081 111 142 172 203 234 264 295 325 4 6992 023 051 082 112 143 173 204 235 265 296 326 5 6993 024 052 083 113 144 174 205 236 266 297 327 6 6994 025 053 084 114 145 175 206 237 267 298 328 7 6995 026 054 085 115 146 176 207 238 2M 299 329 8 8996 027 055 086 116 147 177 208 239 269 300 330 9 6997 028 056 087 117 148 178 209 240 270 301 331 10 8998 029 057 088 118 149 179 210 241 271 302 332 U 8999 030 058 089 119 150 180 211 242 272 303 333 12 9000 031 059 090 120 151 181 212 243 273 304 334 13 9001 032 060 091 121 152 182 213 244 274 305 335 14 9002 033 061 092 122 153 183 214 245 275 306 336 15 9003 034 062 093 123 154 184 215 246 276 307 337 16 9004 035 063 094 124 155 185 216 247 277 308 338 17 9005 036 064 095 125 156 186 217 248 278 309 339 l t 9006 037 065 096 126 157 187 218 249 279 310 340 19 9007 038 066 097 127 158 188 219 250 280 311 341 20 9006 039 067 098 128 159 189 220 251 281 312 342 21 9009 040 068 099 129 160 190 221 252 282 313 343 22 9010 041 069 100 130 161 191 222 253 283 314 344 23 9011 042 070 101 131 162 192 223 254 284 315 345 24 9012 043 071 102 132 163 193 224 255 285 316 346 25 9013 044 072 103 133 164 194 225 256 286 317 347 26 9014 045 073 104 134 165 195 226 257 287 318 348 27 9015 046 074 105 135 166 196 227 258 288 319 349 2S 9016 047 075 106 136 167 197 228 259 289 320 350 29 9017 076 107 137 168 198 229 260 290 321 351 30 9018 077 108 138 169 199 230 261 291 322 352 31 9019 078 139 200 231 292 353

JAÏOAÏÏ FEBMJtï BAKU APRIL Sll *0 Tu Be f t 1?r Sa Su * 0 TU He f t f t Si Su Bo Til Be f t Fr Sa Su 1Sc Tu »e Tb Fr Sa 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 :1 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 7 8 '9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 18 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 17 l t 19 20 2i 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 :19 20 21 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 26 29 30 26 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 BA! JOBE JOL! ADGOST Su Bo Tu He f t f t Sa Su Bo Tu Be f t n Sa Su Ho Tu Be f t Er Sa Su Bo f t Be f t Fr Sa 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9 10 11 U 13 14 IS 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 16 17 I t 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ■. 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 30 31 ;• > •••- s e r a r a OCTOBER HOVEHBEÏ DECEHBES Su Ho Tu He f t f t Sa Su Bo TU Be f t Fr Sa Su Ho f t Be f t Fr Sa Su Ho Tu Be f t Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 U 12 13 14 15 16 17 16 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 31 31 54 ASSA OFF I CE BEARERS

COUNCIL President: Mr M.G. Soltynski Hon. Treasurer: Mr D. Duprez Vice-Presidents; Prof W.F. Wargau Hon. Secretary: Mr B . Skinner Mr B.D. Fraser Business Manager: Mrs A. Joubert Dr T. Lloyd Evans Membership Secretary: Mrs A. Joubert Members: Mr A. Hilton Mr M .D . Overbeek Prof B.C. Raubenheimer Mr H.E. Krumm

PUBLICATIONS Editor of MNASSA: Mr J. Charms Assistant Editor of MNASSA: Dr I. S. Glas: Editor of Handbook: Miss P. Booth

