Science Week stars

'Professor' Detlef Basel of the MTN Sciencentre mobile van

National Science Week begins under starlight at the historic South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town on Saturday May 12 from 7:30 pm until around 10pm. Entrance is free - and if the notorious Cape weather ignores the importance of national science week and turns cloudy, there will be astronomy videos in the auditorium.

"The winners of our first-ever astro-art competition - open to kids in Grades Four to Seven in both the Western and Northern Cape - will also be announced on May 12," said Kevin Govender, manager of the science foundation for the Southern African Large Telescope in Sutherland.

Feast of telescopes
The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa will be bringing their telescopes - some of them eight- and ten-inches in width - so that families can enjoy South Africa's superb ringside seat for watching the universe expand. The telescopes are brought out courtesy of the local branch of the society, known as the Cape Centre, run by secretary Ray Spector and chairman Georg Mayer.

"Weather permitting, we will be conducting night sky viewing using some of the portable telescopes on the lawns outside the main building." said Sivuyile Manxoyi, the Observatory's Mandalay-based education officer. "We will also be using our 1899 McClean telescope, the largest telescope in the Western Cape, so we encourage people to come and try it out."

"Just drop by," said Isobel Bassett, the public communications officer with the 180-year-old Observatory. "Bring your family, bring your own telescopes if you have any. Venus, the second closest-planet to the Sun, Saturn with its rings and the giant gas planet Jupiter should be visible."

Mobile science van
Julie Cleverdon, acting head of the MTN Sciencentre in Canal Walk, which is also hosting a range of activities during National Science Week, promised to bring the popular MTN Sciencentre mobile van with staffers "Professor" Detlef Basel, John Crossland and Charles Phillips to entertain visitors to the May 12 event.

"The observatory has been booked solid for the rest of our national science week morning events, such as learner workshops, science shows, tours and talks by astronomers, so the telescope viewing on the evening of Saturday May 12 may be your best chance to participate," said Basset.

However, Cleverdon noted, the MTN Sciencentre still has spaces during National Science Week for school groups which cannot be accommodated at the South African Astronomical Observatory. "Of course the MTN Sciencentre will also once again host its very popular family fun days on the weekends bookending science week, on May 12, 13 and 19," she said. Phone Jani de Bruin at the MTN Sciencentre on 021 5298128 to book or for more information on the family fun days.

Indigenous astronomy workshop
The observatory's last National Science Week function will be a free indigenous astronomy workshop for Western Cape educators on Saturday 19 May from 10am to 2pm. "African starlore will be discussed as well as common misconceptions about astronomy," said Sivuyile Manxoyi. "Come join us."

"You can attend open nights at the observatory on the second Saturday of every month at 8pm, so our next one will be on June 9," said Kevin Govender. "We also love to get requests from schools, church groups, mosques, book clubs and anyone else interested in the origins of everything!"

For enquiries call Isobel Bassett on 021 460 9319 or email her at isb@saao.ac.za or contact Natalie Jones on 021 460 9345 or email natalie@saao.ac.za.