Editorial
The old year has departed without much fuss and the committee would like to wish ALL members a very Happy New Year. May 2003 supply you with clear skies and plenty of excellent observing opportunities.
What a show - for those of us in the Tshipese area there was plenty of heart-stopping moments and swearing at, or alternately pleading with, the weather as the clouds rolled in at around 06:00 on the 4th of December. Of course, we were a much luckier than most of the people who intended observing the eclipse from further East in the Kruger Park - and not as lucky as those who decided to observe from further West as did our Chairman and a small group of members who had the clearest of skies some 60 Km West of Beitbridge. All-in-all, most ASSA Jo'burg Centre members who traveled North, had a good eclipse view.
Saturn is looking really good in the late evenings with rings well presented and Venus is very bright as it climbs rapidly in the early morning skies. Taurus and Orion are also quite outstanding, especially after it has rained and the clouds clear away - the Pleiedes and Hyades and of course the Great Orion Nebula with the Trapezium, look absolutely brilliant in even a moderate-sized telescope.
Eben van Zyl has submitted another of his excellent "How did…" articles, and our Chairman Dave Gordon reports back on the very successful ASSA Symposium held at the end of November. Several articles relating to the December 4th eclipse have been submitted by the membership with tales of varying success in the viewing thereof. Amongst the authors thereof are Melvyn Hannibal, Gill Stewart and Bruce Dickson
Evan Dembskey supplies another in his popular "Web between the Worlds" articles, and Brian Fraser supplies us with the heavenly happenings for the next 2 months as well a short dissertation on "relativity".
Members - how about letting us ( the committee that is ) know what you'd like to have presented at the monthly meetings, or the kind of articles that you would like to see appearing in Canopus. These requirements should preferably be of an Astronomical nature ( our specialty of course) or something on a scientifically related subject. If it is in our power to do so - we will try to meet your request(s).
The Editor - chris@penberthy.co.za