October 10th                  T.B.A.                Bill Sheehan

                                    November 17th              Star Party           at Dave Gordon's
                                                            and 18th (a.m.)      and Leonids         place in Midrand

                                                    December 12th            No meeting in December

If you have any ideas for topics or subjects that you feel should be presented at future meetings of the Johannesburg Centre, please contact one of the Committee members, or email us with the details thereof. The Editor.

Public viewing nights are on the Friday nearest First Quarter, and are held at the Old Republic Observatory, 18a Gill Street, Observatory, Johannesburg. Starting time around 19:30.

Please note that the Public viewing nights are held subject to suitable weather conditions.

Annual Subscription Fees

There are no changes to the Johannesburg Centre's subscription fee structure for the 2001/2 year. The joining fee remains R50-00 and the Annual fee R100-00. The Family membership subscription fee also remains unchanged at R125-00 although this will be revisited to determine a more realistic fee at the end of the current ASSA year. The Family membership is restricted to couples and their co-resident dependants and although all Family members receive full rights as members of the Centre, only one copy of the monthly magazine, Canopus, will be posted to the family address. The annual subscription form is included with this issue of the Canopus and we would like to urge you as members to pay your subs as early as possible to enable your committee to plan the Centre's projects for the year ahead.

Please post your subscription fee, or deposit/transfer it directly into the Society's bank account at NEDBANK. The Account information is as follows:-

Bank:                NEDBANK Branch Name: Park Plaza Code:       19 21 42 44 Account Type: Current Account Number:        1921 013761 Name:      ASSA Johannesburg Centre

Please remember to write your name on the deposit slip or to include your name as a reference on a direct transfer. Then fax the details to the Treasurer to let him know that you have paid via direct deposit or transfer so that you will be kept on the Canopus mailing list.

Nylsvlei - we have a booking for the weekend of the 14^th - 16^th September for 30 people.
You may contact Bruce Dickson on 312-1887 if you wish to book a place on this outing.

Boyden - We are busy attempting to negotiate a suitable weekend with Martie Hoffman. There does not seem to be much chance at present, but we vigorously continue our efforts in this regard.  The 60" is presently undergoing servicing.

The Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. Wolf Lange has organised several enjoyable visits to this site near Heidelberg and says it is an ideal spot for clear viewing.

Tswaing Crater - we're still trying to set up a day visit under the guidance of Prof. Reimold. This will probably be done on a Saturday but we'll have to wait an see what can be set up.

We will be organising two "outings" involving Tony Voorvelt - one to see the new solar observatory on top of the Physics building at Wits and one to be entertained / amazed by his Great Magic Physics Show.

A visit is being scheduled ( probably on October ) to the Visit to the SAFARI-1 Nuclear Reactor, Pelindaba where we will be able to see the famous Cherenkov radiation. See more details later in this issue.

Another visit to the Gamma Ray observatory in Potchefstroom is also in the offing.

Other ASSA Centres (e.g. the Pretoria Centre) - and try to see if we can organise some joint ventures.

If any of our members have places they would like the society to visit, approach one of your committee members with the request and we'll discuss it in committee. Alternately, just send an email to the editor and I'll make sure it is brought up in committee.

Telescope Making Classes

Would you like to make your own telescope?…or finish off a partially finished one? Well your opportunity has arrived (once again). Join the Telescope Making Class being held under the guidance of Brian, Evan and Chris. Contact Brian on 803-8291 if you are interested.