September 12^th Meteorite Recovery Trevor Gould
                                                                      and Eclipse Experiences       Miscellany of Speakers

                                                October 10^th         Optical Devices         T.B.A.

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.

The A.G.M. of the Johannesburg Centre of the ASSA was held on Saturday 14^th July at our meeting place in the grounds of the Old Republic Observatory in Gill Street Observatory on an evening when Mars stood out amongst the stars that could be seen through the haze surrounding Johannesburg.

The main business of the evening was handled fairly quickly, including the election of a new committee and then the members moved outside to set up telescopes and braai their supper ( in no particular order of course ) and generally enjoy the evening. Amongst the 'scopes in use were Mary's home-made Dob, Ed's refractor and Peter's Meade LX200. All had eyes glued to eyepieces and were used to track a variety of popular objects including Mars ( of course ), Omega Cen, Alpha Centauri and the Jewel box. All of these were nicely overhead and easy to see, though objects nearer the horizon were less easy to observe and track due to the muck and haziness surrounding us that evening. ( A few minutes of eyepiece time at Peter's big Meade has convinced me that maybe a 12" light bucket is the way to go - unless of course I win the Lotto and can spring for the 16" instead ).

Please advise your committee of any subjects or topics you would like covered by the society during the monthly meetings. This will help us to set-up meetings that will be enjoyable for all of you .

Nylsvlei - we have a booking for the weekend of the 14^th - 16^th September for 30 people.

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 continue with our efforts in this regard.

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.

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 to 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. Some really great telescopes have emerged from the hands of members like Mary McKinnon and Gerhard Koekemoer, and Gerhard is in the final throes of motorising his Dobsonian to allow for "equatorial" tracking.