ASTRONOMICAL HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA 2

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9 7 0 5 7 9 0 0 PLANETARIUM S A MUSEUM 25 Queen Victoria Street, 1 3 61 Cape Town 8000, @ (021) 24 3330

o Public shows o Shows especially for young children o Monthly sky updates o Astronomy courses o School shows ° Music concerts ° Club bookings o Corporate launch venue

For more information telephone 24 3330 ASTRONOMICAL HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA 2000

The 54th year of publication

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

Front cover The Natal Midlands Observatory at Worlds View. Photograph: M Christianson June 1998

(g)the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, Cape Town. 1999

ISSN 0571-7191 CONTENTS

ASTRONOMY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA...... 1 DIARY...... 6 THE SUN...... 8 THE MOON...... 11 THE PLANETS...... 20 THE MOONS OF JUPITER ...... 28 THE MOONS OF SATURN...... 32 COMETS AND METEORS...... 33 THE STARS...... 35 TOTAL LUNAR OCCULTATIONS...... 45 GRAZING OCCULTATIONS...... 49 PLANETARY OCCULTATIONS...... 52 TIME SYSTEMS AND TELESCOPE SETTING...... 53 JULIAN DATES...... 55 ASSA OFFICE BEARERS...... 56

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 2000, the Handbook of the British Astronomical Association for 2000 and the International Lunar Occultation Centre, Tokyo. The star charts on pages 36, 38, 40 and 42 are from “A Beginner’s Guide to the Southern Stars" by J.S. Bondietti, published by the South African Museum. The star charts on pages 37, 39 and 41 were adapted from charts output by Skymap 2.29 for Windows. 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. The Editor is indebted to the South African Astronomical Observatory for supplying the visibility criteria data of The Horizon Chart for the Visibility of the Lunar Cresent at Sunset. Assistance in the compilation of this booklet was received from the Directors of the sections of the ASSA and B Wagener.

Further copies of this booklet are available at R20.00 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.

The ASSA regrets that due to the restriction of funds it is not possible to print this handbook in any of the other official languages of South Africa.

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 SOUTH 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-ra 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 of the University of the Orange Free State. Observing facilities include a 1.52-m telescope, which is gradually being upgraded as funds become available, as well as a 0.41-m telescope, a 0.33-m refractor and a 0.20-m solar installation. THE FRIENDS OF BOYDEN is an organisation, founded to foster a wider public appreciation of the historical, cultural and scientific value of Boyden, to promote public interest in the affairs of the Observatory and to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of the installation. The Friends organise a number of activities such as popular lectures on astronomy and viewing sessions at Boyden. Membership of the Friends is open to all interested persons. Contact: Mrs M. Schoch (tel 051-311 061), Mr M. Hoffman (tel 051-401 2924, email nwfsmjhgfsk.nw.uovs.ac.za), P Meintjies (tel 051-401 2191) or Schoch (tel 051-4366342). Secretarial address: PO Box 13004, Brandhof, 9324.

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 N00ITGEDACHT 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 of the University of the Orange Free State. Tel. 051-401 2324 (Mr. M. Hoffman). THE HARTEBEESTHOEK RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY has visiting days for the public once a month on a Sunday at 15:00. It is essential to book, phone 012-326 0742 between 9:00 and 12:00 during the week for more details.

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

The PORT ELIZABETH PEOPLES OBSERVATORY SOCIETY. The observatory, situated on the corner 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.

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.

THE SPREEUFONTEIN OBSERVATORY is an astronomical guest house on a farm in the Great Karoo 75km SSW of Beaufort West, 30km from the N1 National road. Facilities include a 10’ Meade LX200 and 16" Meade Dobsonian Starfinder. Contact Mr A. Jansen, Markstraat 3, Prins Albert, 6930, Tel/Fax 023-5411 871, email agjansengilink.nis.za, http://www.nis.sa/'agjansen/spreeu.htm

THE ALOE RIDGE HOTEL OBSERVATORY is part of the hotel and game Reserve Complex some 40 km northwest of Johannesburg. Vacilities include a 16" LX200 telescope, 1616XT CCD Camera and Autoguider. Telescope time is available for a fee to interested users. Contact Mr A. Richter, P0 Box 3040, Honeydew, 2040, Tel 011-9572070, Fax 011-9572017 or Website aloegmatie.co.za. 3 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.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 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 G F R Ellis and D R Matravers. The University of OFS has a Dept, of Physics, headed by Prof.G L P Bernings, incorporated with the Boyden Observatory. The Dept, of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University, specialises in radio astronomy, and has its own observatory outside Grahamstown. The Dept, of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Astronomy at UNISA offers a number Df courses in astronomy and astrophysics. Courses in Gamma Ray Astronomy and General Astrophysics form part of the regular honors and masters courses of the Dept, of Physics at Potchefstroom. The Dept, of Computational and Applied Mathematics, University of Witwatersrand, offers an Introductory first year course in Astronomy and a postgraduate course in Cosmology/ Astrophysics. Unique research facilities are available, such as Photomicrographic Tubes, the Schmidt Surveys (in blue and red) and SUN work stations. Contact Prof D.L. Block.

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 E. Bloomhill, P 0 Box 2365, Bulawayo.

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. Exibitions and public viewing sessions are organised. For further information contact Mrs. S. Enke, P 0 Box 5198, Windhoek.

THE PORT ELIZABETH 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, GRAHAMSTOWN. The society meets twice monthly in Physics Department during the university terms. Meetings 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.

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). The society's has an entrance fee of R20.00 and an annual subscription of R80.00. Members may also subscribe at a reduced rate to 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. This additional amount for "Sky and Telescope’s* yearly subscription is subject to the Rand Dollar exchange rate, details of which are regularly published in MNASSA. A prospectus and application form may be obtained from the Honorary Secretary, Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, P 0 Box 9, Observatory 7935.

AUTONOMOUS LOCAL CENTRES OF THE ASSA hold regular meetings in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria, Harare and Sedgefield. 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". Centres publish newsletters and journals carrying information on meetings, centre activities and topics of interest.

BLOEMFONTEIN CENTRE: Meetings are usually held every second Friday of the month at Boyden Observatory, Mazelspoort. Phoning for confirmation beforehand is essential. The Centre publishes a monthly newsletter ’Die Naghemel’. Secretarial address: PO Box 13004, Brandhof, 9324 or telephone 051-4058730(o/h ask for Braam van Zyl) or 051-4471921(a/h).

CAPE CENTRE (Cape Town): Formal meetings, involving lectures on the latest astronomical topics are held on the second Wednesday of the month (except in January and December). Informal meetings are held on other Wednesdays except during January and December. Meetings are held at the SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory at 20h00. The centre publishes a monthly newsletter, the "Cape Observer". Secretarial address: P.O.Box 13018, Mowbray, 7705, or tel. 021-6856214.

DURBAN CENTRE: 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 201554, Durban North, 4016, or telephone 031-84 7136 / 21 5829 / 44 6089

GARDEN ROUTE CENTRE. This centre covers the coastal area between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay, holding regular monthly meetings at 16h00 on the first Saturday of the month except December at "Laurel and Hardy", Main St., Sedgefield. Secretarial address: P 0 Box 2427,Knysna 6570, tel. 044-387-1415.

HARARE CENTRE: The centre holds a meeting on the last Wednesday of each month (except December). These are usually held at 17h30 at the Harry Robinson Study Centre Prince Edward School, 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.

JOHANNESBURG CENTRE: 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 bouses 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 newsletter "Canopus". Secretarial address: P 0 Box 93145, Yeoville 2143. Tel. 011-7163199/7163038

NATAL MIDLANDS CENTRE (Pietermaritzburg): Regular monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month starting at I9h30. The centre publishes a monthly newsletter, ■Stardust". Secretarial address: P 0 Box 2106, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 tel 033-3433646.

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: P 0 Box 11151, Queenswood, 0121, tel: 012-333 9991.

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 5 part 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 St 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 Computing Section: Mr Tony Hilton. P 0 Box 68846, Bryanston, 2021. Phone (w) (Oil) 53 8714 or (h) (Oil) 465 2257. Mr Hilton has compiled a comprehensive DATA BASE of all interested person’s, equipment, available software etc. 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 was formed 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; - 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 : Chris de Coning, 15 Wilkinson St., Gardens, 8001. Tel 021-234538 DIARY OF PHENOMENA CONFIGURATIONS OF SUN, MOON AND PLANETS

d h d h Jan 3 6 Venus 3°S. of Moon Apr 6 23 Saturn 3*N. of Moon 3 7 Earth at perihelion 7 1 Kars 1*«1N. of Jupiter 3 14 Vesta 0*»2S. of Moon 9 0 Moon at perigee 4 14 Moon at apogee 11 16 FIRST QUARTER 6 20 NEW MOON 17 1 Mars 2*N. of Saturn 7 12 Venus 7WN. of Antares 18 20 FULL MOON 8 8 Neptune 0*-ZN. of Moon 24 14 Moon at apogee 9 7 Uranus 0°*4N. of Moon 26 20 Neptune 1°*0N. of Moon 10 21 Mars l ’ *9N. of Moon 26 21 LAST QUARTER 13 4 Saturn stationary 28 0 Uranus 1®*3H- of Moon 14 16 FIRST QUARTER 28 11 Mercury 0*«3S. of Venus 14 17 Ju p iter 4*N. of Moon 15 19 Saturn 3*N. of Moon May 4 6 NEW Moon 16 3 Mercury in superior conjunction 5 8 Mars 5*N. of Moon 17 22 Aldebaran 1"*2S. of Moon 6 11 Noon at perigee 20 1 Moon at perigee 8 6 Jupiter in conjunction with Sun 21 7 FULL MOON Eclipse 8 15 Neptune stationary 24 20 Neptune in conjunction with Sun 9 6 Mercury in superior conjunction 27 5 Pallas at opposition 10 22 FIRST QUARTER 28 10 LAST QUARTER 10 22 Saturn In conjunction with Sun 14 15 Ceres stationary Feb 1 2 Vesta 0#-4N. of Moon 18 10 FULL MOON 1 3 Moon a t apogee 19 5 Mars 6*N. of Aldebaran 2 17 Venus 1°*4S. of Moon 19 13 Mercury 7*N. of Aldebaran 5 15 NEW MOON 19 17 Mercury 1M N. of Mars 6 9 Uranus in conjunction with Sun 22 6 Moon at apogee 6 21 Mercury 1 * *8N. of Moon 24 4 Neptune 1°»2N. of Moon 8 19 Mars 4°N. of Moon 25 8 Uranus 1®-SN. of Moon 10 17 Ceres stationary 25 17 Uranus stationary 11 4 Jupiter 4®N. of Moon 26 14 LAST QUARTER 12 2 Saturn 3*N. of Moon 31 12 Jupiter 1**2N. of Saturn 13 1 FIRST QUARTER 14 5 Aldebaran 1"*2S. of Moon Jun 1 6 Saturn 3*N. of Moon 15 3 Mercury g reatest elong. E.(18#) 1 7 Jupiter 4*N. of Moon 17 5 Moon at perigee 1 20 Pluto a t opposition 19 18 FULL NOON 2 14 NEW MOON 21 0 Mercury stationary 3 15 Moon at perigee 22 8 Venus 0°»5 S. of Neptune 4 6 Mercury 4*N. of Moon 26 11 Pallas stationary 4 16 Vesta stationary 27 6 LAST QUARTER 9 5 FIRST QUARTER 9 15 Mercury greatest elong. E.(24#) 28 23 Moon a t apogee 11 13 Venus in superior conjunction 17 0 FULL MOON Mar 1 17 Mercury in in ferio r conjunction 18 15 Noon at apogee 3 2 Neptuue 0*-4N. of Moon 19 22 Vesta 0**04N. of Moon 4 2 Venus 0°«07S, of Uranus 20 9 Neptune 1**3N. of Noon 4 3 Uranus 0*»7N. of Moon 21 4 Solstice 4 3 Venus 0°*6N. of Moon 6 7 NEW MOON 21 14 Uranus 1*»6N. of Moon 22 22 Mercury stationary 8 16 Mars 5#N. of Moon 24 0 Juno stationary 9 19 Ju p iter 4°N. of Moon 25 3 LAST QUARTER 10 11 Saturn 3#N. of Moon 28 22 Saturn 3*N. of Moon 13 9 FIRST QUARTER 29 3 Jupiter 4*N. of Moon 14 1 Mercury stationary 15 2 Mercury 2*N. of Venus Jul 1 18 Mars in conjunction with Sun 15 2 Moon a t perigee 1 21 NEW MOON 16 14 Pluto stationary 2 0 Moon at perigee 20 7 FULL MOON 4 2 Earth at aphelion 20 10 Equinox 6 14 Mercury in inferior conjunction 2? 11 Ceres at opposition 27 19 Moon at apogee 8 15 FIRST QUARTER 28 2 LAST QUARTER 15 18 Moon at apogee 16 16 FULL MOON Eclipse 28 23 Mercury g reatest elong. W.(28®) 30 12 Neptune 0*«7H. of Moon 16 20 Vesta at opposition 17 12 Mercury stationary 31 14 Uranus 1*»0N. of Moon 17 14 Neptune 1*-2N. of Moon 18 18 Uranus 1°*6N. of Moon Apr 2 14 Mercury 1*»6N. of Moon 3 8 Venus 3°N. of Moon 24 13 LAST QUARTER 26 11 Saturn 2*N. of Moon 4 20 NEW MOON 26 22 Jupiter 3*N. of Moon 6 12 Mars 5°N. of Moon 27 11 Mercury greatest elong. W.(20*) 6 13 Ju p iter 4°N. of Moon 7 DIARY OF PHENOMENA, CONFIGURATIONS OF SUN, MOON AND PLANETS

d h d h Jul 28 1 Neptune at opposition Oct 13 11 FULL MOON 29 19 Mercury 0**8S. of Moon 15 13 Neptune stationary 30 10 Moon a t perigee 16 8 Saturn 1**6N. of Moon 31 4 NEW MOON 17 2 Jupiter 2°N. of Moon 18 20 Mercury stationary Aug 2 19 Pallas 0*«008N. of Moon 20 0 Moon at perigee 4 0 Mercury 7°S. of Pollux 20 10 LAST QUARTER 6 9 Venus 1°*1N. of Regulus 21 7 Jupiter 5°N. of Aldebaran 7 3 FIRST QUARTER 24 7 Kars 3*S. of Moon 10 15 Mercury 0-.09S. of Mars 26 22 Uranus stationary 11 7 Uranus a t opposition 27 O Venus 3°N. of Antares 12 0 Moon a t apogee 27 10 NEW MOON 12 10 Juno a t opposition 30 4 Mercury in inferior conjunction 13 19 Neptune 1"-1N. of Moon 30 10 Venus 4"S. of Moon 14 22 Uranus 1°»4N. of Moon 15 7 FULL MOON Nov 3 5 Moon at apogee 22 3 Mercury in superior conjunction 3 16 Neptune 1"*6N. of Moon 22 21 LAST QUARTER 4 9 FIRST QUARTER 22 21 Saturu 2*N. of Moon 4 18 Uranus 1*»8N. of Moon 22 22 Pluto stationary 7 20 Mercury stationary 23 12 Jupiter 3°N. of Moon 11 23 FULL MOON 27 16 Moon a t perigee 12 13 Saturn 1“-6N. of Moon 28 5 Mars 0°.9S. of Moon 13 5 Jupiter 2°N. of Moon 28 8 Vesta stationary 15 1 Moon at perigee 29 12 NEW MOON 15 8 Mercury g reatest eloug. W.(19°) 31 1 Venus 4°S. of Moon 18 17 LAST QUARTER 19 15 Saturn at opposition Sep 2 0 Ceres 0°*4N. of Moon 21 12 Ceres In conjunction with Sun 5 18 FIRST QUARTER 21 20 Mars 4°S. of Moon 7 20 Jupiter 5°N. of Aldebaran 24 13 Mercury 3*S. of Moon 8 15 Moon at apogee 26 1 NEW MOON 10 1 Neptune 1#*2N. of Moon 28 4 Jupiter at opposition 11 3 Uranus l a*4N. of Moon 29 20 Venus 2°S. of Moon 12 22 Saturn stationary 13 22 FULL MOON Oec 1 0 Neptune 1°*8N. of Moon 16 9 Mars 0°*8 N. of Regulus 1 2 Moon at apogee 18 21 Venus 3*N. of Spica 2 3 Uranus 2°N. of Moon 19 3 Saturn 1®»8N. of Moon 4 6 FIRST QUARTER 19 21 Jupiter 2°N. of Moon 4 16 Pluto in conjunction with Sun 21 3 LAST QUARTER 9 19 Saturn 1®.8N. of Moon 22 19 Equinox 10 10 Jupiter 3°H. of Moon 23 17 Mercury 0°*7N. of Spica 11 3 Mars 4®N. of Spica 24 10 Moon at perigee 11 11 FULL MOON 25 19 Mars 2°S. of Moon 11 23 Venus 3aS. of Neptune 27 5 Juno stationary 13 0 Moon at perigee 27 22 NEW MOON 18 3 LAST QUARTER 29 15 Mercury 8"S. of Moon 20 9 Mars 4“5. of Moon 29 16 Jupiter stationary 21 16 Solstice 30 2 Venus 5°S. of Moon 23 23 Venus 1°*3S. of Uranus 30 6 Ceres 0°*5S. of Moon 24 1 Ceres 0°«9S. of Moon 25 19 NEW MOON Oct 5 13 FIRST QUARTER 25 21 Mercury in superior conjunction 6 9 Moon at apogee 28 9 Neptune 2®N. of Moon 6 12 Mercury g reatest elong. E.(26°) 28 17 Moon at apogee 7 8 Neptune 1°»3N. of Moon 29 12 Uranus 2°N. of Moon 8 10 Uranus 1**5N. of Moon 30 0 Venus 1°-8N. of Moon 10 0 Pallas in conjunction with Sun 0 THE SUN BASIC DATA: Diameter: 1 392 000 km (109 times Earth diameter)

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

Surface Temperature: Approximately 6 000I>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 2000 we will be closest to the Sun on January 3 (perihelion - approximate distance 197 million km) and furthest from the Sun on July 9 (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.

