Notice of Meeting

The March meeting of the Johannesburg Centre of the Astronomical Society will be held at the Sir Herbert Baker Library on Wednesday 10^th March 1999at 8:00 p.m.

Topic:
Computers in Astronomy
by
Tony Hilton.

Future Meetings

Apr   14^th         History of the Observatory                 Constant Volschenk
May  12^th         T.B.A.                                               Tom Budge
Jun      9^th         Special Show at the Planetarium        T.B.A.
Jul     14^th         Bring 'n Braai at Observatory              A.G.M.

Dark Sky Viewing

On the Saturday nearest New Moon at Tom Budge's Farm in the Magaliesberg.

Up to the present time, the monthly ASSA Jo'burg Centre Committee meetings have been held on the Wednesday following the Monthly General meeting, at 17:30. Your present committee has decided to move this meeting to the Monday preceeding the Monthly meeting. This will enable us to pass on to you, our members, any decisions of importance with the minimum of delay. At present, you have to wait three or four weeks before hearing of these.

New Members

We would like to welcome the following new Members to the Johannesburg Centre:

                    Roger Warne        Valerie and Wallace Wilkins

                       Robert Coughlan    Greg de Chasteauneuf

Apprentice Astronomer's Course

We intend starting a course for Apprentice Astronomers fairly soon. If you are interested in attending, or know of someone who is interested in attending, or would like to lecture on the course, please contact Maureen Chitters or Chris Penberthy. The course is aimed at teaching the basics of Astronomy to any who wish to learn, and will probably be held in the Planetarium.

Constant will be running two Telescope Driving Courses for those wishing to learn to drive the Papadopoulos telescope. The dates are 24^th April 1999 and 8^th May 1999, both Saturday afternoons. The courses are limited to six (6) persons each and bookings for places have already started. A practical test is given before the licence is issued. The course is unfortunately only open to fully paid-up members, who may contact Constant at the WITS Planetarium on Jo'burg 716-3199 after 14:00 weekdays, for further information.

For those of you who are wondering what we do with all those millions that we collect from you, we have R2667.86 in our current account and R12,561.72 in our 32 day call account.

Main costs are the monthly rent to AS&TS, and the printing and posting of the CANOPUS.

The Cape Town Centre of the ASSA is hosting an ASSA Symposium at the South African Museum, Cape Town, in March 1999. If you require further information or are interested in attending this event, please contact Brian Fraser at fraserb@intekom.co.za . The programme as per the entry form is as follows: