Nigel – Stargazers discover the beauty of outer space through large aperture telescopes
The day was rounded off with star gazing under the guidance of amateur astronomers Andrew Helsdon and Tim Cooper.
Around 80 people from Nigel, Heidelberg, Springs and Benoni came to join Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa’s (WESSA) bi-annual stargazing and bird watching event at Marievale Nature Reserve on October 6.
Funds raised through this event will go towards WESSA and sustaining the Marievale Nature Reserve.
The day started with a nature walk where Stan Madden enlightened all present on the more than 250 species of birds found in the reserve. He said the reserve is a treasure and has been awarded the status of an international Ramsar site. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
The day was rounded off with star gazing under the guidance of amateur astronomers Andrew Helsdon and Tim Cooper.
As a child Cooper was captivated by the moon and stars and he was only seven years old when given his own telescope. He said his love for astronomy was imprinted forever after his first glance at the night sky through the lens of his telescope.
Depending on the season and if it is a clear evening, one can see various globular and open clusters, planets, gas clouds and sometimes even a galaxy with high-aperture telescopes such as the Mead telescope Helsdon and Cooper use. Peering through the telescope, stargazers could clearly see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter and its surrounding moons and even some red flecks in the bowels of the Jewel Box (regarded by those in the know as one of the most spectacular objects in the southern sky).
Apart from boasting the perfect platform for stargazing, Marievale Nature Reserve also has other creature sightings such as different species of otters, water mongoose, jackals and civet cats.
If you want to find out more about WESSA and how you can help to protect Marievale Nature Reserve, phone Justin on 072 373 7151.
The next event will take place during April and more information will be published closer to the date.
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