If you are heading out to a SANParks destination on the last weekend of this month, be sure to take advantage of the clean night air and enjoy what the heavens have in store.
Jupiter can be seen in the evenings the whole month; Venus is the brilliant “evening star”, visible until mid-August; Saturn can be viewed for about an hour after sunset during the first week of August; Mars (in Taurus) is visible all morning the whole month. Moon Phases: Last Quarter Sunday 5 August; New Moon Sunday 12 August; First Quarter Tuesday 21 August; Full Moon Tuesday 28 August.
SANParks offers an astronomy activity at Olifants Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park. The newly proclaimed Mokala National Park will also offer star gazing activities.
For more information about viewing activities visit www.astronomyafrica.com or call +27 (0)82 901 3796, or email eckhart@ecosat.co.ca . Their astronomers operate large portable telescopes on site at any venue of your choice.
