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Night
& Deep Sky Observations
ASSA
Bloemfontein's Night and Deep Sky Observation activities take
place mainly from members' homes in Bloemfontein, at Boyden Observatory
and "dark" spots outside the city. These observation events
in club capacity takes place about once a month, weather permitting.
Members are also encouraged to do observations in their own time.
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Where
to start with night and deep sky observations? |
1)
Important! Download and go through the ASSA Deep
Sky Observer's Companion: ASSA
DOC (640 kb PDF)
2) Attend the club's astronomy workshops each year - contact us for more info.
3) Get
a planisphere by downloading a program to make your own (link..).
4) Go through the Deep Sky folder on the club CD.
5) Visit pscyhohistorian.org, website of ASSA Deep Sky Director, for the best source of info (go to website..) |
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Information
and downloads for deep sky members |
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Quick Deep Sky List for members
Download each month's list, see how many you can find.
Autumn: 2007 - bright objects for binoculars and galaxies galore for telescopes!
Summer: 2006/2007 - 9 objects (5 binocular, 4 telescope)
Winter: June 2006 - 10 objects (5 binocular, 5 telescope)
Spring: September 2006 - 10 objects (5 binocular, 5 telescope)
National
ASSA Deep Sky section
Please
go to the Deep
Sky section of ASSA, of who the director is Auke Slotegraaf,
for comprehensive additional information on deep sky. Our Centre uses the information obtained from Auke as guidelines
for the Deep Sky activities in our own Centre.
Planisphere for the southern hemisphere
The
club provides members with planispheres for use from South Africa.
Be sure to get your planisphere at the next meeting or download at (link..)
Deep Sky Objects per Constellation
for Binoculars
This list contains a number of deep sky objects
for binocular use, up to magnitude 6. Specifically meant for reasonable
city skies. Download
list.
Deep Sky Objects for telescopes: ASSA Top 100
An excellent list for observers in Southern Africa and a MUST for anyone interested in telescope observations. It contains all the best deep sky objects visible from our southern skies. A certificate is coming your way if you observe! (full information)
Deep
Sky Objects Reporting and Drawing Sheet
For those
who wish to draw their own deep sky objects or write a report
on what they observe. Use this drawing sheet as a point
of record and reference. Recommended for the advanced observer,
but easily adaptable for beginners. Download
the drawing sheet.
Discover!
Learn the constellations, while discovering the
deepsky for yourself, with this free workbook called "Discover!".
Compiled by Auke Slotegraaf, ASSA Deep Sky Section. Visit the ASSA
pages and download the workbook.
Lacaille
and Messier deep sky catalogues
Recommended for intermediate to advanced
observers, see if you can find the objects on the Lacaille
list and in the Messier
catalogue. Send your reports to Gerrit.
Dark sky reports for each month - the best times to do deep sky
Plan your deep sky sessions by referring to handy dark sky reports (submitted by Hannes Pieterse). Each month's report indicates which times are darkest and therefore best for deep sky observations. [June 2007] [July 2007] [August 2007] [September 2007] [October 2007] [November 2007] [December 2007] [January 2008] [February 2008] [March 2008] [April 2008] [May 2008]
Software
programs - starmaps
Please consult the Club CD for freeware
and demos of starmap software. You can also download Cartes du
Ciel at: http://www.ap-i.net/skychart/
for a freeware program that generates starmaps (also on the CD). Download STELLARIUM if you want to use a night sky simulator.
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Deep
sky reports and drawings |
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National
Deep Sky Database
ASSA Bloemfontein Centre's Deep Sky reports
form part of the deep sky database of national ASSA's Deep
Sky Section (it is not duplicated on this site).
For guidelines on how to appreciate deep sky objects during observations, go through the Deep Sky Observer's Checklist on the Psychohistorian.org website.
On
these pages you will also find useful tips on how to draw
objects and describe what you see.
MNASSA
Deepsky Delights
Magda Streicher writes a column called "Deepsky Delights"
in each MNASSA on the finer art of deep sky observing.
Go
to ASSA page.
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Example
of what you can find on the database:
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