Sumner Solstice Dec 22

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* rtfbo* rd U |M Shield __ «yWhllc Card 11 _ T SurllgM -image of Sun Talaacop* AHOURS: Jan 1 -23« 4 ’ Apr 10 7° 59’ Jul 19 20c50' Oct 27 -12' 98 ii -21 56 20 11 33 29 18 99 Nov 6 -16 0 21 -20 6 30 14 98 Aug 8 16 7 16 -18 95 31 -17 38 May 10 17 39 18 13 4 26 -20 57 Feb 10 -19 38 20 20 0 28 9 91 Dec 6 -22 30 20 -11 15 30 21 97 Sep 7 6 2 16 -23 19 Mar 1 -7 33 Jun 9 22 56 17 2 13 26 -23 22 11 -3 91 19 23 25 27 -1 90 21 0 16 29 23 13 Oct 7 -5 32 31 4 11 Jul 9 22 21 17 -9 17 TIMES OF SUNRISE AND SUN5ET FOR THE MAIN CITIES Of SOUTHERN AFRICA

CAPETOWN DURBAN BLOEMFONTEIN JOHANNESBURG HARARE WINDHOEK sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset sunrise sunset h m h m h m h n h m h m h « h m h n h IB h m h m Jan I 05 38 20 01 04 58 19 01 05 21 19 18 05 18 19 04 05 24 18 35 06 11 19 40 11 05 46 20 02 05 06 19 02 05 29 19 18 05 25 19 05 05 29 18 37 06 17 19 42 21 05 55 19 59 OS 14 19 00 05 37 19 17 05 33 19 04 05 37 18 38 06 24 19 42

Feb 1 06 07 19 52 05 24 18 55 05 46 19 13 05 42 19 00 05 42 18 36 06 32 19 38 11 06 17 19 44 05 32 18 48 05 54 19 06 05 49 18 55 05 47 18 32 06 38 19 33 21 06 26 19 33 05 41 18 39 06 02 18 57 05 54 18 47 05 52 18 27 06 44 19 26

Mar 1 06 33 19 23 05 46 18 30 06 08 18 48 06 00 18 39 05 55 18 21 06 48 19 20 11 06 41 19 11 05 53 18 19 06 13 18 38 06 04 18 29 05 57 18 15 06 52 19 11 21 06 49 18 58 05 59 18 06 06 18 18 27 06 11 18 19 06 00 18 06 06 56 19 02

Apr 1 06 58 18 41 06 06 17 53 06 25 18 13 06 17 18 06 06 02 17 57 07 00 18 51 11 07 04 18 30 06 11 17 43 06 30 18 03 06 21 17 56 06 04 17 50 07 03 18 42 21 07 13 18 17 06 17 17 31 06 35 17 52 06 25 17 47 06 07 17 43 07 07 18 34

May 1 07 20 18 06 06 24 17 22 06 42 1 7 44 06 31 17 38 06 10 17 37 07 11 18 26 11 07 28 17 57 06 31 17 14 06 49 17 36 06 37 17 31 06 13 17 32 07 15 18 21 21 07 34 17 50 06 36 17 06 06 54 17 30 06 41 17 26 06 16 17 29 07 20 18 17

Jun l 07 43 17 45 06 43 17 04 07 01 17 27 06 47 17 23 06 20 17 28 07 24 16 14 11 07 48 17 44 06 48 17 03 07 05 17 26 06 52 17 22 06 23 17 27 07 28 18 14 21 07 51 17 44 06 51 17 04 07 06 17 27 06 55 17 24 06 26 17 29 07 31 18 16

Jul 1 07 53 17 48 06 53 17 07 07 10 17 30 06 57 17 27 06 27 17 32 07 32 18 19 11 07 51 17 52 06 51 17 11 07 06 17 34 06 55 17 30 06 27 17 35 07 32 18 22 21 07 47 17 58 06 48 17 16 07 05 17 39 06 53 17 35 06 26 17 40 07 30 18 26

Aug 1 07 39 18 06 06 42 17 22 07 00 17 45 06 48 17 41 06 23 17 42 07 25 18 31 11 07 30 10 13 06 34 17 29 06 53 17 51 06 41 17 46 06 18 17 46 07 19 18 35 21 07 19 18 20 06 24 17 35 06 42 17 55 06 32 17 50 06 11 17 48 07 12 16 38

Sep 1 07 06 18 27 06 12 17 40 06 31 18 01 06 21 17 54 06 04 17 49 07 02 18 42 11 06 52 18 34 06 00 17 46 06 19 18 06 06 n 17 59 05 55 17 51 06 52 18 44 21 06 38 18 41 05 48 17 51 06 07 18 10 05 59 18 03 05 46 17 52 06 42 18 47

Oct 1 06 25 18 48 05 37 17 57 05 57 18 16 05 50 16 08 05 39 17 54 06 33 18 51 11 06 12 18 55 05 25 18 03 05 45 18 22 05 39 18 12 05 30 17 57 06 23 18 54 21 05 58 19 04 05 12 18 09 05 33 18 27 05 27 18 17 05 23 17 59 06 15 18 58

Nov 1 05 46 19 13 05 02 18 17 05 24 18 35 05 19 18 24 05 16 18 03 06 07 19 04 11 05 38 19 23 04 55 18 26 05 17 18 44 05 13 18 32 05 14 18 08 06 02 19 10 21 05 31 19 33 04 49 18 34 05 12 18 52 05 06 18 39 05 11 18 13 05 59 19 17

Dec 1 05 29 19 43 04 48 18 42 05 11 19 00 05 07 18 46 05 12 18 19 05 58 19 23 11 05 28 19 50 M 48 18 50 05 11 19 07 05 08 18 53 05 14 18 25 06 00 19 30 21 05 32 19 57 04 52 18 57 05 15 19 14 05 12 19 00 05 18 18 31 06 04 19 36

ECLIPSES OF THE SUN The four partial eclipses, 5 February, 1 July, 31 July and 25 December will not be visible from Southern Africa.

2001 AND Z002 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES. The next two total eclipses will be visible over Southern Africa. They are 21 June 2001 over Southern Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and 4 December 2002 over Southern Angola, Namabia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique Contact the ASSA Harare Centre, email address: zimbabweeclipseghotmail.com, web page: http://www.geocities.com/zimastro, P 0 Box UA 428, Union Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe for more information. SOLAS 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.

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 I 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. The Moon 1 1 BASIC DATA Diameters 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, Perigee ±357 000km, Apogee ±407 000km

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 latin 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, SCALE DRAWING MOON the Moon appears to make a complete circuit of the heavens in just under a month. The Moon’s orbit around the Earth is slightly elliptical: the Earth is situated at one of the foci of the Perigee ' ellipse. Thus the Earth-Moon distance V ; . r\ varies slightly during the course of a EARTH * Apogee revolution. Dates of Apogee, when the moon is furthest from the Earth and of Perigee, when the Moon is closest to the Earth are given on the next page.

ECLIPSES OF THE MOON The eclipse data is as follows: Total Eclipse d h m Moon enters penunbra Jan 21 4 2.9 I Moon enters umbra 5 1.4 II Moon enters totality 6 4.6 III Middle of eclipse 6 43.5 IV Moon leaves totality 7 22.3 V Moon leaves umbra 8 25.4 VI Moon leaves penumbra 9 24.1 VII

Contacts of Umbra Position Angles with Limb of Moon from the North Point First 79.9 to East The moon will set before the Middle Last 66.4 to West of eclipse over Southern Africa. Magnitude of the eclipse: 1.330

Total Eclipse d h m Moon enters penumbra Jul 16 12 46.6 The south eastern parts of the Moon enters umbra 13 57.2 region will experience a Moon Moon enters totality 15 2.0 rising in partial eclipse. Middle of eclipse 15 55.5 Moon leaves totality 16 49.0 Moon leaves umbra 17 53.8 Moon leaves penumbra 19 4.5

Contacts of Umbra Position Angles with Limb of Moon from the North Point First 87.4 to East Last 96.1 to West PHASES and VISIBILITY HEW MOON

d h m d h m d h m Jan 6 20 14 Jun 2 14 14 Oct 27 9 58 Feb 5 15 03 Jul 1 21 20 Nov 26 01 11 Mar 6 7 17 31 4 25 Dec 25 19 22 Apr 4 20 12 Aug 29 12 19 May 4 6 12 Sep 27 21 53 SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF THE MOON’S ORBIT

FIRST QUARTER LAST QUARTER

d h m d h m Jan 14 15 34 Jan 28 ? 57 Feb 13 1 21 Feb 27 5 53 Mar 13 8 59 Mar 28 2 21 Apr 11 15 30 Apr 26 21 30 May 10 22 00 May 26 13 55 Jun 9 5 29 Jun 25 3 00 Jul 8 14 53 Jul 24 13 02 Aug 7 3 02 Aug 22 20 51 Sep 5 18 27 Sep 21 3 28 Oct 5 12 59 Oct 20 9 59 Nov 4 9 27 Nov 18 17 24 Dec 4 5 55 Dec 18 2 41

FULL MOON

d h m d h m d h m Jan 21 6 40 May 18 09 34 Sep 13 21 37 Feb 19 18 27 Jun 17 00 27 Oct 13 10 53 Mar 20 06 44 Jul 16 15 55 Nov 11 23 15 Apr 18 19 41 Aug 15 07 13 Dec 11 11 03

MOON at. PERIGEE MOON at APOGEE

d h d h d h d h d h d h Jan 20 1 Jun 3 IS Oct 20 0 Jan 4 14 May 22 6 Oct 6 9 Feb 17 5 Jul 2 0 Nov 15 1 Feb 1 3 Jun 18 15 Nov 3 5 Mar 15 2 30 10 Dec 13 0 28 23 Jul 15 18 Dec 1 2 Apr 9 0 Aug 27 16 Mar 27 19 Aug 12 0 28 17 May 6 11 Sep 2', 10 Apr 24 14 Sep 8 15

TERMINATOR AND LIBRATION 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. 1 3

aOCTH *Ol I

LIBRATXON Maximum Minimum Maxima Minimum Date Size P.A. Date Size P.A. Date Size P.A. Date Size P.A. d • » d ° ■ d 0 • d • " Jan 6 2.8 125 Jul 8 10.1 250 Jul 16 0.8 148 Jan 14 9.6 24 Jan 20 2.2 323 Jul 22 9.9 25 Jul 30 0.5 73 Jan 26 9.5 248 Feb 3 2.4 123 Aug 5 10.1 249 Aug 12 0.3 23 Feb 10 8.8 18 Feb 17 1.3 330 Aug 20 9.0 21 Aug 26 0.9 156 Feb 23 8.8 242 Mar 1 2.3 122 Sep 2 9.5 246 Sep 9 0.5 269 Har 8 B.l 14 Mar 15 1.3 305 Sep 16 8.2 15 Sep 23 0.9 133 Mar 22 8.2 237 Mar 28 2.3 126 Sep 29 8.7 242 Oct 6 0.8 2B8 Apr 4 8.1 17 Apr 11 2.2 309 Oct 13 8.1 14 Oct 19 0.4 193 Apr 18 8.0 237 Apr 25 2.2 129 Oct 26 8.2 239 Nov 2 0.8 321 May 1 8.9 22 May 8 2.7 316 Nov 9 8.7 18 Nov 15 0.8 289 May 15 8.5 242 May 22 1.9 132 Nov 22 8.6 241 Nov 29 0.8 320 May 29 9.8 25 Jun 4 2.3 324 Dec 6 9.6 23 Dec 13 0.3 46 Jun 11 9.4 248 Jun 18 1.3 119 Dec 19 9.5 246 Dec 27 l.l 295 Jun 26 10.2 26 Jul 2 1.3 341

NOTE: Size of libration is given as an angle measured1 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. 1 4 2000 TIMES OF MOON RISE ANO SET CAPE TOWN For PORT ELIZABETH subtract 28 MINUTES JANUARY FE8RUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set h m h m h m h m h re h m h re h m h re h m h re h re 1 02 09 15 27 02 34 16 54 01 59 16 26 03 25 17 06 04 09 16 46 06 10 17 11 2 0? 42 16 21 03 18 17 44 02 50 17 11 04 24 17 41 05 12 1? 20 07 21 18 00 3 03 17 17 15 04 07 18 32 03 44 17 53 06 24 18 15 06 17 17 57 08 31 18 56 4 03 55 18 09 04 59 19 16 04 40 18 32 06 27 18 50 07 24 18 38 09 38 19 58 5 04 37 19 00 05 53 19 57 05 38 19 09 0? 30 19 25 08 33 19 23 10 39 21 04

6 05 23 19 49 06 50 20 34 06 38 19 44 08 35 20 03 09 43 20 14 11 32 22 12 1 06 12 20 35 07 48 21 10 07 39 20 18 09 42 20 45 10 50 21 11 12 18 23 19 8 07 05 21 18 08 47 21 43 08 40 20 52 10 49 21 31 11 52 22 13 12 58 9 08 00 21 57 09 47 22 17 09 43 21 27 11 56 22 23 12 48 23 18 13 34 00 23 10 08 57 22 33 10 48 22 51 10 47 22 05 12 59 23 20 13 36 14 07 01 25 11 09 54 23 08 11 50 23 26 11 52 22 48 13 57 14 19 00 24 14 39 02 25 12 10 53 23 41 12 53 12 57 23 35 14 50 00 22 14 57 01 28 15 11 03 23 13 1’ 53 13 59 00 06 14 02 15 35 01 26 IS 31 02 30 15 43 04 21 14 12 54 00 14 15 04 00 49 15 03 00 28 16 17 02 31 16 04 03 31 16 18 05 18 15 13 57 CO 49 16 10 01 39 16 00 01 26 16 54 03 35 16 36 04 30 16 55 06 14 15 15 03 01 27 17 11 02 35 16 51 02 29 17 29 04 37 17 08 05 29 17 36 07 09 17 16 11 02 08 18 08 03 37 17 37 03 35 18 01 05 38 17 41 06 27 18 21 08 02 1 8 17 20 02 56 18 59 04 43 18 18 04 41 18 34 06 38 18 17 07 24 19 09 08 52 19 18 26 03 50 19 44 05 51 18 55 05 46 19 07 07 37 18 56 08 20 20 01 09 39 20 19 28 04 52 20 24 06 58 19 30 06 49 19 42 08 35 19 39 09 15 20 54 10 22 21 20 23 05 58 21 00 08 04 20 03 07 51 20 20 09 33 20 25 10 07 21 50 11 01 22 21 11 07 07 21 34 09 07 20 36 08 51 21 OO 10 28 21 14 10 56 22 46 11 37 23 21 53 08 15 22 07 10 07 21 10 09 50 21 44 11 22 22 07 U 41 23 43 12 11 24 22 31 09 21 22 40 11 06 21 46 10 47 22 31 12 13 23 01 12 23 12 43 25 23 05 10 24 23 14 12 03 22 24 11 43 23 22 13 00 23 57 13 01 00 41 13 15 26 23 38 11 24 23 51 12 59 23 06 12 38 13 44 13 36 01 41 13 48 27 12 22 13 54 23 51 13 30 OC 16 14 25 00 54 14 10 02 43 14 23 28 00 10 13 18 00 30 14 47 14 19 01 11 15 0? 01 53 14 43 03 48 15 02 29 00 42 14 14 01 13 15 38 00 40 15 06 02 09 15 38 02 54 15 16 04 56 15 46 30 01 17 15 08 01 32 15 49 03 08 16 12 03 56 15 51 06 06 16 38 31 01 54 16 02 02 27 16 28 05 02 16 29 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set R'ise Set h m h m h N> h re h re h re h m h m h m h m h re h re 1 07 15 17 37 08 45 19 49 09 10 21 51 08 48 22 37 09 28 09 5 4 2 08 21 18 43 09 28 20 57 09 43 22 52 09 25 23 34 10 18 00 04 10 49 00 09 3 09 20 19 52 10 05 22 03 10 17 23 51 10 C6 11 to 00 51 11 44 00 45 4 10 11 21 02 10 40 23 05 10 53 10 50 00 30 12 04 01 33 12 40 01 18 5 10 55 22 10 11 13 11 31 00 49 11 37 01 22 12 59 02 11 13 37 01 49 6 11 34 23 15 11 46 00 06 12 12 01 45 12 27 02 11 13 56 02 46 14 36 02 20 7 12 09 12 20 01 05 12 57 02 39 13 20 02 55 14 54 03 19 15 36 02 51 a 12 42 00 17 12 56 02 02 13 45 03 29 14 16 03 36 15 53 03 50 16 40 03 24 9 13 13 01 17 13 34 02 58 14 36 04 16 15 12 04 13 16 53 04 22 17 47 04 00 10 13 46 02 15 14 16 03 52 15 31 04 59 16 10 04 48 17 56 04 54 18 56 04 41

11 14 20 .03 12 15 02 04 45 16 27 05 38 17 09 05 20 19 02 05 29 20 05 05 29 12 14 56 04 09 15 51 05 34 17 24 06 15 18 08 05 52 20 09 06 08 21 12 06 24 13 15 35 05 04 16 44 06 19 18 21 06 49 19 10 06 24 21 18 06 52 22 12 07 26 14 16 19 05 58 17 39 07 01 19 20 07 21 20 13 06 58 22 24 07 42 23 C6 08 34 15 17 06 06 49 18 35 07 39 20 20 07 53 21 18 07 34 23 26 08 39 23 52 09 43 16 17 56 07 37 19 32 08 15 21 20 08 25 22 24 08 14 09 42 10 52 17 18 49 08 21 20 29 08 48 22 23 08 58 23 30 08 59 00 22 10 48 00 32 11 58 18 19 44 C9 02 21 27 09 19 23 26 09 35 09 50 01 10 11 55 01 08 13 02 19 20 40 09 39 22 26 09 51 10 16 00 33 10 48 01 52 13 01 01 41 14 04 20 21 37 10 13 23 26 10 23 00 31 11 02 01 31 11 50 02 30 14 06 02 13 15 04 21 22 34 10 45 10 57 01 35 11 55 02 23 12 56 03 05 15 08 02 45 16 04 22 23 32 11 17 00 29 11 35 02 37 12 54 03 10 14 02 03 37 16 10 03 1 1 17 03 23 11 48 01 33 12 18 03 34 13 59 03 51 15 09 04 10 17 11 03 54 18 01 24 00 32 12 21 02 38 13 07 04 26 15 06 04 20 16 14 04 43 18 11 04 33 18 57 25 01 34 12 57 03 43 14 03 05 11 16 15 05 03 17 17 05 17 19 10 05 16 19 51

