Join the club

Many experts recommend that beginners learn the night skies from other people. There are astronomy clubs all over SA keen to share their passion, knowledge – and telescopes • The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, for amateur and professional astronomers, has eight centres around the country (including Durban, Joburg, Pretoria and the Garden Route) that hold regular meetings. assa.saao.ac.za • The SA Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town has monthly talks and stargazing sessions on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. saao.ac.za • West Rand Astronomy Club, based in Witpoortjie, meets on the last Wednesday of each month. wrac.org.za • The Friends of Boyden in Bloemfontein organise lectures and viewing sessions at the Boyden Observatory. assabfn. co.za/friendsofboyden/ • Die Orion Observasie Groep has regular stargazing evenings during the summer months at the Taal Monument in Paarl. Find them on Facebook. • Southern Peninsula Astronomy Club in Fish Hoek meets on first Thursdays and focuses on beginner and intermediate astronomy. Find them on Facebook. • Southern Cape Astronomy Club has access to a private observatory on a farm outside Pearly Beach, near Hermanus. Find them on Facebook. • Rhodes University Astronomy Society in Grahamstown meets every Tuesday in term time, with a lecture and stargazing session at the Simon Walsh Observatory.