CAPE CENTRE PRETORIA CENTRE Chairman: Mr C. Allen Chairman: Mr M. Poll Vice-Chairman: Mr J. Davison Vice-Chairman: Dr P . Lourens Secretary: Mr M. Stone Secretary: Mr M . Haslam Treasurer: Mr C .Turk Treasurer: Mr F. le Roux PRO: Mr E. v.d. Walle Librarian: Mr N.F. Young Curator of Curator of Instruments: Mr F. Bryan Instruments: Mr L, Barendse Librarian: Mr M. Stone Assistant Curator: Mr M. Geyser Cape Observer: Mr P. van Heusden Urania Editor: Mr J . Swart Newsletter: Mrs V. Jones Council Rep.: Mr M. Poll Council Rep.: Mr C. Turk Observations Coordinator: Mr N.B. Robinson BLOEMFONTEIN CENTRE Committee: Prof W. Wargau Chai rman: Mr H.P. van der Walt Mr T. Viljoen Vice-Chairman: Mr H. Calitz Secretary: Mrs T. Venter HARARE CENTRE Committee: Mr C. de Koning Chairman: Mr M.J.R. Begbie Me L . Hattingh Vice-Chairman Mr D. Pringle-Wood Mr B. van Zyl Secretary: Mrs E. Ellis-Whitfit Council Rep.: Mr H. Terblanche Treasurer: Mr A . Croyden PRO: Mrs Y. Walsh NATAL CENTRE Committee: Mr J.~V. Vincent Chairman: Mr H. Mitchell T . Garde Vice-Chairman: Mrs L. Rens Mrs L. Murphree Secretary: D. Bailey P.M. Begbie Treasurer: Mrs C. Sefton Council Rep: Mr M.J.R. Begbie Librarian: Mrs R. Barbour Council Rep. : Mr K. Wade-Lehman TRANSVAAL CENTRE Curator of Chairman: Mr T. Budge Instruments: Mr H. Mitchell Vice-Chairman: Mr D. West K . Moynihan Secretary: Mr T. Gould PRO: N. Cahill Treasurer: Mr G . Corbett Committee: A. Prouse Committee: Mr M. Hannibal Mr M. Bamping Mr M. McEvoy NATAL MIDLANDS CENTRE Mr B. Dunman Chairman: Mr T. Chance Mr A. Hilton Secretary: Mr J. Watson Mr M . Breedenkamp Treasurer: Mrs H . Chance Mr F. van Nieuvkerk Librarian: Mrs S . Dale Mr D. Toldo Education: Mr T. Chance Mr D. Blane PRO: Mrs V. Collingwood Council Rep.: Mr A. McCrae Council Rep.: Mr J. Watson Newsletter: Mr R. Jarmain Projects: Mr R. Roth Instruments: Dr G. Prosser & Mr. R . Forder PAST PRESIDENTS 1922-23 S S Hough 1946-47 W P H irst 1970-71 W C Bentley 1923-24 R T A Innes 1947-48 J Jackson 1971-72 A H Ja rre tt 1924-25 J K E Hal» 1948-49 A E H Bleksley 1972-73 K H Ste rlin g 1925-26 W Reid 1949-50 W S Finsen 1973-74 G A Harding 1926-27 H Spencer Jones 1950-51 H E Krum 1974-75 C Papadopoulos 1927-28 A w Roberts 1951-52 A D Thackeray 1975-76 P A T Wild 1928-29 A W Long 1952-53 J C Bentley 1976-77 s S Booysen 1929-30 H E Wood 1953-54 D S Evans 1977-78 B Warner 1930-31 D Caneron-Swan 1954-55 P Kirchhoff 1978-79 R F Hurly 1931-32 H L Alden 1955-56 W H van den Bos 1979-80 M W Feast 1932-33 H Spencer Jones 1956-57 S C Venter 1980-81 M A Gray 1933-34 D G McIntyre 1957-58 M W Feast 1981-82 E E Baart 1934-35 J K E Haln 1958-59 H Haffner 1982-83 J V Vincent 1935-36 J Jackson 1959-60 P S lit s 1983-84 A P F a ira ll 1936-37 H E Houghton 1960-61 G G C illie 1984-85 J S Bondietti 1937-38 J S Paraskevopoulos 1961-62 M D Overbeek 1985-86 G D Nicolson 1938-39 T Mackenzie 1962-63 A J Wesselink 1986-87 C R G Turk 1939-40 R A Rossiter 1963-64 A G F Morrisby 1987-88 J H Spencer Jones 1940-41 E B Ford 1964-65 H C Lagerweij 1988-89 J P G Cranb 1941-42 H Knox Shaw 1965-66 A Menzies 1989-90 I S Glass 1942-43 A F I Forbes 1966-67 G R Atkins 1990-91 J da S. Campos 1943-44 W H van den Bos 1967-68 J Hers 1991-92 T Lloyd Evans 1944-45 A W J Cousins 1968-69 J C Bennett 1945-46 R H Stoy 1969-70 J Chums

HOBORARY SECRETARIES 1922 H S Schonegevel 1930-31 S Skewes 1965-80 T W Russo 1922-23 T Mackenzie 1931-34 H Horrocks 1981-82 Mrs M Fitzgerald 1923 C L O'Brien Dutten 1934-35 H W Schonegevel 1983-91 H E Krum 1923-30 H E Houghton 1935-65 A Menzies 1992- B Skinner

HOMORARY TREASURERS 1922 J F Skjellerup 1937-40 Miss J R Robinson 1950-87 F H G Orpen 1922-23 A F I Forbes 1940-42 J B G Turner 1987-89 Mrs E C Olsen 1923-37 H H Smith 1942-50 H E Krum 1989- D Duprez

HOMORARY MEMBERS Mr w c Bentley Dr K G Fuhr Mr F K G Orpen Dr A w J Cousins Dr G Heyman Hr M D Overbeek Dr D S Evans Hr W P H irst Dr R H Stoy Prof Ch Fehrenbach Mr H C Krum Dr A J Wesselink

GILL MEDALLISTS 1956 H Knox Shaw 1965 R H Stoy 1983 M W Feast 1957 W P H irst 1967 w s Finsen 1984 M D Overbeek 1958 J Jackson 1970 J C Bennett 1988 D S Evans 1960 W H van den Bos 1976 A D Thackeray 1992 B Warner 1963 A W J Cousins 1981 C Papadopoulos

MCINTYRE AWARDS 1971 D S Evans, T J Deeming, Mrs B K Evans i S Goldfarb 1983 B Warner

LONG SEBVICE AWARDS 1984 J Chums 1988 R F Hurly PLANETARIUM, JOHANNESBURG.

Planetarium Shows: The Planetarium presents a variety of interesting shows ranging from multi-visual extravaganzas to live lectures, throughout the year. Popular, continuing shows include the Sky Diaries for the various seasons. The productions are changed periodically so as to keep the public up to date with current astronomical and space events.

SHOW TIMES: Evenings: Friday and Saturday at 8.00 pm Matinees: Saturday at 3.00 pm Sunday at 4.00 pm

There are NO Shows on Public Holidays. Tickets are always available at the Planetarium 30 minutes before shows start.

PLANETARIUM TELESCOPE CENTRE.

The Planetarium Telescope Centre is the Sole Agent for Meade Astronomical Telescopes in Southern Africa. *A11 models of the Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes (the Rolls Royce of astronomical instruments) are available. ^Refractor and Reflector Models of various aperature. * All accessories for the above makes and models. *Telescope parts for the Amateur Telescope Maker. "‘Astronomical Books, Star Charts etc. * Astronomical Posters in Full Colour.

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