26 02 38 13 38 04 46 15 06 05 52 17 22 05 36 18 20 05 55 20 09 06 03 20 41 27 03 45 14 24 05 43 1 6 14 06 30 18 28 06 09 19 22 06 36 21 05 06 54 21 27 28 04 53 15 18 06 34 17 25 07 05 19 33 06 44 20 22 07 21 21 57 07 46 22 08 29 06 00 16 20 07 18 18 34 07 39 20 35 07 20 21 22 08 09 22 46 08 41 22 45 30 07 02 17 27 07 59 19 42 08 13 21 37 07 59 22 19 09 00 23 30 09 36 23 19 31 0 7 57 18 38 08 35 20 43 08 4? 23 14 10 31 23 SO 2000 TIMES OF MOON RISE AND SET DURBAN For BLOEMFONTEIN add 19 MINUTES FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set h in h m h m h m h M h a h ra h m h m 14 29 01 50 15 53 01 16 15 24 02 38 16 08 03 18 15 53 15 22 02 35 16 43 02 06 16 10 03 36 16 45 04 18 16 30 16 15 03 23 17 30 02 59 16 53 04 34 17 22 05 21 17 09 17 07 04 15 18 15 03 54 17 34 05 34 17 58 06 26 17 51 17 58 05 09 18 57 04 51 !8 12 06 36 18 36 07 33 10 38 18 48 06 04 19 37 05 49 18 49 0/ 39 19 16 08 41 19 30 19 34 07 01 20 14 06 48 19 25 08 43 19 59 09 47 20 28 20 18 07 58 20 49 07 47 20 01 09 49 20 47 10 49 21 30 20 58 08 55 21 25 08 48 20 39 10 54 21 39 11 46 22 34 21 36 09 54 22 01 09 49 21 19 11 56 22 37 12 36 23 38

22 12 10 54 22 38 10 53 22 02 12 55 23 38 13 21 22 48 11 55 23 19 11 56 22 51 13 48 14 00 00 40 23 23 12 59 13 00 23 44 14 36 00 41 14 37 01 41 24 00 14 03 OO 04 14 01 15 19 01 44 15 12 02 39 15 07 00 55 14 58 00 43 15 59 02 46 15 45 03 37 00 39 16 09 01 52 15 51 01 45 16 35 03 47 16 20 04 33 01 22 17 07 02 53 16 38 02 49 17 10 04 46 16 55 05 29 02 11 17 59 03 59 17 21 03 53 17 45 05 44 17 32 06 25 03 07 18 46 05 05 18 00 04 56 18 20 06 41 18 12 07 20 04 08 19 28 06 10 18 37 05 58 18 56 07 37 18 56 08 13 05 14 20 06 07 14 19 12 06 57 19 35 08 33 19 42 09 05 06 21 20 42 08 14 19 47 07 56 20 16 09 27 20 31 09 54 07 27 21 17 09 13 20 23 08 53 21 01 10 20 21 23 10 40 08 31 21 52 10 10 21 01 09 48 21 48 11 11 22 16 11 23 09 32 22 28 11 05 21 40 10 43 22 39 11 59 23 11 12 0? 10 31 23 06 12 00 22 23 12 36 23 31 12 43 12 39 11 27 23 46 12 53 23 08 12 28 13 25 00 05 13 15 12 22 13 45 23 57 13 17 00 26 14 04 01 03 13 49 13 16 00 29 14 36 14 04 01 22 14 41 02 01 14 24 14 09 00 48 14 48 02 19 15 17 03 02 15 01 15 01 01 42 15 29 04 05 15 41 f AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set h m h ra h m h m h m h IB h m h m h in 16 54 07 46 19 01 08 18 20 56 08 02 21 37 08 45 23 02 17 59 08 31 20 08 08 84 21 55 08 41 22 33 09 35 23 49 19 07 09 11 21 11 09 30 22 53 09 22 23 28 10 26 20 16 09 48 22 12 10 0? 23 49 10 07 11 19 00 32 21 22 10 23 23 10 10 47 10 54 00 20 12 14 01 11

22 25 10 58 11 29 00 44 11 44 01 09 13 08 01 48 23 25 11 33 00 07 12 14 01 36 12 37 01 54 14 04 0? 23 12 11 01 03 13 02 02 27 13 30 02 36 15 01 02 56 00 23 12 50 01 58 13 53 03 14 14 25 03 14 15 59 03 30 01 19 13 33 02 51 14 45 03 58 15 21 03 51 17 00 04 05

02 14 14 19 03 42 15 41 04 39 16 18 04 25 18 03 04 42 03 09 15 08 C4 32 16 36 05 17 17 16 04 59 19 09 05 22 04 03 16 00 05 18 17 32 05 52 18 15 05 33 20 15 06 08 04 56 16 54 G6 01 18 29 06 27 19 16 06 09 21 21 06 59 05 47 17 48 C6 40 19 26 07 00 20 19 06 47 22 23 07 57

06 35 18 43 07 17 20 25 07 34 21 23 07 29 23 19 08 59 07 20 19 39 07 52 21 25 08 10 22 27 08 15 10 04 08 02 20 35 08 26 22 27 08 49 23 30 09 07 00 10 11 09 08 40 21 32 08 59 23 30 09 31 10 05 00 54 12 13 09 16 22 30 09 33 10 19 00 28 11 07 01 34 13 16 09 50 23 30 10 09 00 33 11 12 01 22 12 11 02 11 14 16 10 24 10 49 01 34 12 11 02 10 13 16 02 46 15 16 10 57 00 33 11 33 02 32 13 15 02 53 14 20 03 20 16 14 11 32 01 37 12 23 03 25 14 21 03 32 15 23 03 55 17 13 12 10 02 41 13 20 04 12 15 27 04 09 16 24 04 31 18 10 12 52 03 43 14 23 04 55 16 33 04 45 17 25 05 11 19 07 13 40 04 41 15 30 05 35 17 37 05 20 18 25 05 53 20 02 14 35 05 33 16 38 06 12 18 39 05 57 19 23 06 38 20 55 15 37 06 20 17 46 06 48 19 39 06 35 20 21 07 27 21 43 16 43 07 03 18 52 07 25 20 39 07 15 21 17 08 18 22 28 17 53 07 42 19 55 07 59 22 11 2000 TIMES Of MOON RISE AND SET HARARE

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Set h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h » 1 02 OS 13 36 03 31 14 09 03 04 13 37 03 52 15 04 03 37 15 46 17 45 2 K 58 14 11 04 21 14 55 03 51 14 29 04 ?9 16 02 04 13 16 48 18 55 3 03 52 14 48 05 10 15 45 04 35 15 23 05 06 17 02 04 50 17 53 20 03 4 94 45 IS 29 05 57 16 38 05 17 16 20 05 41 18 03 05 30 18 59 21 07 5 05 36 16 13 06 40 17 33 05 56 17 17 06 18 19 06 06 14 20 07 22 05 6 06 27 17 00 07 20 18 30 06 33 18 16 06 56 20 10 07 03 21 15 22 56 1 07 15 17 51 07 58 19 27 07 09 19 16 07 37 21 16 07 58 22 20 23 41 8 08 00 18 44 08 34 20 25 07 44 20 16 08 22 22 22 08 58 23 19 9 08 41 19 39 09 09 21 23 08 20 21 18 09 12 23 26 10 01 00 20 10 09 20 20 35 09 44 22 23 08 58 22 21 10 07 11 05 00 12 00 56

11 09 57 21 32 10 20 23 24 09 40 23 25 11 06 00 27 12 09 00 59 01 30 12 10 32 22 30 10 58 10 25 12 09 01 23 13 11 01 41 02 03 13 11 07 23 28 11 41 00 27 11 16 00 29 13 12 02 14 14 11 02 19 02 37 14 11 42 12 28 01 31 12 12 01 32 14 15 02 59 15 09 02 54 03 11 15 12 19 00 29 13 22 02 36 13 13 02 31 15 17 03 39 16 07 03 27 03 48 16 13 00 01 32 14 21 03 40 14 16 03 26 16 17 04 16 17 03 04 00 04 28 17 13 46 02 38 15 25 04 39 15 21 04 16 17 16 04 52 18 00 04 35 05 12 18 14 38 03 45 16 31 05 34 16 25 05 00 18 14 05 26 18 55 05 11 05 58 19 15 36 04 52 17 38 06 23 17 28 05 40 19 12 06 00 19 50 05 49 06 48 20 16 40 05 $6 18 43 07 07 18 29 06 18 20 08 06 35 20 43 06 30 07 40 21 17 47 06 56 19 45 07 46 19 28 06 53 21 03 07 12 21 33 07 15 08 34 22 18 54 07 48 20 45 08 23 20 26 07 28 21 57 07 52 22 21 08 03 09 28 23 20 00 08 35 21 43 08 58 21 23 08 03 22 49 08 35 23 05 08 53 10 23 24 21 03 09 16 22 40 09 33 22 19 08 39 23 39 09 21 23 46 09 46 II 19 25 22 03 09 53 23 35 10 07 23 13 09 17 10 10 10 40 12 17 26 23 01 10 28 10 44 09 58 00 25 11 01 00 24 11 36 13 16 27 23 56 11 02 00 30 11 22 00 06 10 41 01 08 11 55 00 59 12 32 14 18 28 11 36 01 23 12 04 00 57 11 29 01 48 12 51 01 34 13 30 15 23 29 00 51 12 10 02 14 12 49 01 45 12 19 02 26 13 48 02 08 14 30 16 30 30 01 45 12 47 02 30 13 12 03 02 14 46 02 44 15 32 17 39 31 02 38 13 26 03 12 14 07 03 21 16 37 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER !B£R Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Set h m h m h rn h m h m h m h m h m h m h m h n 1 04 22 IB 47 06 27 20 09 08 27 20 34 09 11 20 18 10 41 21 06 21 33 2 05 25 19 49 07 35 20 51 09 28 21 10 10 09 20 58 11 29 21 57 22 28 3 06 32 20 46 08 40 21 29 10 27 21 46 11 04 21 41 12 14 22 49 23 22 4 07 41 21 35 09 43 22 04 11 24 22 24 11 58 22 26 12 55 23 43 5 08 49 22 18 10 43 22 38 12 20 23 04 12 48 23 15 13 33 00 17 6 09 54 22 56 11 41 23 13 13 14 23 47 13 35 14 08 00 38 01 13 / 10 56 23 32 12 38 23 49 14 06 14 18 00 07 14 42 01 34 02 11 8 11 55 13 33 14 54 00 34 14 58 01 00 15 15 02 31 03 11 9 12 53 00 05 14 28 00 27 15 40 01 24 15 35 01 55 15 48 03 29 04 14 10 13 49 00 39 15 20 01 08 16 22 02 16 16 10 02 51 16 23 04 29 05 21 11 14 45 01 13 16 11 01 52 17 01 03 10 16 44 03 47 17 01 05 31 06 29 12 15 39 01 49 16 59 02 40 17 37 04 06 17 17 04 45 17 44 06 36 07 37 13 16 33 02 28 17 43 03 30 18 12 05 02 17 52 05 44 18 32 07 43 08 41 14 17 25 03 10 18 24 04 23 18 45 05 58 18 28 06 45 19 26 08 50 09 39 15 18 15 03 55 19 02 05 18 19 18 06 56 19 07 07 47 20 26 09 54 10 30

16 19 01 04 44 19 37 06 13 19 53 07 54 19 51 08 51 21 30 10 53 11 14 17 19 45 05 35 20 11 07 09 20 29 08 54 20 40 09 56 22 36 11 46 11 54 18 20 24 06 29 20 44 08 05 21 09 09 56 21 34 11 00 23 41 12 33 12 30 19 21 01 07 23 21 17 09 02 21 53 10 59 22 34 12 01 13 14 13 04 20 21 35 oa 18 21 51 10 00 22 44 12 02 23 38 12 57 00 45 13 52 13 38 21 22 09 09 14 22 29 11 00 23 40 13 05 13 47 01 47 14 27 14 12 22 22 41 10 10 23 10 12 02 14 05 00 43 14 32 02 48 15 01 14 48 23 23 15 11 07 23 57 13 05 00 41 15 00 01 48 15 13 03 47 15 35 15 26 24 23 51 12 06 14 10 01 47 15 50 02 52 15 50 04 46 16 10 16 08 25 13 07 00 50 15 13 02 54 16 34 03 55 16 26 05 45 16 48 16 53 26 00 30 14 12 01 50 16 13 04 00 17 15 04 56 17 01 06 42 17 28 17 42 27 01 15 15 18 02 55 17 08 05 06 17 53 05 57 17 36 07 39 18 11 18 33 28 02 06 16 25 04 04 17 58 06 09 18 29 06 57 18 13 08 33 18 58 19 26 29 03 04 17 29 05 12 18 42 07 11 19 04 07 56 18 51 09 23 19 48 20 20 30 04 09 18 29 06 20 19 22 08 12 19 40 08 53 19 33 10 10 20 40 21 14 31 05 17 19 22 07 25 19 59 09 48 20 18 22 08 1 7

2000 TIMES OF MOON RISE AND SET JOHANNESBURG

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE Rise Se Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set h » h m h m h ID h m h m h m h m h m h in h m h m 1 01 37 14 38 02 10 15 58 01 36 15 30 02 56 16 16 03 32 16 05 05 19 16 44 2 02 12 15 30 02 55 16 48 02 26 16 16 03 52 16 55 04 31 16 44 06 26 17 36 3 02 50 16 22 03 44 17 36 03 19 17 00 04 49 17 33 05 32 17 25 07 34 18 33 4 03 30 17 13 04 35 18 21 04 13 17 41 05 47 18 11 06 35 18 09 08 40 19 36 5 04 13 18 04 05 28 19 04 05 09 18 21 06 47 18 51 07 40 18 57 09 41 20 41

6 05 00 18 53 06 22 19 45 06 05 18 59 07 48 19 32 08 47 19 51 10 37 21 46 7 05 49 19 40 07 17 20 23 07 02 19 37 08 51 20 17 09 52 20 49 11 26 22 50 8 06 41 20 24 08 13 21 00 08 00 20 15 09 55 21 06 10 54 21 51 12 10 23 50 9 07 34 21 05 09 09 21 37 08 58 20 54 10 59 22 00 11 51 22 54 12 50 10 08 28 21 45 10 06 22 15 09 59 21 36 12 02 22 58 12 43 23 56 13 26 00 49 11 09 22 22 22 11 04 22 54 11 00 22 21 13 00 23 58 13 28 14 02 01 45 12 10 17 22 59 12 04 23 37 12 03 23 10 13 54 14 10 00 57 14 37 02 40 13 11 14 23 36 13 06 13 05 14 43 01 00 14 48 01 56 15 13 03 34 14 12 11 14 09 00 23 14 06 00 05 15 28 02 02 15 24 02 53 15 50 04 27 IS 13 11 00 14 15 13 01 15 15 04 01 03 16 08 03 03 16 00 03 49 16 30 05 21 IS 14 13 00 55 16 14 02 12 15 57 02 05 16 46 04 02 16 35 04 44 17 13 06 14 17 15 18 01 40 17 12 03 14 16 46 03 08 17 23 04 59 17 12 05 38 17 59 07 05 18 16 24 02 31 18 06 04 18 17 30 04 11 17 59 05 55 17 51 06 32 18 47 07 55 19 17 29 03 27 18 54 05 23 18 11 05 12 18 36 06 51 18 32 0? 26 19 38 08 43 20 10 31 04 29 19 37 06 27 18 49 06 12 19 14 07 46 19 16 08 19 20 29 09 27 21 19 28 05 34 20 17 07 29 19 26 07 10 19 54 08 40 20 03 09 10 21 22 10 08 22 20 20 06 40 20 55 08 28 20 03 08 07 20 36 09 33 20 52 09 59 22 15 10 47 23 21 05 07 45 21 32 09 25 20 40 09 02 21 21 10 26 21 43 10 45 23 09 11 24 24 21 46 08 48 22 08 10 20 21 19 09 56 22 09 11 16 22 35 11 29 11 59 25 22 24 09 47 22 45 11 14 21 59 10 50 22 59 12 04 23 29 12 09 00 04 12 35 26 23 00 10 43 23 24 12 07 22 43 11 42 23 51 12 49 12 47 01 00 13 11 27 23 36 11 38 13 00 23 28 12 33 13 32 00 23 13 24 01 58 13 50 28 12 31 00 05 13 51 13 23 00 44 14 12 01 18 14 01 02 59 14 33 29 00 12 13 24 00 49 14 41 00 17 14 10 01 39 14 50 02 15 14 38 04 03 15 20 30 00 49 14 16 01 08 14 54 02 35 15 28 03 13 15 16 05 10 16 14 31 01 28 15 07 02 02 15 36 04 15 15 58

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set h m h m h m h n h m h m b m h ro h m h m h in h m 1 06 18 17 15 07 54 19 19 08 32 21 07 08 19 21 44 09 06 23 06 09 30 23 15 2 07 23 18 20 08 40 20 24 09 09 22 05 09 00 22 39 09 5« 23 54 10 23 23 54 3 08 23 19 27 09 21 21 25 09 47 23 01 09 42 23 33 10 47 11 15 4 09 17 20 34 10 00 22 24 10 25 23 56 10 27 11 39 00 37 12 08 00 30 5 10 05 21 39 10 37 23 21 11 06 11 15 00 25 12 32 01 18 13 01 01 04 6 10 48 22 40 11 13 11 49 00 49 12 05 01 13 13 25 01 56 13 56 01 39 7 11 26 23 38 11 50 00 16 12 34 01 42 12 57 01 59 14 20 02 32 14 53 02 13 8 12 03 12 29 01 10 13 23 02 32 13 49 02 42 15 15 03 07 15 52 02 50 9 12 39 00 34 13 10 02 04 14 13 03 19 14 43 03 22 16 11 03 43 16 55 03 30 10 13 14 01 29 13 53 02 56 15 06 04 04 15 38 03 59 17 10 04 19 18 00 04 15

11 13 51 02 23 14 40 03 47 15 59 04 45 16 33 04 35 18 12 04 58 19 07 05 05 12 14 30 03 16 15 29 04 37 16 53 05 24 17 29 05 11 19 16 05 40 20 13 06 02 13 15 12 04 09 16 20 05 23 17 48 06 02 18 26 05 47 20 21 06 27 21 15 07 05 14 15 56 05 01 17 13 06 07 18 43 06 37 19 25 06 24 21 26 07 20 22 10 08 11 15 16 44 05 52 18 06 06 47 19 38 07 13 20 27 07 04 22 28 08 18 23 00 09 17

