Welcome to the Hermanus Astronomy Centre
The Hermanus Astronomy Centre covers the whole of the Overstrand from Rooi Els to Gans Baai, although anybody from elsewhere is welcome to join.
Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday of each month from 19:00 at the Catholic Church Hall, across the road from the Scout Hall where the meetings were previously held. Other monthly meetings include the Cosmology Group (on the first Monday) and the Astrophotography Group (second Monday). Sidewalk astronomy sessions are held every alternate month at Gearing’s Point on the Friday and Saturday before New Moon.
The website calendar should be checked for variations, for example “Moon-Gazing would be held after the New Moon.” Other stargazing sessions are presented on request.
MONET and Las Cumbres observing sessions with learners are conducted throughout the year.
The Youth Astronomy & Space Club meets at SANSA on the second or third Friday immediately after school.
Officers: Pierre de Villiers, Jenny Morris, Derek Duckitt, Peter Harvey, [Pierre Hugo], Deon Krige, Laura Norris, Bennie Kotze, John Saunders
Address: PO Box 267, Voëlklip, Hermanus 7200
Website: [ http://www.hermanusastronomy.co.za ]
Newsletter: The Southern Cross (Jenny Morris)
Contact: [ info@hermanusastronomy.co.za ] or “Contact us” page
Regular Centre activities
1st Monday: Cosmology Interest Group
Typically view & discuss professional DVD’s (Mark Whittle: Cosmology – The History & Nature of our Universe; Richard Wolfson – Physics & Our Universe; Alex Filippenko: Understanding the Universe, Black Holes). Attendance: 25% of membership (80).
2nd Monday: Astrophotography Interest Group
Discuss the photographic equipment, recording & image processing techniques for astrophotography. Attendance: 5% of membership.
3rd Monday: Monthly meeting
Brief summary of the past & next month’s Centre activities; Guest Speaker [50% Centre members]. Attendance: 25 – 30% of membership.
Sidewalk: Fri/Sat before New Moon
Sidewalk Astronomy at Gearing’s Point (above Old Harbour) for the public (weather permitting); 3 – 5 telescopes + binoculars to observe “what’s up” tonight. Attendance: 6 – 60 (Had 20 overseas visitors in December).
Every 2nd Wednesday: “Relativity” Interest Group
View & discuss DVD’s, Leonard Suskind Lectures & the like. Attendance: 4 – 6 members.
Every 2nd Friday afternoon: Youth Club
At, and in collaboration with, SANSA (South African National Space Agency); Youth Club activities like games, simple presentation and Q&A Session, which is very successful. Outing to the Science Centre, Noon Gun, Planetarium & Observatory on 9th Nov for the 16 learners and 2 teachers from Lukhanyo Primary in Zwelihle, Hermanus. Most of the learners had not been to Cape Town before.