News
[1 March] Double Fun: Meet the celestial crosshairs and chamaeleon in Magda Streicher's latest deep sky delights.
[17 February 2010] On 25 January the head of the National Research Foundation (NRF), Prof Albert van Jaarsveld, announced that Prof Phil Charles had been suspended pending the investigation of “a disciplinary matter related to corporate communication”. The process was to be chaired by a neutral person. No further details were given as the NRF regards this as an internal matter.
On 2 February the Council of ASSA passed the following resolution:
“The Council of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa wishes to express its support for Professor Phil Charles in his positive direction of the SAAO and also expresses its concern at the manner in which the matter of his suspension has been handled by the National Research Foundation. A speedy resolution of this matter is suggested, both in the interests of SA astronomy, and so as to minimize damage to SA’s image and reputation in the international scientific community.”
A hearing was held on 12 February. The NRF case was concluded but the defence was not. The hearing was adjourned until 23rd February.
Several critical articles have appeared in the Press, including Business Day, Nature, Mail and Guardian and various Independent Newspapers titles. (These can be found by Googling “Phil Charles suspension”.) Some commentators have expressed concern that this matter may affect South Africa’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array.
[4 February 2010] Lucas Ferreira has published an Introduction to Double Stars, which provides a gentle introduction to what double stars are and how you can observe them.
[11 January 2010] The Pretoria Centre has announced the dates for the Ninth Biennial Symposium of the ASSA. The symposium will take place at the Silverton campus of the Council for Geoscience on Thursday 7 October 2010 and Friday 8 October 2010. The preliminary program for Saturday includes a morning visit to HartRAO and a guided tour through the Tswaing meteorite impact crater during the afternoon.
The symposium will focus on light/spectrum pollution and people interested in delivering papers are invited to send a short synopsis to Andrie van der Linde at andrie@eridanusoptics.com. You can also make a preliminary booking if you plan to attend.
Details on registration fees and suggestions for accommodation, etc will be available soon.
[11 January 2010] Find out out how the Sun finished 2009 in the solar bulletin for December.
[11 January 2010] Find out how to receive a merit certificate for double star observations.
[3 January 2010] Frikkie de Bruyn's new article for the Cosmology Corner confronts the final frontier.
[3 January 2010] The solar bulletins for September, October and November 2009 are available on the Solar Section page now.