16 17 33 06 40 19 00 07 26 20 35 07 49 21 29 07 47 23 25 09 20 23 44 10 23 17 18 25 07 25 19 54 08 02 21 34 08 26 22 32 08 35 10 24 11 25 18 19 18 08 08 20 48 08 37 22 34 09 06 23 34 09 28 00 16 11 28 00 23 12 25 19 20 11 08 48 21 43 09 12 23 36 09 50 10 26 01 02 12 31 01 01 13 23 20 21 04 09 25 22 40 09 48 10 39 00 33 11 28 01 43 13 31 01 36 14 20 21 21 58 10 00 23 39 10 26 00 38 11 33 01 27 12 31 02 22 14 30 02 12 15 15 22 22 52 10 35 11 07 01 39 12 32 02 17 13 34 02 58 15 28 02 49 ie 11 23 23 48 11 10 00 40 11 52 02 37 13 35 03 01 14 37 03 34 16 25 03 28 17 06 24 11 47 01 42 12 44 03 31 14 40 03 4? 15 38 04 11 17 21 04 10 18 00 25 00 46 12 27 02 46 13 41 04 20 15 45 04 21 16 37 04 49 18 17 04 54 18 53 26 01 47 13 10 03 48 14 44 05 04 16 49 04 58 17 36 05 30 19 13 05 4? 19 43 27 02 51 14 00 04 46 15 50 05 46 17 51 05 35 18 34 06 13 20 07 06 32 20 30 28 03 56 14 55 05 40 16 57 06 25 10 51 06 13 19 31 06 59 20 59 07 23 21 13 29 05 02 15 57 06 28 18 03 07 03 19 50 06 53 20 28 07 48 21 48 08 16 21 52 30 06 04 17 04 07 12 19 07 07 40 20 48 07 35 21 23 08 38 22 33 09 08 2 ? 29 31 07 02 18 12 0? 53 20 08 08 19 22 16 10 00 23 04 2000 TIMES OF MOON RISE AND SET WINDHOEK

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Set h m h m h in h m h m h m h n> h m h m h m h m 1 02 24 16 20 03 02 16 37 02 29 16 08 03 47 16 58 04 19 16 50 17 35 7 03 01 16 11 03 48 17 27 03 19 16 55 04 41 17 38 05 16 17 30 18 28 3 03 40 17 02 04 36 18 15 04 11 17 40 05 37 18 17 06 15 18 13 19 26 4 04 21 17 52 05 27 19 00 05 04 18 22 06 34 18 57 07 17 18 58 20 29 5 05 05 18 43 06 19 19 44 05 58 19 03 07 32 19 38 08 21 19 48 21 33 6 05 52 19 31 07 13 20 26 06 53 19 42 08 31 20 21 09 26 20 43 22 38 7 06 41 20 19 08 07 21 05 07 49 20 22 09 33 21 07 10 31 21 42 23 40 6 07 32 21 03 09 01 21 44 08 45 21 01 10 36 21 58 11 33 22 43 9 08 25 21 46 09 56 22 22 09 42 21 42 11 39 22 52 12 30 23 46 00 39 10 09 18 22 26 10 51 23 01 10 41 22 25 12 40 23 51 13 22 01 36 11 10 11 23 05 11 48 23 42 11 41 23 a 13 39 14 09 00 47 02 30 12 11 05 23 43 12 46 12 43 14 34 00 51 14 52 01 47 03 24 13 12 00 13 47 00 26 13 44 00 02 15 23 01 52 15 31 02 44 04 16 14 12 56 00 22 14 49 01 14 14 45 00 57 16 09 02 53 16 09 03 40 05 08 15 13 54 01 01 15 52 02 07 15 43 01 56 16 51 03 52 16 46 04 34 06 01

16 14 55 01 44 16 53 03 05 16 37 02 57 17 31 04 49 17 23 05 27 06 53 17 15 58 02 31 17 52 04 06 17 26 04 00 18 09 05 45 18 01 06 20 07 44 1 8 17 03 03 22 18 46 06 10 18 12 05 01 18 46 06 40 18 41 07 13 08 34 19 18 08 04 19 19 35 06 14 18 54 06 01 19 24 07 34 19 23 08 06 09 21 20 19 10 05 21 20 20 07 17 19 34 06 59 20 04 08 27 20 08 08 58 10 06

21 20 08 06 26 21 01 08 17 20 12 07 56 20 45 09 20 20 55 09 49 10 48 22 21 00 07 32 21 40 09 14 20 50 08 50 21 28 10 13 21 44 10 37 11 28 23 21 47 08 36 22 18 10 10 21 29 09 44 22 13 11 04 22 35 11 24 12 06 24 22 29 09 36 22 56 11 03 22 09 10 37 23 01 11 54 23 27 12 08 12 43 25 23 09 10 34 23 35 11 56 22 50 11 30 23 51 12 42 1? 49 13 20

26 23 46 11 29 12 48 23 34 12 22 13 28 00 19 13 29 13 58 27 12 22 00 15 13 39 13 12 00 43 14 11 01 12 14 07 14 38 28 00 23 13 14 OO 57 14 30 00 21 14 01 01 35 14 52 02 05 14 45 15 22 2 9 01 00 14 05 01 41 15 20 01 10 14 48 02 29 15 32 03 01 15 23 16 12 30 01 39 14 56 02 00 15 33 03 23 16 11 03 58 16 03 17 07 31 02 19 15 47 C2 53 16 16 04 58 16 47

JULY AUGUST SEPTEH3ER OCTOBER NOVEMBER 1BER Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Set h m h m h m h m h R h ra h m h m h m h m h m 06 57 18 08 08 34 20 09 09 17 21 52 09 09 22 25 09 59 23 45 23 54 2 08 02 19 13 09 22 21 12 09 56 22 48 09 50 23 19 10 49 3 09 02 20 20 10 05 22 12 10 35 23 42 10 34 11 39 OO 32 00 34 4 09 57 21 25 10 45 23 09 11 15 11 20 OO 12 12 31 01 16 01 11 5 10 46 22 28 11 23 11 57 00 36 12 08 01 03 13 23 01 58 01 47

6 11 30 23 28 12 01 OO 04 12 41 01 29 12 57 01 52 14 15 02 37 02 23 7 12 10 12 40 00 58 13 27 02 20 13 49 02 38 15 08 03 14 02 59 8 12 48 00 24 13 19 01 51 14 15 03 10 14 41 03 21 16 01 03 51 03 38 9 13 25 01 19 14 01 02 44 15 06 03 57 15 33 04 02 16 56 04 28 04 19 10 14 03 02 12 14 45 03 35 15 57 04 42 16 26 04 41 17 54 05 06 05 05 11 14 41 03 05 15 32 04 26 16 50 05 25 17 20 05 18 18 54 05 46 05 57 12 15 21 03 57 16 21 05 15 17 43 06 05 18 14 05 55 19 56 06 30 06 55 13 16 03 04 49 17 12 06 02 18 36 06 44 19 10 06 33 21 00 07 19 07 58 14 16 48 05 40 18 04 06 46 19 29 07 21 20 08 07 11 22 04 08 13 09 04 15 17 36 06 30 18 57 07 27 20 23 07 58 21 08 07 53 23 06 09 11 10 09

16 18 26 07 18 19 49 08 07 21 19 08 35 22 09 08 38 10 13 11 13 17 19 17 08 04 20 41 08 44 22 16 09 14 23 11 09 27 00 03 11 17 12 14 18 20 09 08 47 21 34 09 21 23 15 09 55 10 21 00 56 12 19 13 12 19 21 01 09 28 22 28 09 57 10 41 00 13 11 19 01 43 13 20 14 08 20 21 53 10 06 23 23 10 35 00 15 11 31 01 12 12 20 02 25 14 19 15 03 21 22 45 10 43 11 14 01 17 12 26 02 06 13 23 03 05 15 16 15 58 22 23 38 11 20 00 20 11 56 02 17 13 25 02 57 14 25 03 44 16 12 16 52 23 11 56 01 20 12 44 03 16 14 28 03 43 15 26 04 21 17 08 17 46 24 00 32 12 34 02 22 13 36 04 10 15 32 04 25 16 25 04 59 18 03 18 39 25 01 29 13 16 03 25 14 34 05 00 16 35 05 05 17 23 05 39 18 58 19 31

26 02 28 14 01 04 26 15 37 05 46 17 37 05 44 18 20 06 ?1 19 52 20 21 27 03 31 14 51 05 25 16 42 06 29 18 38 06 23 19 17 07 05 20 46 21 08 28 04 35 15 48 06 20 17 48 07 10 19 36 07 02 20 12 07 52 21 37 21 52 29 05 40 16 51 07 10 18 52 07 49 20 33 07 43 21 08 08 41 22 26 22 32 30 06 43 17 57 07 55 19 55 08 29 21 29 08 26 22 02 09 31 . 23 12 23 10 31 07 41 19 04 08 37 20 54 09 12 22 54 23 46 19 PREDICTIONS FOR YOUNG CRESCENT VISIBILITY FOR RAMADAAN AND SHAWALL The tabulation below is for the difference in altitude and azimuth between the Sun and the Moon at sunset for the period after New Moon on each occasion when the moon is above the horizon. Positions of the moon at altitudes less than 15° and differences of azimuth less than 25“ in the table, are plotted on the accompanying charts.

OCCASION DATE CAPE TOWN JOHANNESBURG DURBAN MECCA CHART d m Alt" DAzm“ Alt0 DAzm“ Alt° DAzm° Alt” DAzm' SEAWALL 06 01 07 01 5.5 8.1 8.2 6.6 5.8 7.1 7.4 1.9 I 08 01 13.8 15.4 15.5 12.7 14.7 13.8 17.6 6.0 I RAMADAAN 26 11 4.8 6.4 5.2 5.3 4.8 5.7 5.9 1.6 II 27 11 15.0 11.1 16.0 8.2 15.4 9.4 14.7 8.6 II SEAWALL 25 12 II 26 12 6.7 7.2 7.3 5.6 6.9 6.2 7.3 3.5 27 12 15.5 13.8 17.0 10.7 16.2 12.0 17.0 8.4 2 0 THE PLANETS

BASIC DATA Dist fro» Period of Equatorial Rotation Inclination No. of Sun Revolution Mass Diameter Period of Equator known 106 km years (Earth - 1) 103 km to o rbit s a te llite s Mercury 58 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 23h56m 23*27' 1 Mars 228 1.88 0.107 6.79 24h37m 23*59* 2 Jupiter 778 11.9 318.867 142.80 09hSlm 03*04' 16 Saturn 1 426 29.5 95.142 120.00 10hl4m 26*44' 18 Uranus 2 868 84.0 14.559 52.00 17.2h 97*52' 18 Neptune 4 494 164.8 17.207 48.40 17.8h 29*34' 6 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 OP PHENOMENA 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. 21

MERCURY The planet may be seen low in the east before sunrise between the following approximate dates: March 8 (at mag.+3.0) to May 1 (at mag.-.08), July 15 (at mag.+2.8) to August 14 (at mag.-1.1), November 5 (at mag.+0.8) to December 8 (at mag.-0.7) The best conditions for viewing will occur from late March until early April when Mercury will be found in Aquarius.

Mercury may also be seen low in the west after sunset between the following approximate dates: January 29 (at mag.-1.1) to Febuary 24 (at mag.+2.8), May 17 (at mag.-1.1) to June 27 (at mag.+2.9), and September 1 (at mag.-0.8) to October 24 (at mag.+1.6) The best conditions for viewing will be from late September to mid October, when Mercury will be found first in Virgo and later in Libra.

d h d h d h d h Superior Conjunction Jan 16 3 May 9 6 Aug 22 3 Dec 25 21 Greatest O OD Elongation East Feb 15 3 *- Jun 9 15 (24°) Oct 6 12 (26°) Stationary Feb 21 0 Jun 22 22 Oct 18 20 Inferior Conjunction Mar 1 17 Jul 6 14 Oct 30 4 Stationary Mar 14 1 Jul 17 12 Nov 7 20 Greatest Elongation West Mar 28 23 (28°) Jul 27 11 (20°) Nov 15 08 (19»)

VENUS Venus will be in the morning sky from the beginning of the year (at mag.-4.0) until early May (at mag.-3.8). It will be an evening sky object from the third week of July (at mag.-3.8) until the end of the year (at mag.-4.1).

d h Superior conjunction Jun 11 13

MARS Mars, visible (at mag.+1.1) in the evening sky, begins the year in the constellation of Aquarius, passing to Pices (at mag.+1.2) at the beginning of February, to Aries in the second half of March (at mag.+1.4)and into Taurus from late April where, after the first week of May, it becomes too close to the sun to be seen. It reappears in the morning sky, in Cancer, in the second half of August (at mag. +1.8). It passes into Leo in late August, into Virgo in late October where it remains until the end of the year (at mag.+1.4).

JUPITER South Pole Jupiter (at mag.-2.5) begins the year in Great the evening sky in Pisces, passing in mid Red February (at mag.-2.2) into Aries, where Spot during the second half of April it becomes too close to the Sun to be seen. It re-appears in the morning sky in the second half of May (at mag.-2.0) still in Belts Aries. It passes to Taurus at the end of May, where it remains for the rest of the year. It will be visible all night at the end of November (at mag.-2.8) SATURN SOUTH Saturn, found in Aries, will be in the evening sky from January (at mag.+0.4) to late April when it becomes too close to the Sun to be seen. It will reappear in the morning sky at the end of May (at mag.+0.4), passing from Aries into Taurus where it remains for the rest of the year. It will be an all night object after mid November (at mag. -0.1).

URANUS AND NEPTUNE Uranus, visible with optical aid, found throughout the year in Capricornus, will be in the evening sky in January, setting in the twlight during the second half of the month. It will reappear in the morning sky in late February. At opposition on August 11, it will be at magnitude 5.7. Neptune will set during the evening twilight in January. The planet will be found in the morning sky also in Capricornus, from mid February. At opposition on July 27, it will be at magnitude +7.8 and is also only visible with optical aid. The Path of Uranus.

The Path of Neptune. *Mag.4 ,Mag.5 #Hag.6 .Hag.7 .Hag 8 .Hag.9 23 Sky Chart for the Paths of Uranus and Neptune

•Hag. 1 •»**9.2 .Kjg,3

.Hag 5 .Mag 6

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

EVENTS OF INTEREST Evening Sky: 1 Jan - 28 Jan Mars, Jupiter and Saturn visible 29 Jan - 24 Feb Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn visible 23 Feb - 23 Apr Mars, Jupiter and Saturn visible 6 Apr Mars and Jupiter in conjunction 16 Apr Mars and Saturn in conjunction 19 May Mars and Mercury in conjunction. The planets set approximately 40 minutes after sunset 1 Sep - 25 Oct Mercury and Venus visible 19 Nov - 27 Nov Saturn and Venus visible 28 Nov - 31 Dec Jupiter. Saturn and Venus visible

Morning Sky 8 Mar - 1 May Mercury and Venus visible 15 Mar Mercury and Venus in conjunction 28 Apr Mercury and Venus in conjunction 29 May - 14 Jul Jupiter and Saturn visible 31 May Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction 15 Jul - 14 Aug Mercury. Jupiter and Saturn visible 10 Aug Mars and Mercury in conjunction. The planets rising approximately 33 minutes before sunrise.

15 Aug - 19 Aug Jupiter and Saturn visible 20 Aug - 4 Nov Mars, Jupiter and Saturn visible 5 Nov - 19 Nov Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn visible 20 Nov - 28 Nov Mars, Mercury and Jupiter visible 29 1 tv - 8 Dec Mars and Mercury visible PLACES: Mercury Venus Mars RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC

h m O • h m O • h m O • 1 18 4 .,9 -24 23 15 57. 1 -18 19 22 0. 6 -13 19 11 19 14,,4 -24 6 16 47. 6 -20 38 22 30. 0 -10 26 21 20 25.,3 -21 24 17 39. 8 -22 2 22 58. 9 -7 24 31 21 35,,0 -16 10 18 32. 8 -22 23 23 27. 2 -4 17

10 22 36. 8 -9 0 19 25. 9 -21 38 23 55. 2 -1 8 20 23 8. 6 -3 5 20 18. 1 -19 49 0 22. 9 2 1 1 22 47.,9 -3 38 21 8. 9 -17 2 0 50. 5 5 6 11 22 18.,7 -8 9 21 58. 0 -13 27 1 18. 2 8 4

21 22 25.,7 -9 58 22 45. 4 -9 15 1 46. 0 10 53 31 22 59,.7 -8 20 23 31. 5 -4 38 2 14. 0 13 31 10 23 47..7 -4 4 0 17. 0 0 12 2 42. 3 15 56 20 0 45,.1 2 14 1 2..4 5 4 3 10,,9 18 4

30 1 52..5 10 0 1 48.,3 9 45 3 39..8 19 56 10 3 12..7 18 4 2 35.,4 14 5 4 9.,1 21 28 20 4 40,. 6 23 54 3 24.,1 17 51 4 38.,6 22 41 30 5 58,.7 25 39 4 14.,7 20 50 5 8..2 23 33

9 6 54,.8 24 14 5 7,.0 22 53 5 37.,8 24 4 19 7 22,.9 21 26 6 0..4 23 50 6 7..3 24 13 29 7 19,.5 18 53 6 54,,1 23 37 6 36..5 24 2 9 6 55,.3 17 58 7 47..2 22 15 7 5..3 23 31

19 6 44,.3 19 2 8 38,,8 19 48 7 33,.6 22 41 29 7 11,.0 20 45 9 28..6 16 25 8 1..3 21 34 8 8 15,.0 20 25 10 16.,5 12 18 8 28,.4 20 11 18 9 36,.2 16 4 11 2,, 7 7 38 8 54,,8 18 34

28 10 51..3 8 57 11 47,,7 2 38 9 20,.5 16 45 7 11 55,,3 1 12 12 32,.3 -2 30 9 45,.6 14 45 17 12 51,.3 -6 8 13 17..1 -7 35 10 10..1 12 37 27 13 41,.4 -12 31 14 2,,8 -12 24 10 34,.1 10 21

7 14 24,.0 -17 23 14 50..0 -16 46 10 57,.6 8 1 17 14 48,.7 -19 38 15 39,.0 -20 27 11 20 .8 5 37 27 14 31.,4 -16 39 16 29,.9 -23 15 11 43,.7 3 10 6 13 55 .1 -10 14 17 22,.3 -24 59 12 6 .4 0 44

