Harare Centre of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa

This page has been updated  2 August 2005

New feature:

 

·                           Next monthly function details updated

·                           Latest newsletter: Cloudy Nights - July 2005

·                           Choosing Binoculars For Astronomy

 

 

Zimbabwe is home to some of the most spectacular starry nights. From a latitude of 18 °S, the star clouds of Scorpius and Sagittarius pass directly overhead in June, and the Milky Way is just unbelievable.

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. The Society is a body consisting of both amateur and professional astronomers, and has autonomous centres located throughout South Africa and one in Zimbabwe, the Harare Centre. Membership is open to all interested persons, regardless of knowledge or experience.
 

The Harare Centre was formed in the mid-1970s and has held its meetings at Prince Edward School since 1988.  Membership is currently around 50 (Yes, we have been losing members due to the current situation). Members of the Centre are active in astrophotography and in observing variable stars, comets and meteors.

 

Previous newsletter: cloudynigthsdecember2004
 

 

The last monthly function of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (Harare Centre) scheduled for Wednesday 27 July  2005  was cancelled due to the current fuel crisis.  The situation will be closely monitored and members will be advised accordingly.

Therefore we really don’t know when the next function will be held.  

 

If you have any queries, please contact Tony Alegria 

 

 

Introduction to Basic Observational Astronomy (North East references are as seen from Harare)

 

 

 

Contact details for Harare Centre:

Chairman Dave Pringle-Wood

Vice Chairman Tony Alegria

Web page: Tony Alegria  

Cees Mesu Memorial Trust

Our Leonids meteor page

 

Total Solar Eclipse: December 4th, 2002 - see our eclipse page and members’ experiences

 

 

Our members had spectacular views from Plumtree and Beitbridge - See Mike Begbie’s 4th Dec 2002 Zimbabwe’s Total Eclipse report to M.N.A.S.S.A. We understand that parts of Kruger National Park in South Africa had cloud- credit to Fred Espenak for correctly predicting the best observing sites in his TSE bulletin- see MrEclipse.com for info on future eclipses.

 

 

Night Sky: Take Gunter’s tour of the solar system and beyond.

 

Guest Book

 

Bulawayo Astronomy Society.  Contact John  Richardson (Secretary). Email: celmar@mweb.co.zw      Phone 09 241001

 

Links:

Our links page

Astronomy Magazine

Boyden Observatory

Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

Simon Walsh - homepage: many useful links and articles for advanced amateur astronomy

SAAO

South African Large Telescope (SALT)

Sky & Telescope Magazine

 

Other ASSA Centres:

ASSA Council

Bloemfontein Centre

Cape Centre

Durban Centre

Garden Route Centre

Natal Midlands Centre

Pretoria Centre

 

Other Southern African Astronomical Societies

Astronomical Society of Bulawayo

Astronomical Workgroup (Windhoek)

Port Elizabeth People’s Observatory Society

Rhodes University Astronomy and Ham Radio Society

Southern African Astronomy Site

 

Interested persons can contact the Centre through the Secretary, Fr Brendan Conway, at the following postal address:
 

Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
Box UA428 
Union Avenue 
Harare 
Zimbabwe 

An Astronomical Society also exists in Bulawayo, 
Zimbabwe and can be contacted: 

c/o Mr Derrick Shaw 
2 Sinclair Avenue 
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe

E-mail:rickshaw@gatorzw.com
 

This site was designed by Gunter Hofer and is maintained by – :Tony Alegria