16 14 13 .1 -10 55 18 15 .4 -25 32 12 28,.9 -1 42 26 15 4,.2 -15 43 19 8,.1 -24 51 12 51 .4 -4 5 6 16 5,.5 -20 26 19 59..1 -23 1 13 13 .9 -6 25 16 17 11,.3 -23 42 20 47,.6 -20 10 13 36,.3 -8 39 26 18 20,.4 -24 59 21 33,.1 -16 28 13 58 .8 -10 46 2 5

Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC RA DEC

h ra O ’ h m O ’ h m O ’ h m 0 • Jan i 2 35.1 12 37 21 9.8 -17 2 20 21.7 -19 13 16 45.6 -11 29 Jan ii 2 34.6 12 38 21 11.9 -16 52 20 23.2 -19 8 16 47.0 -11 25 Jan 21 2 34.8 12 42 21 14.1 -16 42 20 24.7 -19 3 16 48.2 -11 26 Jan 31 2 35.7 12 49 21 16.4 -16 32 20 26.3 -18 58 16 49.3 -11 26

Feb 10 2 37.4 13 0 21 18.7 -16 22 20 27.8 -18 52 16 50.1 -11 25 Feb 20 2 39.7 13 14 21 21.0 -16 11 20 29.3 -18 47 16 50.8 -11 23 Mar 1 2 42.6 13 30 21 23.2 -16 1 20 30.7 -18 42 16 51.3 -11 21 Mar 11 2 46.0 13 48 21 25.3 -15 51 20 31.9 -18 38 16 51.5 -11 19

Mar 21 2 49.9 14 8 21 27.3 -15 42 20 33.0 -18 34 16 51.5 -11 16 Mar 31 2 54.2 14 28 21 29.0 -15 34 20 34.0 -18 31 16 51.3 -11 13 Apr 10 2 58.8 14 50 21 30.5 -IS 27 20 34.7 -18 28 16 50.9 -11 10 Apr 20 3 3.6 15 11 21 31.8 -15 22 20 35.2 -18 26 16 50.3 -11 7

Apr 30 3 8.7 15 33 21 32.7 -15 17 20 35.5 -18 25 16 49.5 -11 4 May 10 3 13.8 15 54 21 33.4 -15 14 20 35.6 -18 25 16 48.6 -11 1 May 20 3 18.9 16 15 21 33.7 -15 13 20 35.5 -18 26 16 47.6 -10 59 May 30 3 24.1 16 34 21 33.8 -15 13 20 35.1 -18 27 16 46.5 -10 58

Jun 9 3 29.1 16 52 21 33.5 -15 15 20 34.6 -18 29 16 45.5 -10 57 Jun 19 3 33.9 17 9 21 32.9 -15 19 20 33.8 -18 32 16 44.4 -10 56 Jun 29 3 38.4 17 23 21 32.0 -15 23 20 33.0 -18 35 16 43.4 -10 57 Jul 9 3 42.7 17 37 21 30.9 -15 29 20 32.0 -18 39 16 42.5 -10 58

Jul 19 3 46.5 17 48 21 29.6 -15 35 20 30.9 -18 42 16 41.8 -11 0 Jul 29 3 49.8 17 57 21 28.1 -15 43 20 29.8 -18 46 16 41.2 -11 2 Aug 8 3 52.6 18 4 21 26.6 -15 50 20 28.7 -18 50 16 40.8 -11 6 Aug 18 3 54.8 18 9 21 25.0 -15 58 20 27.6 -18 54 16 40.5 -11 10

Aug 28 3 56.3 18 11 21 23.4 -16 5 20 26.7 -18 58 16 40.5 -11 14 Sep 7 3 57.1 18 12 21 22.0 -16 11 20 25.8 -19 1 16 40.8 -11 19 Sep 17 3 57.2 18 10 21 20.8 -16 17 20 25.1 -19 4 16 41.2 -11 25 Sep 27 3 56.5 18 6 21 19.7 -16 21 20 24.6 -19 5 16 41.9 -11 30

Oct 7 3 55.1 18 1 21 18.9 -16 25 20 24.3 -19 7 16 42.7 -11 36 Oct 17 3 53.1 17 53 21 18.4 -16 27 20 24.2 -19 7 16 43.7 -11 42 Oct 27 3 50.5 17 44 21 18.3 -16 27 20 24.4 -19 7 16 44.9 -11 47 Nov 6 3 47.5 17 35 21 18.5 -16 26 20 24.8 -19 6 16 46.3 -11 52

Nov 16 3 44.2 17 24 21 19.0 -16 23 20 25.4 -19 4 16 47.7 -11 57 Nov 26 3 40.9 17 14 21 19.8 -16 19 20 26.2 -19 1 16 49.2 -12 2 Dec 6 3 37.7 17 4 21 21.0 -16 13 20 27.2 -18 58 16 50.7 -12 6 Dec 16 3 34.8 16 56 21 22.4 -16 6 20 28.4 -18 54 16 52.3 -12 9 Dec 26 3 32.3 16 50 21 24.1 -15 58 20 29.7 -18 49 16 53.8 -12 11 TIMES OF RISING AND SETTING 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 IS minutes.

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL ______MAY JUNE 17 h 0 0

18hOO ...2 1 9h00 ^ T S E T sV 20h00 / / 2 1 hOO l/Y s /

22h00 4

y // 2 3 h 0 0 //

OhO O // V_ // / 1 hOO

2 h 0 0

3 h 0 0

J// 4hOO "V % 5 h 0 0 niiieifí'' v

6h00

7h00 27 CORRECTION FOR PLACES NOT ON THE 30° E MERIDIAN Approximate longitude corrections from the 30® East meridian are:

Bloemfontein +15' East London +B1 Port Elizabeth +18* Bulawayo +6' Grahamstcwn +14' Pretoria +7* Cape Town +46' Johannesburg +8' Harare -4* Durban -4' Kimberley +21' Windhoek +52* 2 8 THE 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 - Io, 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 2 9 positions along such a straight line change during the 8 months when Jupiter is prominent. For each month, time increases downward; the disk of Jupiter is stretched to make the central column, and horizontal lines representing midnight (Oam 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. 30 When the moons 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 abov< 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 d i s c ; E - E g r e s s ; T r - Transit ie.the s a t e l l i t e c r o s s e s the disc of Jupiti

d h m d h m d h m d h m Jan 04 20 13 III.Oc.O. Feb 15 19 57 I.Tr.E. Jul 15 04 05 II.T r.I. Aug 25 01 39 II.Oc.D. 22 35 III.Oc.R. 21 09 l.Sh.E. 04 30 II.Sh.E. 02 04 I.Tr.E. 06 00 33 I.T r.I. 16 19 20 II.T r.E . 05 42 l.S h .I. 02 32 IU.Sh.E. 1? 23 lI.Oc.D. 20 52 III.Oc.O. 06 40 II.Tr.E . 04 12 II.Oc.R. 21 48 I.Oc.D. 21 40 II.Sh.E. 06 44 I.T r.I. 06 09 III.T r.I. 21 58 II.Oc.R. 22 19 47 I.T r.I. 16 06 07 I.Oc.R. 30 06 01 l.S h .I. 22 08 il.Ec.D . 20 56 l.S h .I. 20 04 37 III.S h.1. 31 03 14 I.Ec.D. 07 20 21 l.S h .I. 23 19 31 II.T r.I. 06 32 IU.Sh.E. Sep 01 01 31 II.Ec.O. 21 12 I.Tr.E. 20 16 I.Ec.R. 22 04 35 Il.S h .I. 01 50 I.T r.I. 22 30 l.Sh.E. 25 19 13 II.EC.R. 06 52 II.T r.I. 02 38 l.Sh.E. 08 19 46 I.Ec.R. 27 20 13 III.S h .1 . 23 04 46 I.Ec.D. 03 58 I.Tr.E. 12 00 09 III.Oc.O. Mar 02 19 30 l.Sh.E. 24 03 12 I.T r.I. 04 05 II.Ec.R. 13 22 00 H.Oc.D. 05 19 58 III.T r.I. 04 13 l.Sh.E. 04 14 II.Oc.D. 23 43 I.Oc.O. 09 19 16 l.S h .I. 04 14 II.Oc.R. 04 36 III.S h.1. 14 20 57 I.T r.I. 20 29 I.Tr.E. 05 21 I.Tr.E. 02 01 16 I.Oc.R. 22 18 l.S h .I. 10 20 00 II.Oc.D. 30 06 40 I.Ec.O. 03 01 37 II.Tr.E . 23 07 I.Tr.E. 16 20 05 III.Ec.R. 31 03 27 III.Oc.O. 05 01 55 III.Oc.R. IS 19 28 Il.S h .I. 20 20 I.T r.I. 03 58 l.S h .I. 07 05 09 I.Ec.D. 19 56 Ill.Sh.K . 19 18 53 Il.S h .I. 05 10 I.T r.I. 08 02 23 l.S h .I. 21 42 I.Ec.R. 19 48 II.T r.E . 05 21 III.Oc.R. 03 43 I.T r.I. 21 57 II.Sh.E. 23 18 52 III.Oc.O. 06 07 l.Sh.E. 04 05 Il.Ec.D. 21 58 IU .Sh.E. 24 19 31 I.Oc.D. Aug 01 04 34 I.Oc.R. 04 31 l.Sh.E. 21 22 53 I.T r.I. 25 19 03 I.Tr.E. 07 02 28 III.Ec.D. 05 51 I.Tr.E. 22 19 26 II.T r.I. 19 46 l.Sh.E. 04 24 III.Ec.R. 09 03 10 I.Oc.R. 20 07 I.Oc.D. 28 19 06 II.Cc.R. 04 32 II.Ec.O. 10 01 28 II.Sh.E. 20 45 III.T r.E . Apr 01 19 32 l.S h .I. 05 52 l.S h .I. 01 39 II.T r.I. 21 57 II.T r.E . Jun 13 05 58 II.T r.E . 08 03 03 I.Ec.O. 04 12 II.Tr.E . 22 04 Il.S h .I. 14 06 17 I.Ec.O. 06 32 I.Oc.R. 12 00 26 III.Ec.R. 23 19 32 I.Tr.E. IS 05 46 l.Sh.E. 09 02 29 l.Sh.E. 04 03 III.Oc.O. 20 52 l.Sh.E. 06 25 I.Tr.E. 03 44 I.Tr.E. 05 50 III.Oc.R. 29 22 04 II.T r.I. 20 04 48 Il.S h .I. 04 18 II.Tr.E . 15 04 16 l.S h .I. 22 04 I.Oc.O. 06 14 II.T r.I. 14 06 28 III.Ec.D. 05 35 I.T r.I. 22 30 H I.T r.I. 22 05 32 l.S h .I. 15 04 57 I.EC.O. 16 01 31 I.Ec.D. 30 20 39 l.S h .I. 06 15 I.T r.I. 16 02 14 l.S h .I. 05 02 I.Oc.R. 21 30 I.Tr.E. 23 05 36 I.Oc.R. 03 32 I.T r.I. 17 00 03 I.T r.I. 22 48 l.Sh.E. 25 05 35 III.Oc.O. 04 18 II.Sh.E. 00 53 l.Sh.E. 31 19 25 Il.Ec.D. 29 06 38 II.Oc.R. 04 22 l.Sh.E. 01 31 Il.S h .I. 20 01 I.Ec.R. 30 04 34 I.Ec.O. 04 27 II.T r.I. 02 11 I.Tr.E. 21 58 II.EC.R. Jul 01 04 55 I.Tr.E. 05 40 I.Tr.E. 04 05 II.Sh.E. Feb 02 19 55 III.Ec.R . 02 06 25 III.E c.0. 17 02 58 I.Oc.R. 04 12 II.T r.I. 06 21 18 I.T r.I. 05 04 58 II.Ec.O. 18 02 02 III.T r.I. 19 01 06 II.Oc.R. 22 35 l.S h .I. 07 06 29 I.Ec.D. 03 52 III.T r.E . 02 28 III.Ec.D. 07 19 26 II.Oc.D. 0B 04 45 I.T r.I. 23 04 07 l.S h .I. 04 27 III.Ec.R. 21 57 I.Ec.R. 05 57 l.Sh.E. 04 22 Il.S h .I. 22 23 36 III.T r.E . 22 02 II.Oc.R. 06 54 I.Tr.E. 05 27 I.T r.I. 23 03 25 I.Ec.D. 22 04 Il.Ec.D. 09 04 08 I.Oc.R. 06 16 l.Sh.E. 24 00 38 l.S h .I. 09 21 55 Ill-E c .0. 13 04 46 III.T r.I. 24 04 53 I.Oc.R. 01 53 I.T r.I. 14 20 29 I.Oc.O. 06 42 III.T r.E . 25 01 30 II.Ec.R. 02 47 l.Sh.E. 31 d h m d h m d h m d h m Sep 24 04 01 I.Tr.E. Oct 27 22 05 II.Ec.D. Nov 24 23 14 l.S h .l. Dec 22 03 21 ll.Sh.E. 04 08 H .S h .I. 28 02 11 II.Oc.R. 23 19 I.T r.I. 23 21 31 Il.Ec.R. 25 01 21 I.Oc.R. 29 21 13 II.Tr.E . 25 01 25 I.Sh.E. 24 19 54 III.T r.E . 26 03 33 II.Oc.R. 31 04 34 l.S h .l. 01 29 I.Tr.E. 20 34 III.S h.1. 30 01 35 J ll.T r.I. 05 16 I.T r.I. 20 35 I.Ec.D. 22 41 III.Sh.E. 03 19 III.T r.E . Nov 01 01 54 I.Ec.D. 22 49 I.Oc.R. 25 00 42 I.T r.I. 05 20 I.Ec.D. 02 28 III.Ec.D. 26 C4 31 III.S h.1. 01 22 l.S h .l. Oct 01 02 31 l.S h .l. 04 30 III.Ec.R. C4 53 II I.T r.l. 02 52 I.Tr.E. 03 43 I.T r.I. 04 45 I.Oc.R. 19 53 I.Sh.E. 22 02 I.Oc.D. 04 40 I.Sh.E. 05 23 III.Oc.O. 19 55 I.Tr.E. 26 00 54 I.Ec.R. 23 48 I.Ec.D. 23 03 l.S h .l. 27 03 37 H .S h .I. 19 51 l.S h .l. 02 03 11 I.Oc.R. 23 42 I.T r.I. 03 41 II.T r.I. 21 19 I.Tr.E. 23 09 I.Sh.E. 02 01 13 I.Sh.E. 28 21 44 Il.Oc.D. 22 02 I.Sh.E. 03 00 18 I.Tr.E. 01 51 I.Tr.E. 29 00 22 Il.Ec.R. 27 19 23 I.Ec.R. 01 04 II.Ec.O. 23 11 I.Oc.R. 20 35 III.Ec.R. 29 01 51 II.T r.I. 05 00 57 1I.Tr.E. 04 00 40 II.Ec.D. 30 19 21 II.Tr.E . 30 19 55 Il.Oc.D. 07 00 33 III.S h.1. 04 28 II.Oc.R. 19 31 ll.Sh.E. 31 00 08 Il.Ec.R. 02 32 III.Sh.E. 20 48 III.T r.E . Dec 01 03 56 I.Oc.D. 21 20 II I.T r.l. 05 15 II I.T r.l. 05 20 58 II.T r.I. 02 01 03 I.T r.I. 23 19 III.T r.E . 08 04 25 l.S h .l. 22 23 ll.Sh.E. 01 09 l.S h .l. 05 31 I.T r.I. 23 30 II.Tr.E . 03 12 I.Tr.E. 00 01 42 I.Ec.D. 06 03 48 I.Ec.D. 03 19 I.Sh.E. 05 00 I.Oc.R. 09 00 57 l.S h .l. 22 22 I.Oc.D. 22 53 l.S h .l. 01 27 I.T r.I. 03 00 40 I.Ec.R. 23 58 I.T r.I. 03 07 I.Sh.E. 19 29 I.T r.I. 10 01 02 I.Sh.E. 03 36 I.Tr.E. 19 37 l.S h .l. 02 07 I.Tr.E. 22 17 I.Ec.D. 21 38 I.Tr.E. 03 39 II.Ec.D. 10 00 56 I.Oc.R. 21 48 I.Sh.E. 23 27 I.Oc.R. 21 36 I.Sh.E. 04 19 09 I.Ec.R. 11 22 40 ll.S h .i. 22 02 I.Tr.E. 05 23 58 Il.Oc.D. 12 OO 50 II.T r.I. 11 03 16 II.Ec.D. 06 02 58 Il.Ec.R. 01 14 ll.Sh.E. 20 31 III.S h.1. 21 41 III.Oc.D. 03 22 II.Tr.E . 22 23 II I.T r.l. 07 00 36 III.Ec.R. 14 04 33 III.S h.1. 22 34 III.Sh.E. 19 32 n . s h . i . 16 03 37 I.Ec.D. 12 00 06 III.T r.E . 21 36 II.Tr.E . 17 00 47 l.S h .l. 22 24 H .S h .I. 22 08 ll.Sh.E . 01 45 I.T r.I. 23 13 II.T r.I. 09 02 47 I.T r.I. 02 56 I.Sh.E. 13 01 00 ll.Sh.E. 03 03 l.S h .l. 03 54 I.Tr.E. 01 46 II.Tr.E . 10 00 06 I.Oc.D. 22 05 I.Ec.D. 16 02 51 l.S h .l. 02 35 I.Ec.R. 22 32 III.b c .0 . 03 10 I.T r.I. 21 13 I.T r.I. 18 00 15 III.Oc.R. 05 01 I.Sh.E. 21 32 l.S h .l. 01 14 I.Oc.R. 05 20 I.Tr.E. 23 22 I.Tr.E. 22 20 I.Tr.E. 17 00 11 I.Ec.D. 23 43 I.Sh.E. 19 01 16 H .S h .I. 02 39 I.Oc.R. 11 21 04 I.Ec.R. 03 12 II.T r.I. 21 20 l.S h .l. 13 02 12 Il.Oc.D. 03 51 ll.Sh.E . 21 36 I.T r.I. 14 00 56 III.Oc.O. 20 23 53 II.Oc.R. 23 30 I.Sh.E. 21 17 II.T r.I. 23 05 31 I.Ec.D. 23 46 I.Tr.E. 22 08 H .S h .I. 24 02 41 l.S h .l. 18 21 05 I.Oc.R. 23 51 II.Tr.E . 03 31 I.T r.I. 19 00 31 III.S h.1. 15 00 44 ll.Sh.E. 04 50 I.Sh.E. 01 39 II I.T r.l. 17 01 50 I.Oc.O. 22 28 IIK.Ec.O. 02 35 III.Sh.E . 22 57 I.T r.I. 23 59 I.Ec.D. 03 23 III.T r.E . 23 27 l.S h .l. 25 00 30 III.Ec.R . 20 01 00 Il.S h .I. 18 01 07 I.Tr.E. 02 00 III.Oc.D. 01 ?7 II.T r.I. 01 38 I.Sh.E. 03 00 I.Oc.R. 03 36 ll.Sh.E. 20 17 I.Oc.D. 03 43 III.Oc.R. 04 00 II.Tr.E . 23 -1 I.Ec.R. 21 58 I.T r.I. 21 22 04 II.Oc.R. 19 19 33 I.Tr.E. 23 19 I.Sh.E. 23 04 45 l.S h .l. 20 07 I.Sh.E. 26 00 06 I.Tr.E. 04 54 I.T r.I. 21 23 33 II.T r.I. 03 53 H .S h.I. 24 02 06 I.Ec.D. 22 00 45 H .S h .I. 21 26 I.Oc.R. 04 23 I.Oc.R. 02 07 II.Tr.E . 3 2 THE MOONS OF SATURN

Saturn’s moons are considerably fainter than the A Galilean moons of Jupiter. The diagram shows the orbits of A of Saturn's moons at opposition on November 19. The easiest to find is Titan (magnitude +8.5).according to the diagram and information in the table below.

3 W E N

TITAN Eastern Elongation Inferior Conjunction Western Elongation Superior Conjunction d h d h d h d h Jan 1 03.5 Jan 5 07.8 Jan 9 05.8 Jan 13 00.9 17 02.1 21 06.6 25 0A.7 28 23.9 Feb 2 01.3 Feb 6 05.8 Feb 10 OA.O Feb 13 23.3 18 00.9 22 05.6 26 03.8 29 23.2 Mar 5 01.0 Mar 9 05.7 Mar 13 03.9 Mar 16 23.5 21 01.A 25 06.2 29 0A.3 Apr 2 00.0 Apr 6 02.2 Apr 10 06.9 Apr 1A 05.0 18 00.8 22 03.1 26 07.8 30 05.8 May A 01.7 May 8 0A .2 May 12 08.8 May 16 06.6 20 02.6 2A 05.3 28 09.8 Jun 1 07.5 Jun 5 03.5 Jun 9 06. A Jun 13 10.8 17 08.2 21 0A.3 25 07.3 29 11.5 Jul 3 08.8 Jul 7 0A.9 Jul 11 08.0 Jul 15 12.0 19 09.1 23 05.3 27 08.3 31 12.2 Aug A 09.1 Aug 3 05.2 Aug 12 08.3 Aug 16 12.0 20 08.7 2A 0A.8 28 07.7 Sep 1 11.2 Sep 5 07.8 Sep 9 03.8 Sep 13 06.6 17 10.0 21 06.5 25 02.3 29 05.0 Oct 3 08.3 Oct 7 0A.7 Oct 11 00.3 Oct 15 02.8 19 06.1 23 02. A 26 22.0 31 00.3 Nov A 03.5 Nov 7 23.8 Nov 11 19.3 Nov 15 21.5 20 00.7 23 21.1 27 16.6 Dec 1 18.6 Dec 5 21.9 Dec 9 18.5 Dec 13 13.9 17 16.0 21 19. A 25 16.1 29 11.6 COMETS AND METE0R8

COMETS located «1 the outer extremal of the tolar system li e cloud of material, probably let) over from the formation of the tolar system Itself. This cloud, known at the Oort Cloud, Is beloved to be the reservoir from which the comets emanate. At such vast distances from the eun this material, consisting of gases and dust, Is preserved In the tame state as whan the aun and planets wars formed, and thus a study of comets Is Important to understanding the birth of the solar system.

Every now end then, part of the material may break away from the cloud, and under the Influence of gravity, acceleratei towards the sun as a comet. These comete, traveling In parabolic orbits, are known ae long period comets and by definition have orbital periods greater than 200 years, though the actual periods are ganaraly a few thousand years or more. Occaslonaiy the orbits of comets traveling In the same plans as the planets may be perturbed by the gravitational sffeote or the major planets, mainly Jupiter, Into eHptlcsl orbits. These comets have shorter periods, by definition lass than 200 years, and since their orbits are known falrty precise^, their returns can be predicted with some degree of accuracy. The table below late comets predicted to appear during 2000, and whleh are predicted to become brighter then about magnitude 12. The table does not of course Include any new comets which might possibly be discovered during the year.

Comet Designation Perthalon Date Possible Maximum Magnitude Machhob 2A 141P 1899 December 8 9_ Tempel 1 8P 2000 January 2 12 Linear C/1988 S4 2000 JuN 24 8 Encke 2P 2000 September 8 10 McNeudht -Hart lev C/1999 T1 2000 December 9 8 Schwatsmann-Wachmann 3 73P 2001 January 8

In the cold depths of space, comets are no more than chunks of frozen gases, Ices and dust. However, In the vicinity of the aun the constituents of the nucleus vaporise, and the gases and dust form a coma around the nucleus. Under the infkjence of the solar wind the gas and dust In the coma is swept away to form the tall, such that the tall always points away from the eun.

The Director of the Comet end Meteor Section welcomes el observations of comets, but to bs of tclsntlflo value the observer should concentrate on the folowlng:

• Estimates of the total visual magnitude of the comet, preferably made over the entire apparition to alow construction of a Ight curve e Estimates of the diameter of the coma e Estimate» of the degree of condensation of tha comet • Estimate* of the length and poiltlen angle of the tail e Detailed visual daeeriptlone, sketch»» and photographi of the comet

In making the above observations It Is essential that the observer usee the standard procedures developed and used by observers world-wide. Detailed notes on observing techniques and vtsibllty of comets may ba obtained from the Director at tha address below. Beginning observers should nota that comats ara notoriously unpredictable, and that tha predicted brightness in tha above table ia given as a gu.de only. The magnitude given Is the total magnitude of the come end the brightness Is spread out serose the whole diameter of the comet. For this reason the comet wil appear much fainter than a star of tha same magnitude. Ae a guide, a comet of magnitude 10-11 would appear about at bright ae a star of magnltuda 12-13.

Details on how to obsarvt either comets or meteors are available from the Director of the Comet and Meteor 8ectlon, T P Cooper, P 0 Box 14740, Bredell. 1623. Tel. 011-A67-2250. email: tpcoopefim w eb.co.za 34

METEORS The name given to particles traveling through space I* mefee/Wi*. Sovorat thouiand tonnoi of thoto particles, mostly smaller than grains of sand, enter the earths atmosphere every day. When a particle enters the atmosphere, It heats up due to the effects of friction and may bacome visible before burning up. The resultant streak of Hght la known as a me few. Those which become equal or brighter than magnitude 4 are termed H re b tlls. In general, meteori appear In the upper atmosphere, at an attitude of between 80-120 km and disappear at between 80-80 km. Heavier and slower flrebab may descend below this, and bodies which reach the earths surfaca are called mefew/fes.

Most meteors entering the atmosphere are sporadic, particles traveling through space In Isolation. However, several meteor show ers, streams of particles which are left behind by comets In their passage around the sun, may be observed throughout the year. The table below lets the showers requiring observation.

SHOWER MAX SHOWER RADIANT ZHR VEL REC.WATCH OBSERVING DATE DURATION RA DEC kmlS BEGIN END CONDITIONS ______2000jO ______SAST SAST 2000 a Cruelds Jan19 JanOB-Jan28 12h48 -83 <5 50 OOhOO 03h30 Unfeveurebie • Centaurlda Feb 8 Jan28-Feb23 14h00 -40 5 80 22h00 03H30 Favourable v Normlds Mar 14 Feb25-Mar22 1BH36 -81 5 66 OOhOO 04H30 Good S Pavonlds Apr 8 M arH -Aprie 20H32 •83 5 59 02h0Q 04h30 Favourable April Lvrlds Apr 22 Apr18-Apr24 18h05 ♦34 15 49 03h00 OShOO Unfsvourtble « Pupplds Apr 23 Apr18-Apr25 07h20 4 5 <5 18 lOhOO 22h00 Good a Soorpllds May 3 Apr11-May12 16h00 -27 5 35 21h00 04h00 New Moon n Aqusrids May 4 Apr21-Mav12 22h24 -02 30 65 04h00 05H30 Favoureble r Soorpllds Jun 5 May27-Jun20 18h32 -14 5 21 21h00 04h30 Favourable Saglttarlds Jun 11 Jun08-Jun18 20h16 -35 <5 52 03h30 05h30 Poor 8 Ophluchlda Jun 13 Jun08-Jun18 17h48 -20 5 27 20h00 05H30 Unfavourable June Lvrlds Jun 18 Jun11-Jun21 18h32 ♦ 35 9 31 23h30 02h00 FulMoan Ju V Pheoniolds Jul 13 Jul10-Jul18 02h08 4 8 <5 47 OOhOO 05h00 Good Caorlcornids Jul 28 Jul10-Aua05 21 hOO -15 8 7 20h30 05h30 Good Pltels Australia Jul 28 Jul18-Aug17 22h40 -30 8 35 21h30 OShOO Good South s Aquarlds Jul 29 JuQ1-Aug29 22h33 -18 30 42 22h00 05h00 Favourable at Caorlcornids Jul 30 Jul15-Aug25 20h28 -10 10 25 20h00 04h00 Favourable SouthAquarlds Aug S Jul15-Aug2S 22h12 -15 <5 34 22hOO 04h30 Good North 8 Aquarlds Aug 12 Jul14-Aug25 22h28 -05 10 42 23H00 OShOO Poor North v Aquarlds Aug 20 Jul1$-Sep20 21h48 -06 10 38 20h00 05h00 Poor Orlonlds Oct 21 Oct02-Nov07 08h20 + 18 30 88 02h00 04h00 Poor Southern Taurida Nov 3 Seo15-Dec01 03h20 ♦ 14 10 29 21h30 03h30 Good Northern Taurlds NOV 13 , Sep19-Dec01 04h00 + 23 5 31 21h30 03H30 Unfavourable Leonids Nov 17 Nov14-Nov20 10h08 ♦ 22 5 70 03h00 04h00 Poor Oec. Phoeniclds Dec 8 Dec03-Dec05 01h12 -63 5 22 20h30 01 hOO Poor Gemlnlds Dec 14 Dec04-Dec16 07h28 +33 so 36 23h30 03h00 Unfavourable V elds Dec 29 Dec05-Jan07 09h5B 41 5 JB— 22h30 03h30 Favourable

Notes to Table; 1,)The radiant of most showers drifts sightly eastward each night. The position given Is for night of maximum. 2.)The ZHR Is the expected maximum rate under observing conditions when stars of magnitude 8.8 can be discerned and with the radiant at the zenith. Rates under poorer oondltlons and whan the radiant Is tewvdl consequently be lower. S.)Showers Isted as favourable are the best prospects for observation, Those Dated as good maybe observed under sight hindrance Item the moon 3 5 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 a (Alpha), the next 0 (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 Canls 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 10lzkm).

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 relatively nearby. Globular clusters are much larger and far more distant. They contain of the order of 100 000 star' 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 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. 36

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 pra. 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 ORION REGION

(I) 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, 5 - e - £ the belt, and P and K 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 e are the eyes, y the nose. Orion is accompanied by (3) Canis 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 Earth*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) Sirius - 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. (6) 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. (7) Rigel, despite being physically smaller than Betelgeuse, is more luminous (higher surface temperature - bluish colour) and more distant. (8) The stars in Orion’s belt are distant hot blue stars. (9) The Pleiades or Seven Sisters form the best known nearby star cluster. Six or seven star3 are visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope show more. (10) The Hyades is another nearby galactic cluster, but Aldebaran is not a member (it lies closer to us). (II) 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. (12) The Crab Nebula, close to £ Taurii,is the remnant of a supernova recorded by the Chinese in 1054, requires a moderate sized telescope for observation. In its heart is located the extraordinary 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. 3B

THE AUTUMN SKY The chart below represents the sky in Cape Town on March 1 at midnight, April 1 at 10 pm and May 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.

PLANETARIUM Ik$* SA MUSEUM 3 9

THE SOUTHERN CROSS REGION

(1) Crux, the Southern Cross, is one of the roost 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, shown in the Autumn Sky chart - lies just outside and above the map, but has no accompanying pointer stars). (3) 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). (4) The intersection of a line extended through the major axis of the Cross and the perpendicular bisector to the Pointers indicates the approximate position of the South Celestial Pole. Nearby is a Octantis, the nearest star to the Pole which is visible to the naked eye at magnitude 5.5. (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. (6) P Crucis can also be resolved as a double star by a small telescope (separation 5 seconds of arc). (7) The region indicated is one of the brightest section of the entire Milky Way with many star clusters. (8) 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). (10) The "Coal Sack" - a dark mass of gas and dust obscuring a part of the Milky Way. (Naked eye or binoculars). (11) Herschel's "Jewel Box" - a galactic cluster containing stars of different colours. (Small telescope or binoculars). (12) cd Centauri and (13)47 Tucanae are perhaps the best known globular cluster. Binoculars will show their fuzzy appearance. (14) NGC 362 and (15) NGC 2808 are fainter globular clusters. (16) NGC 3766 - a fine galactic cluster. (Binoculars or small telescope). (17) The t) Carinae nebula - site of a slow supernova that brightened to magnitude -0.8 in 1843 and is now of magnitude 6.4. 40

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.

PLANETARIUM 41

(1) The constellation of Scorpius. The creature is depicted with a in the centre of the body and 0 and the claw3. The distinctive tail b - £ - 0 curls round to the sting. (2) Sagittarius - the figure of the centaur archer is very difficult to make out. A more easily recognisable asterism is the 'teapot'. (3) 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. Unfortunately 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, see the chart opposite. Luminous nebulae include (5) the Lagoon nebula and (6) the Omega nebula. These are best seen with the aid of binoculars. (7) 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. (8) 0 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 star! This region includes a number of galactic clusters Including (9)M7,(10)M6,(11)M4 and (12) NGC 6067. (Use binoculars or a small telescope). Further from the plane of the Milky Way are some globular clusters: (13) M80 (14) M19 (15) M22. 4 2

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. 43 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 (AAVSO) 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.O. Box 48, Sedgefield, 6573, Telephone 044-343-1736. 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. 44 Typical examples include: Approximate magnitude range 021403 o Ceti(Mira) 2 . 0- 10.1

092962 R Carinae 3.9-10.0

100661 S Carinae A.5-9.9

Among the eruptive variables, two groups are of special importance: t) 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 ever, 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 The Deep-Sky Observing Section is dedicated to observing objects outside our solar system: clusters, nebulae and galaxies. New members receive a brief observing guide explaining some of the basics of deep-sky observing. In order to promote visual observing, the Section offer a Bennett Certificate to those who observe the comet-like objects listed by the late Jack Bennett, past director of the Comet and Meteor Section. These and other observations will contribute to the long-term goal of the Section, namely the production of a handbook of southern deep-sky objects. ASSA members who would like more information or who would like to join the Section are encouraged to write to the Director : Mr Auke Slotegraaf, PO Box 608, Stellenbosch, 7599. (Tel. 021-887-887-8)

IMAGING SECTION This new section was formed in 1999. ASSA members who would like more information or would like to join the section should contact the Director: Mr Dany Duprez, 3 Swallow Lane, Tokai, 7945, Tel.021-7154107, Cell 0824118737, email

DOUBLE STAR SECTION This is the Society’s most recently formed Section and regular news bulletins are published as well as information on the section’s web page at: http://www.skywatch.co.za. Even without specialised equipment, it is possible for both amateur and professional astronomers to contribute to the work of the Section as there is a long list of suspected double stars in the southern hemisphere which still have to be confirmed as such. Accurate measurements are an advantage but just confirmation of duplicity is a step in the right direction. Anyone interested should contact the Director: Mr Chris de Villiers, P.0. Box 219, Vanrhynsdorp, 8170, email 45

TOTAL LUNAR 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 B. Fraser, PO Box 68525, Bryanston 2021 Tel:(Oil) 803 8291

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: Clarke 1880 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 degrees west and A^ degrees north of one of the standard stations given above may be found from: Approximate time * predicted time ♦ a.AX ♦ b.A^ where a and b, in minutes of time, are given in the tables. Alternatively,rough times for intermediate stations can usually be estimated directly from the tables.

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 Ph the Phase: D » Disappearance, R = Reappearance h.m. the time of the occultation in UT 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

Observers who want to observe occultations of stars fainter than the ones listed, can contact Mr Fraser for additional data. CAPE TOWN JOHANNESBURG HARARE E 18.5 S 33 .9 i 28.1 S 26.2 E 31.0 S 17.8 z.c. ELG UT a. b. P.A. U7 a. b. P.A. UT a. b. P.A. « h m m m 0 h m in n ° h m ra m • 3421 57 19 3.7 -0.4 2.2 44 19 22.5 0.0 2.3 33 128 81 20 44.1 -0.4 2.6 27 393 105 18 33.7 -2.4 0.4 88 19 1.3 -2.2 0.9 82 19 17.4 -2.0 1.5 63 401 107 21 29.1 153 21 20.5 -0.9 - 0.1 108 523 120 20 34.8 -1.5 2.7 25

684 132 18 14.4 141 18 6.0 -3.3 -1.1 108 697 133 19 54.5 -2.3 0.2 88 20 20.4 -2.3 0.9 76 20 37.6 -2.3 1.7 55 710 135 23 7.6 -1.1 0.5 110 23 22.5 -0.9 1.0 83 23 36.3 - 1.0 1.7 55 881 149 0 21.9 -0.7 0.2 119 0 33.1 -0.7 0.9 88 0 45.8 - 1.0 1.7 56 1047 163 23 20.4 -1.9 0.6 88 23 48.4 -2.1 1.9 58

1702 230 22 17.6 -1.8 0.3 244 22 20.4 -1.8 -0.7 273 1813 243 23 37.9 -1.1 -1.6 290 23 35.0 -1.2 -2.2 316 23 15.2 -0.7 -3.5 344 2049 267 2 10.4 -1.4 -2.0 303 2 2.5 -0.8 -3.3 338 2399 300 2 13.9 -1.8 0.2 244 2 14.5 -1.3 -0.9 277 IANUS 2 14 58.8 -0.8 1.6 72 15 16.2 -0.3 1.6 65 15 30.5 0.1 1.8 46

475 87 18 21.8 -1.9 1.2 71 18 50.4 -1.6 1.7 58 19 13.0 -1.5 2.7 34 620 100 17 22.6 -2.4 0.9 70 17 40.7 -2,4 1.8 50 790 115 20 16.3 -1.9 0.1 110 20 36.8 -1.7 0.8 88 20 51.6 -1.8 1.6 62 793 115 21 16.9 -1.3 0.0 119 21 31.8 -1.1 0.8 92 21 44.5 -1.3 1.5 64 969 129 21 54.6 -0.5 -1.9 144

984 130 23 27.0 -1.1 1.5 71 1125 143 22 22.1 -2.0 1.0 80 22 59.4 35 1129 143 22 51.0 -1.6 0.8 91 23 18.9 -2.1 2.5 52 1773 212 2 39.5 -1.3 -1.2 319 2757 302 3 2.3 -0.9 -1.2 273 2 56.9 -0.8 -2.6 309

2759 302 3 12.7 -2.6 1.4 236 192 31 17 43.9 -0.6 1.3 81 308 44 16 56.7 353 322 45 18 41.7 -0.5 1.3 82 454 58 19 30.8 -0.6 1.6 66

736 82 16 49.3 -2.5 1.5 60 905 97 18 52.8 -2.2 1.5 59 19 37.1 19 1216 123 19 58.5 -2.7 1.5 57 1362 139 23 45.8 179 1370 139 0 19.9 -1.6 2.6 59

2049 212 19 36.1 0.0 -2.0 317 19 16.7 0.2 -3.1 346 2704 271 2 20.1 -3.9 3.3 225 2708 271 2 55.8 -2.3 0.2 250 3 15.6 -2.7 -1.3 285 3 3.2 -2.3 -4.0 322 847 64 14 52.6 -2.4 -0.5 102 15 15.5 -2.5 0.3 89 15 29.0 -2.7 1.2 67 847 65 16 11.7 -2.1 1.2 240 16 41.2 -2.1 0.9 261 16 50.9 -1.8 - 0.1 285

1174 93 18 49.7 -0.6 -2.1 154 18 42.7 -1.5 -0.7 120 1322 107 21 30.2 -0.3 -0.8 140 21 28.5 -0.7 0.0 107 1773 155 17 36.5 -0.6 -2.8 159 17 25.8 -1.1 -2.1 132 17 15.4 -1.5 -1.3 108 2245 206 23 7.7 230 23 42.8 -2.8 -0.7 282 23 38.1 -2.3 -2.3 314 2533 238 21 49.1 180

2633 239 22 3.5 205 22 24.4 -1.4 -0.6 260 22 19.5 - 1.0 -1.4 291 2638 239 23 0.4 -0.3 -3.0 321 2797 251 1 12.5 -1.5 -2.5 302 2802 252 3 24.4 203

1128 SSSëë SSSSS ggggg ggggg 62 ggggg ggggs ggggg ggggg ggggg ggggg 17 3.6 -2.0 1.0 78 17 45.2 27 47 CAPE TOWN JOHANNESBURG HARARE E 18.5 S 33 .9 E 28.1 S 26 .2 E 31 .0 S 17.8 DATE Z.C. Mag. Ph £LG UT a. b. P.A. UT a. b. P.A. UT a. b. P.A. H 0 • h m m ID ° h ra m 0 h m m n a MAY 8 1125 6.5 DO 62 17 32.9 0.2 -2.9 160 MAY 8 1129 5.3 DD 63 18 13.1 181 HAY 9 1277 5.5 DO 77 19 14.9 42 MAY 10 1402 7.5 DD 89 17 58.3 -2.4 0.6 84 MAY 13 1755 6.9 OD 128 20 51.4 -1.4 -1.3 139 21 3.7 -2.1 0.3 100 21 25.8 52

HAY 14 1854 6.9 00 138 16 54.1 -1.0 -2.1 130 16 54.0 -1.8 -1.3 103 16 55.9 -3.1 0.5 72 MAY 21 2720 6.4 RD 219 20 1.7 341 MAY 22 2746 5.8 RD 222 2 2.9 -2.7 -1.5 298 2 6.7 337 MAY 25 3256 6.2 RD 264 23 38.5 191 24 0.4 -1.2 0.5 235 24 4.2 -1.4 -0.5 267 HAY 26 3275 6.1 RD 267 4 51.3 -2.8 0.0 271

MAY 31 368 6.3 RD 327 3 38.9 -0.4 0.4 232 JUN 6 1370 6.8 DO 59 18 44.0 0.0 -1.1 142 JUN 7 1485 7.2 DO 72 16 48.6 -1.5 -0.9 132 17 3.6 -2.1 0.4 95 17 24.6 51 JUN 8 1612 7.3 DO 86 20 8.1 -0.8 -0.2 127 20 19.1 -1.0 1.0 88 JUN 9 1725 7.5 DO 98 19 54.1 -0.2 -3.0 171 19 40.6 -1.1 -1.2 133

JUN 12 2048 7.2 DD 132 16 21.9 0.2 -3.9 176 16 3.4 -1.0 -2.3 138 JUN 21 3105 6.2 RD 226 4 46.6 -2.6 -0.4 297 JUN 25 49 6.3 RD 270 1 32.9 315 JUL 10 2133 5.6 DD 116 18 39.6 -1.9 -1.8 131 18 56.7 -2.9 0.3 92 19 32.5 35 JUl 11 2245 6.4 DD 127 17 57.9 194 17 32.1 -1.8 -2.5 136 17 23.9 -2.8 -1.1 105

JUL 12 2390 6.7 DO 140 21 30.5 -2.3 -0.2 106 21 57.6 -2.0 1.6 76 JUL 14 2633 4.0 DO 160 17 6.3 -0.8 -1.2 92 17 17.6 -2.5 1.4 60 JUL 18 3171 3.B RO 205 20 14.4 198 20 35.6 -1.9 0.9 240 JUL 19 3190 3.0 DO 207 0 51.9 -3.9 -0.7 104 JUL 19 3190 3.0 RO 208 2 0.3 -0.5 3.8 198

JUL 19 3303 6.2 RD 217 21 30.6 -1.1 0.0 241 21 41.2 -1.8 -0.8 269 21 31.1 -2.2 -3.8 307 JUL 20 3419 4.5 RD 227 20 33.5 -0.3 -0.1 239 20 33.6 -0.6 -1.0 270 20 19.7 -0.4 -3.6 311 JUL 20 3425 4.6 RD 228 21 27.6 -1.0 2.0 208 21 41.5 -1.4 0.7 241 JUL 25 401 6.3 RD 279 3 30.9 -0.2 2.6 190 3 56.5 -0.8 2.8 196 JUL 26 523 6.5 RO 292 4 34.0 -1.9 -0.3 260

JUL 28 847 3.0 08 318 3 16.8 -0.9 -0.8 90 3 16.5 -0.8 0.1 68 JUl 28 B47 3.0 RO 319 4 12.7 -0.4 0.2 227 4 21.2 -1.0 0.3 236 4 26.3 -1.6 0.0 257 JUL 30 MARS 1.7 DB 352 12 18.8 -1.4 -0.2 121 12 36.0 -1.7 0.9 87 12 56.4 47 JUL 30 MARS 1.7 RD 352 13 30.7 -1.3 1.0 270 13 41.6 -0.4 -0.3 307 13 29.9 348 AUG 3 1755 6.9 DD 50 18 37.2 -0.1 -1.7 162 18 33.2 -0.3 -0.3 123

AUG 0 2341 7.2 DO 109 17 51.5 -2.3 -2.2 134 17 48.8 -3.2 -0.4 101 AUG 9 2463 6.9 00 121 18 30.9 -3.2 1.9 61 AUG 10 2614 6.2 DO 134 23 25.6 -l.C -1.4 133 AUG 11 2618 6.6 DO 134 0 19.3 150 AUG 11 2746 5.8 DO 143 19 43.4 -2.9 4.3 35

AUG 21 464 6.4 RD 259 22 27.3 -0.6 -0.3 262 AUG 23 620 6.3 RO 273 1 16.8 170 1 43.2 -0.7 2.1 207 SEP 3 2184 7.0 DD 69 20 44.1 -0.1 1.6 78 SEP 4 2291 5.5 DD 79 17 19.9 -2.1 -2.3 143 17 15.8 -2.4 -0.5 109 SEP 5 2436 6.3 00 92 21 24.4 -1.0 -1.7 143

SEP 6 2556 7.1 DD 103 20 29.6 -1.5 1.4 83 20 53.5 -0.7 1.9 65 21 15.S 0.3 3.4 35 SEP ; 2704 5.8 DD 114 20 12.4 22 SEP 8 2838 5.6 DO 123 17 55.3 -3.1 -4.3 139 17 46.2 -3.4 -0.8 102 SEP 8 2851 6.0 DD 125 20 45.7 -2.1 1.2 80 21 15.0 -1.5 1.8 67 21 36.5 -0.7 2.6 43 SEP 10 3105 6.2 DO 148 23 11.6 0.1 4.4 11 23 42.7 0 JOHANNESBURG HARARE 9 E 28.1 S 26.2 E 31.0 S 17.8 DATE 2.C. Mag. Ph ELG UT a. b. P.A. UT a. b. P.A. UT a. b. P.A. M 0 • h m m m • h m m ta • h m m m • SEP 11 3115 6.3 DO 148 0 47.0 -1.7 0.0 119 1 0.2 -0.9 0.2 110 1 6.1 -0.4 0.7 89 SEP 11 3126 4.3 DD 149 2 55.9 0.3 1.7 56 SEP 17 322 5.7 RD 220 1 47.4 -1.9 1.3 236 2 17.8 -2.0 1.6 239 2 35.7 -2.2 1.1 256 SEP 17 327 4.5 RD 220 3 5.7 -1.8 1.5 244 3 33.8 -1.6 1.4 252 SEP 19 590 6.3 RO 245 3 33.8 -2.0 1.2 238

OCT 4 2635 5.7 DD 82 16 46.5 -2.2 5.1 34 OCT 5 2802 6.4 DO 94 20 18.8 -1.1 1.7 74 20 40.3 -0.5 1.8 64 20 58.0 0.2 2.4 41 OCT 6 2938 7.3 DO 107 23 54.6 151 OCT 7 3055 7.1 00 116 19 43.1 -3.2 - 1.0 115 20 8.5 -2.7 0.1 103 20 20.2 -2.0 1.0 81 OCT 7 . 3057 6.7 DD 116 20 39.3 -1.6 1.8 66 21 6.8 -1.1 1.9 60 21 27.0 -0.4 2.4 41

OCT 8 3171 3.8 DO 125 17 19.0 -2.8 -0.3 86 17 32.7 -2.8 1.5 59 OCT 9 3303 6.2 DD 137 17 44.1 -1.9 0.2 67 18 10.8 -2.1 1.7 49 18 38.2 -1.6 3.6 23 OCT 10 3419 4.5 DD 148 16 30.1 -1.1 3.6 15 OCT 10 3425 4.6 DO 148 17 34.9 127 17 25.9 -2.4 -0.5 89 OCT 15 523 6.5 RD 213 22 32.1 0.0 3.8 186

OCT 18 851 6.3 RD 240 0 53.8 186 1 25.0 -1.4 2.9 203 1 49.7 -2.5 1.7 229 OCT 20 1167 6.3 RD 267 1 59.2 -1.5 -0.4 254 2 2.7 -2.1 -0.3 263 2 4.8 -2.5 -0.9 283 OCT 31 2580 6.6 DO 51 17 46.0 157 NOV 1 2736m 6.2 DO 62 18 19.0 -1.6 0.4 108 18 35.9 -1.0 0.7 96 18 45.9 -0.5 1.2 75 NOV 1 2739 6.7 DD 63 19 7.1 -0.5 2.0 63 19 24.6 0.1 2.0 52 19 43.9 1.0 3.2 24

NOV 2 2873 7.2 DO 73 17 16.1 -3.9 -2.9 132 NOV 5 3256 6.2 DD 106 18 53.9 -1.2 2.9 31 19 27.6 -0.7 3.2 26 20 0.1 0.7 4.8 1 NOV 5 3275 6.1 DO 108 23 32.8 0.6 3.1 11 NOV 13 765 5.3 RD 205 18 47.4 0.4 1.7 206 NOV 14 946 3.2 RO 220 20 59.0 0.5 2.3 199 21 11.7 -0.7 1.0 228

NOV 15 1118 6.0 RD 235 23 53.7 -1.3 -0.2 246 24 8.9 -2.1 -0.1 258 24 13.0 -2.6 -0.6 278 NOV 18 1514 6.1 RD 274 23 31.1 -1.1 -2.9 3 33 NOV 29 2838 5.6 DO 43 18 56.7 0.0 1.7 66 19 7.5 0.4 1.6 58 DEC 2 3217 7.2 DD 76 20 52.4 1 DEC 3 3327 6.8 DD 85 18 3.4 -1.6 2.0 57 18 25.8 -1.1 2.4 41

DEC 6 150 6.2 DO 120 18 16.0 121 18 18.9 -3.7 -0.1 93 DEC 6 165 6.7 DD 122 21 45.5 -1.8 -0.5 113 DEC 6 170 6.2 DO 122 22 56.1 -1.3 0.0 120 23 7.9 -0.6 0.6 102 DEC 7 298 7.2 DD 135 23 47.2 -0.9 1.5 73 DEC 14 1221 6.2 RD 217 0 44.6 339

DEC 16 1598 6.4 RD 256 22 20.4 -0.6 -0.3 259 DEC 29 3171 3.8 DO 44 18 22.1 -0.5 1.7 70 18 37.0 0.0 1.5 63 18 50.2 0.3 1.8 45 DEC 30 3288 5.9 DD 54 17 22.0 0.4 3.9 8 DEC 30 3303 6.2 DD 55 19 58.2 0.0 1.9 53 DEC 31 3409 7.0 DO 65 18 0.2 -1.6 1.0 89 18 14.2 -1.1 1.3 71

o 31 3419 4.5 DO 66 19 40.1 -0.7 1.5 77 19 66.2 -0.2 1.5 69 20 9.4 0.1 1.7 50 49 GRAZING OCCULTATIONS

When a star moves 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 3aid 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 stars). 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 Brian Fraser, PO Box 68525, Bryanston 2021. Tel: (011) 803 8291

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 west end of the track. SUNLIT (I) : 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 occulted 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 west end of a track is 5h 93m 21s, the tick marks proceeding eastward correspond to 5h 95m 00s, 5h 50m 00s, 5h 55m 00s etc. 50

YEAR 2000 MONTH 1 - t> C 1 - 27 )

SEQ NZC NO MAG MON DAY H M < SUNLIT(1) LIMIT 1 398 6.67 1 15 20 53 51.12 64,.00 s < ) ( ) 2 401 6.27 1 15 21 6 8.76 64,.15 s < ) (B) 3 1702 4.20 1 24 21 45 6.45 -82,.05 s ( ) ( ) 4 2048 7.19 1 28 1 24 15.50 -52..08 s ( )

YEAR 2000 MONTH 7-12 C 28 - 52 >

SEQ NZC NO MAG MON DAY H M s SUNLIT!Z) LIMIT 28 2133 5.63 7 10 19 24 26.41 72.00 N ( ) ( ) 29 3425 4.56 7 20 20 54 53.49 -83.09 S ( ) (B) 30 393 6.85 7 25 1 14 49.69 -42.73 N ( ) ( ) 31 523 6.47 7 26 3 48 13.42 -30.96 N ( ) ( ) 32 2223 4.02 8 7 22 35 52.61 58.10 S ( ) (A) 33 362 6.54 a 21 3 30 17.46 -67.43 N ( ) (S) 34 610 6.19 8 22 23 10 56.14 -47.15 N (A) ( ) 35 629 7.50 8 23 4 35 58.34 -45.16 N ( ) (S) 36 765 5.29 8 24 0 1 40.47 -35.63 N (A) ( ) 37 2436 6.30 9 5 21 26 47.20 51.29 S ( ) (A) 38 1215 6.85 9 23 3 54 31.27 -26.44 N ( ) (S) 39 2245 6.44 10 1 18 48 58.31 16.71 N ( ) (A) 40 2635 5.73 10 4 16 49 2.18 42.63 N (S) ( ) 41 277 9m 3.90 10 5 16 2 36.14 51.98 N (S) (B) 42 2806 6.92 10 5 21 50 17.77 53.55 S ( ) ( ) 43 3035 6.78 10 7 16 40 41.71 70.77 N (S) (B) 44 3190 2.98 10 8 22 38 52.75 80.43 S ( ) ( ) 45 1014 6.80 10 18 22 55 31.70 -64.90 N (A) ( ) 46 1315 6.92 10 21 2 6 2.83 -40.86 N ( ) (S) 47 2580 6.64 10 31 17 36 5.15 18.19 S (S) ( ) 48 2873 7.24 11 2 17 12 57.48 34.88 S (S) ( ) 49 2822 5.55 11 29 16 37 21.69 12.09 s (S) < ) 50 3478 6.51 12 4 23 3 15.16 57.15 s ( ) (A) 51 25 7.50 12 5 17 2 51.37 65.19 s (S) ( ) 52 3425 4.56 12 31 21 17 31.27 29.82 s ( ) (A) PLANETARY OCCULTATIONS 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 12 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 two or more observers, 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.

Note : In the table below: "Mag‘ stands for visual magnitude and ■Dur“ is the approximate duration of the occultation in seconds, should an observer be in the centre of the track of the shadow. "Az" and *A1" are the approximate azimuths and altitudes as seen from Bloemfontein. OCCULTATIONS OF STARS BY MINOR PLANETS Date SAST STAR RA (2000.0) Dec Mag. Planet Mag. Dur A1 Az d h m h m s O • s o Jan 15 05 00 TYC 55481 00854 13 34 32 -10 14 10.8 20 Massalia 10.9 9 60 NE Feb 15 20 57 TYC 2412: 00074 OS 34 27 + 35 25 8.5 760 Massinga 12.8 11 30 W Feb 22 05 51 HIP 78094 15 56 42 -37 49 11.2 89 Julia 12.0 8 70 S Feb 27 02 44 TYC4945 00550 12 09 06 -05 01 10.4 270 Anahita 12.4 6 45 NW Mar 02 23 07 TYC1864 01114 06 06 29 + 23 18 9.9 554 Peraga 12.8 10 20 NW Apr 04 21 30 TAC+03d 05659 10 20 24 +03 30 10.5 619 Triberga 14.2 4 45 N Apr 05 02 41 TYC6293 02427 18 54 51 -21 23 10.7 40 Harmonia 11.5 7 30 E Apr 16 18 26 TAC+03d 05564 10 09 04 +03 32 10.7 252 Clementina 14.7 13 35 NE Apr 16 03 54 TYC6333 01692 20 27 09 -18 33 9.5 140 Siwa 12.8 5 25 E Apr 28 03 56 TYC83S9 03285 18 31 57 -45 SO 9.3 36 Atalante 14.1 12 50 S May OB 04 00 TAC-00d 06886 17 37 12 -00 59 10.5 601 Nerthus 14.5 9 55 NW May 10 00 35 GSC5606 00443 15 22 24 -14 28 11.6 121 Hermione 12.6 14 80 N May 22 20 08 HIP75185 IS 21 S3 -09 20 9.4 5 Astraea 10.2 12 30 E Jun 11 19 35 TAC+04d 07462 10 23 53 + 04 33 10. 7 345 Tercidina 13.7 4 30 NW Jun 12 21 19 GSC4916 01083 10 48 58 -04 46 10.8 15 Eunomia 11.0 15 25 NW Jun 15 23 22 GSC6852 04074 18 24 36 -27 15 11.2 704 Interamnia 10.4 25 50 E Jul 02 02 37 HIP 88937 18 09 15 -26 07 7.7 704 Interamnia 10.3 24 30 W Jul 02 18 33 TYC0286 00891 12 08 22 +06 37 10.0 52 Europa 12.1 12 30 N Jul 07 06 00 TYC1201 01624 01 28 33 +18 09 10.7 230 Athamantis 11.9 5 25 NE Jul 11 01 00 TYC5772 00802 21 16 46 -09 20 9.0 476 Hedwig 12.2 15 50 NE Jul 11 05 07 TYC6917 00515 20 05 39 -28 31 10.6 106 Diana 12.6 8 23 W Jul 16 22 03 TYC6281 01261 18 49 42 -16 26 10.7 850 Altona 13.3 7 55 NE Jul 17 01 09 TYC5231 00830 22 13 43 -05 13 10.4 1254 Erfordia 15.9 6 45 NE Jul 18 19 32 HIP81159 16 34 34 -08 09 7.8 856 Backlunda 14.4 7 45 NE Jul 19 19 36 GSC6845 00716 17 54 28 -24 40 11.4 704 Interamnia 10.8 29 35 E Jul 28 05 25 TAC+lBd 00713 04 04 32 +18 07 10.7 16 Psyche 11.2 8 20 NE Aug 09 04 15 GSC0599 01001 00 24 18 +10 33 11.7 88 Thisbe 11.0 88 35 N Aug 13 01 11 TYC6877 00608 18 59 06 -24 43 10.2 511 Davida 11.9 32 30 W Aug 27 04 16 HIP962 00 11 54 -11 10 8.9 667 Denise 13.9 6 35 NW Sep 03 00 29 HIP15772 03 23 16 -11 21 7.7 148 Gallia 11.7 7 20 E Sep 05 22 00 TYC6883 00093 19 23 27 -27 41 10.4 78 Diana 13.5 26 80 W Sep 21 04 05 TAC+01d 00912 03 38 21 +01 46 10.9 412 Elisabeths 13.9 21 40 N Oct 04 23 25 PPM 722716 21 31 48 -14 38 10.1 135 Hertha 11.1 22 45 NW Oct 09 22 51 TYC6272 02170 18 14 42 -19 43 10.2 704 Interamnia 11.9 15 15 W Oct 12 01 48 TAC-02d 00573 01 23 01 -02 17 11.3 235 Carolina 12.9 5 40 NW Nov 23 19 50 TYC5798 00435 21 33 45 -13 31 9.5 3 Juno 9.9 12 50 NW Dec 25 03 30 TYC1418 01055 10 00 57 +21 51 9.3 280 Philia 15.7 24 25 N Dec 27 22 06 TAC+04d 01283 02 52 49 +04 37 11.8 527 Euryanthe 14.7 10 35 NW 53 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 395, 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. h m s h m s h m s Jan 1 12 2 11 May 10 11 55 16 Sep 17 11 53 15 11 12 6 36 20 11 55 25 27 11 49 45 21 12 10 3 30 11 56 27 Oct 7 11 46 37 31 12 12 15 Jun 9 11 58 11 17 11 44 10 Feb 10 12 13 8 19 12 0 17 27 11 42 44 20 12 12 42 29 12 2 24 Nov 6 11 42 33 Mar 1 12 11 10 Jul 9 12 4 9 16 11 43 44 11 12 8 50 19 12 5 11 26 11 46 18 21 12 5 59 29 12 5 20 Dec 6 11 50 5 31 12 2 57 Aug 8 12 4 28 16 11 54 41 Apr 10 12 0 7 18 12 2 38 26 11 59 39 20 11 57 44 28 12 0 0 31 12 2 5 30 11 56 3 Sep 7 11 56 47

CORRECTION FOR PLACES NOT 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* 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 40 3 43 May 10 15 12 12 16 Sep 17 23 45 20 48 11 7 19 4 22 20 15 51 12 55 27 0 24 21 27 21 .7 58 5 2 30 16 31 13 34 Oct 7 1 3 22 7 31 8 38 5 41 Jun 9 17 10 14 14 17 1 43 22 46 Feb 10 0 17 6 21 19 17 50 14 53 27 2 22 23 26 20 9 57 7 0 29 18 29 15 33 Nov 6 3 2 0 5 Mar 1 10 36 7 40 Jul 9 19 9 16 12 16 3 41 0 45 11 11 16 8 19 19 19 48 16 51 26 4 21 1 24 21 11 55 8 58 29 20 27 17 31 Dec 6 5 0 2 3 31 12 34 9 38 Aug 8 21 7 18 10 16 5 39 2 43 Apr 10 13 14 10 17 18 21 46 18 50 26 6 19 3 22 20 13 53 10 57 28 22 26 19 29 31 6 39 3 42 30 14 33 11 36 Sep 7 23 5 20 9

CORRECTION FOR PLACES NOT OH THE 30“ MERIDIAN Approximate longitude corrections from the 30“ East Meridian are provided below. 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 (2000.5)

Star R.A. Dec. Mag. Sp. Star R.A. Dec. Mag. Sp h m O * h m o ’ ACHERNAR -1 59.5 53 30 0.6 B5 PR0CÏ0N 0 20.9 25 42 0.5 F5 ALDESARAN 0 52.7 28 48 1.1 K5 REGULUS 0 10.9 1 0 1.3 B8 RIGEL 0 28.7 7 18 0.3 B8 SPICA 0 28.2 45 6 1.2 B2 BETELGEOSE 0 40.2 21 42 0.4 M0 ARCTURUS 0 43.2 2 18 0.2 K0 CANOPUS 0 7.3 47 48 -0.9 F0 ANTARES 0 25.6 55 54 1.2 Ml SIRIUS 0 56.3 2 30 -1.6 A0 ALTAIR 0 53.4 12 24 0.9 A5 55 JULIAN DATE AT 1400 HOURS - SAST 2000

JAN. FEB. MAA. APR. HAY JUN. JUL. AUG. SEP. OCT. NOV. DEC. 2451 2451 2451 2451 2451 2451 2451 2461 2451 2451 2451 2451 l 545 576 605 636 666 697 727 758 789 819 850 880 2 546 577 606 637 667 698 728 759 790 820 851 881 ï 547 578 607 638 668 699 729 760 791 821 852 882 4 548 579 608 639 669 700 730 761 792 822 853 883 5 549 580 609 640 670 701 731 762 793 823 854 884 5 550 581 610 641 671 702 732 763 794 824 855 885 J 551 582 611 642 672 703 733 764 795 825 856 8B6 i 552 583 612 643 673 704 734 765 796 826 857 887 9 553 584 613 644 674 705 735 766 797 827 858 888 n 554 585 614 645 675 706 736 767 798 828 859 889 a 555 586 615 646 676 707 737 768 799 829 860 890 a 556 587 616 647 677 708 738 769 800 830 861 891 a 557 588 617 648 678 709 739 770 801 831 862 892 :* 558 589 618 649 679 710 740 771 802 832 863 893 B 559 590 619 650 680 711 741 772 803 833 864 894 » 560 591 620 651 661 712 742 773 804 834 865 895 17 561 592 621 652 682 713 743 774 805 835 866 896 a 562 593 622 653 683 714 744 775 806 836 867 897 99 563 594 623 654 684 715 745 776 807 837 868 898 » 564 595 624 655 685 716 746 777 808 838 869 899 B 565 596 625 656 686 717 747 778 809 839 870 900 2 566 597 626 657 687 718 748 779 810 840 871 901 a 567 598 627 658 688 719 749 780 811 841 072 902 9* 568 599 628 659 689 720 750 781 812 842 873 903 3 569 600 629 660 690 721 751 782 813 843 874 904 3 570 601 630 661 691 722 752 783 814 844 875 905 a 571 602 631 662 692 723 753 784 815 845 876 906 3 572 603 632 663 693 724 754 785 816 846 877 907 '3 573 604 633 664 694 725 755 786 817 847 878 908 X 574 634 665 695 726 756 787 818 848 879 909 K 575 635 696 757 788 849 910

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL Sat No Tu He Th Fr Sa Su Mo Yu Me Th Fr Sa Su Ho Tu Me Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu He Th Fr Sa 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 a 9 10 11 12 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 12 13 14 15 16 17 IB 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 : t 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 3 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 30

HAY JUNE JULY AUGUST * J No Tu He Th Fr Sa Su Ho Tu Me Th Fr Sa Su Ho Tu He Th Fr Sa Su Ho Tu He Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 ' 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 M 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 a 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 31 30 31 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER So No Tu He Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu Me Th Fr Sa Su Ho Tu Me Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu He Th f r Sa 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ■ 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 P 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2« 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 26 27 26 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ASSA OFFICE BEARERS COUNCIL President: Dr D. Smits Hon. Treasurer: Mr C.D. Gray Vice-Presidents: Mr M.D. Overbeek Hon. Secretary: Mr B. Skinner Dr D.M. Kilkenny Business Manager: Mr C.R.G. Turk Mr P. van Blommestein Membership Secretary: Dr A.B. Mahomed Members: Mr T.W.E. Budge Editorial Board Rep: Miss P.J. Booth Mr T.P. Cooper Mr C. Rijsdijk Miss P.J. Booth

Honarary Auditor: Mr R.G. Glass (Horwath Zeller Karro)

PUBLICATIONS Editor of MNASSA: Mr A. Slotegraaf Assistant Editor of MNASSA: Dr I.S. Glass Editor of Handbook: Miss P.J. Booth

BLOEMFONTEIN CENTRE GARDEN ROUTE CENTRE Chairman: Hr B. van Zyl Chairman: Mr J. Hers Vice-Chairman: Mr H. Calitz Vice Chairman & Secretary Council Rep.: Mr P. Smits Treasurer: Miss G. Erasmus Secretary S Committee: Mr D. van Yaarsveld Treasurer: Mr M. Kirkwood Mrs D. van Yaarsveld PRO/Newsletter: Mr R. Kruger Mr D. Steyn Comnitee: Mr P. van Rensburg Mr F.P. Botha Mr P. Henderson Council Rep.: Mr C. de Koning NATAL MIDLANDS CENTRE CAPE CENTRE Chairman: Mr R. Roth Chairman: Mr M.A. Gray Secretary & Vice-Chairman: Mr A. McConnell Council Rep: Mr J. Watson Secretary & Treasurer: Mr P- Hawkins Council Rep.: Ms G. Quick PRO: Mrs B . Lawrence Treasurer: Mr D. Duprez Observatory: Mr C . Lake Commitee: Mr B. Wagener Librarian: Mr R. Clifford Dr A.B. Mahomed Newsletter: Mr W. Russell Mr R. Bauer JOHANNESBURG CENTRE Mr M. Maxwell-Hafen Chairman: Mr C. Volschenk Miss J. Willmore Vice Chairman: Mr E. Dembsky Mr P. de Villiers Secretary: Mr.W. Lange DURBAN CENTRE Treasurer: Mr G. Corbett Cha i rman: Mr S. Thomson Librarian: Mr E. Finlay Vice-Chairman: Mr P. Hiscocks Curator of Secretary and Instruments: Mr F. van Nieuwkerk Treasurer: Mr D. Sargeant Editor of Canopus:Mr C. Penberthy Librarian: Ms 0. Rambilass PRO: Ms M. Chitters Instruments: Mr R. Suberg Commitee: Mr R. Barbour Observatory: Mr R. Field Mr A. Golding PRO: Mr A. Conti Mr M. Hannibal Projects: Mr D. Teague Council Rep.: Mr C. Volschenk Ndaba Editor: Ms H. Thomson PRETORIA CENTRE Council Rep.: Mr P . Cramb Chairman: Mr L. Barendse HARARE CENTRE Vice-Chairman and Chairman: Mr S. Walsh Council Rep: Mr M. Poll Vice-Chairman Mr G. Hofer Secretary: Mr M. Haslam Secretary: Mr A. Suleman Treasurer: Mrs M. Barendse Treasurer: Mr R. Osborne Observations: Mr T. Cooper PRO: Mr M. Begbie Librarian: Mz J. Cooper Mr D. Pringle-Wood Comnitee: Mr C. Barnard Librarian: Mr J. Winterbottom Ms B . Cunow Membership Sec.: Mr G. Rausch Mr S. Liebner Committee: Mz H . Chinn Mr T. Viljoen Mr B . Conway Mr N. Young Mr J. Mussell Mr F. le Roux Mr P. Robinson 57

PAST PRESIDENTS 1922-23 S S Hough 1948- 49 A E H Bleksley 1974- 75 C Papadopoulos 1923-24 R T A Innes 1949- 50 W S Finsen 1975- 76 P A T Wild 1924-25 J K E Halm 1950- 51 H E Krunra 1976- 77 S S Booysen 1925-26 WReid 1951- 52 A 0 Thackeray 1977- 78 B Warner 1926-27 H Spencer Jones 1952- 53 J C Bentley 1978- 79 R F Hurly 1927-28 A W Roberts 1953- 54 0 S Evans 1979- 80 H W Feast 1928-29 A W Long 1954- 55 P Kirchhoff 1980- 81 N A Gray 1929-30 H E Wood 1955- 56 W H van den Bos 1981- 82 E E Baart 1930-31 D Cameron-Swan 1956- 57 S C Venter 1982- 83 J V Vincent 1931-32 H L Alden 1957- 58 M W Feast 1983- 84 A P F alrall 1932-33 H Spencer Jones 1958- 59 H Haffner 1984- 85 J S Bondietti 1933-34 D G McIntyre 1959- 60 P Smits 1985- 86 G D Nieolson 1934-35 J K E Halm 1960- 61 G G Cl H ie 1986- 87 C R G Turk 1935-36 J Jackson 1961- 62 M D Overbeek 1987- 88 J H Spencer Jones 1936-37 H E Houghton 1962- 63 A J Wesselink 1988- 89 J P G Craitb 1937-38 J S Paraskevopoulos 1963- 64 A G F Morrisby 1989- 90 I S Glass 1938-39 T Mackenzie 1964- 65 H C lagerweij 1990- 91 J da S. Campos 1939-40 R A Ross ite r 1965- 66 A Menzies 1991- 92 T Lloyd Evans 1940-41 E B Ford 1966- 67 G R Atkins 1992- 93 M G Soltynski 1941-42 H Knox Shaw 1967- 68 J Hers 1993- 94 W F Wargau 1942-43 A F I Forbes 1968- 69 J C Bennett 1994- 95 B D Fraser 1943-44 WH van den Bos 1969- 70 J Churras 1995- 96 B C Raubenheimer 1944-45 A W J Cousins 1970- 71 W C Bentley 1996- 97 A Hilton 1945-46 R H Stoy 1971- 72 A H J a rre tt 1997- 98 R S Stobie 1946-47 WP H irst 1972- 73 K H Sterling 1998- 99 M 0 Overbeek 1947-48 J Jackson 1973- 74 G A Harding

HONORARY SECRETARIES 1922 H W 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 Krunin 1923- 30 H E Houghton 1935- 65 A Menzies 1992- B Skinner

KONORART TREASURERS 1922 J F Skjel lerup 1940-42 J B G Turner 1989-93 D Duprez 1922- 23 A F I Forbes 1942-50 H E Krunni 1994- C Gray 1923- 37 MH Smith 1950-87 EN G Orpen 1937-40 Miss J R Robinson 1987-89 Mrs E C Olsen

HONORARY MEMBERS Or A W J Cousins Prof Ch Fehrenbach Mr H C Kruirm Mr J da S. Catipos Mr J Hers Hr M 0 Overbeek Or 0 S Evans Dr G Heyraan Mr R F Hurly

GILL MEDALLISTS 1956 H Knox Shaw 1967 W S Finsen 1988 D S Evans 1957 W P Hirst 1970 J C Bennett 1992 B Warner 1958 J Jackson 1976 A D Thackeray 1997 G Nicholson 1960 W H van den Bos 1981 C Papadopoulos 1999 I S Glass 1963 AH J Cousins 1983 M W Feast 1965 R H Stoy 1984 M 0 Overbeek

HeINTYRE AWARDS f 1971 D S Evans, T J Deeming, Mrs B K Evans & S Goldfarb 1983 B Warner

? LONG SEBV1CE AWARDS t 1984 J Churms 1988 R F Hurly 1993 H E Kruum Leica A sk a bo ut our special Leica term s

AGENTS FOR CELESTRON AND VIXEN TELESCOPES

LEICA, PENTAX, VIXEN, SWAROVSKI, CARTON, AND GEOMA (VIXEN) SPOTTING SCOPES

PHONE JERRY ZINN AT NOYES 7615701 FOR QUOTATIONS

TOTH ILLS NOYES LOWER BURG ST KENILWORTH CAPE TOWN CAPE TOWN PHONE 212421 PHONE 7615701 University of the Witwatersrand, Yale Road, Milner Park Milner Yale Road, Witwatersrand, the of University * CorporateEvents * Courses * Telescopes& *Accessories Booksand Astronomical Posters * Ihe j Q aiyVst Fi 8pm Fri Visits Family SchoolShows Tel: (011) 717-1392 Fax: (011) 339-2926 (011) Fax: Tel: 717-1392 (011) o 14, RAFNEN 2017 BRAAMFONTEIN, 31149, O Box P Your Venue For Venue Your ^ esb ur esb ^ The Johannesburg Planetarium TheJohannesburg Sun 4pm Sun 3pm & 10.30am Sat 9 ^ Q