Cederberg Observatory Open Nights
Fri Sep 8, 20:00 - Sat Sep 28, 22:00
Cederberg Astronomical Observatory
ABOUT
Cederberg Astronomical Observatory invites you to a magical Saturday evening, surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Cederberg and under some of the darkest skies in South Africa.
We firmly believe that astronomy has the power to inspire curiosity, spark imagination, and foster a deeper connection to the cosmos. Our aim is to share our knowledge and passion for astronomy with people of all ages and backgrounds, leaving a lasting impact by fuelling their curiosity, expanding their horizons, and nurturing a sense of stewardship for our planet and the wider Universe.
The evening starts with an opening presentation, providing guests with a sense of the scale of the Universe as we begin a journey into space and into the past. How big is a Light Year? Also, what’s a star – how are they born and what happens when they die? As we look out, we also look back in time! How far can you see and what is the ultimate fate of the Universe. These and other fascinating questions will be answered by one of our volunteer experts.
After the presentation, guests will be taken on a guided tour of the Southern Skies and you will have the opportunity to view clusters, nebulae and galaxies through our telescopes.
At some of our events, our resident astrophotographer will present a demonstration on how to photograph deep sky objects with a camera and telescope. If you are interested in astrophotography, please contact us and we will give you more information on when this activity will be part of the programme.
DONATIONS
Since the late 1980s, the Cederberg Observatory has opened its doors to the public every Saturday night for an evening of stargazing and talks given by enthusiastic amateur and professional astronomers.
We firmly believe that astronomy has the power to inspire curiosity, spark imagination, and foster a deeper connection to the cosmos. Our aim is to share our knowledge and passion for astronomy with people of all ages and backgrounds, leaving a lasting impact on individuals by fuelling their curiosity, expanding their horizons, and nurturing a sense of stewardship for our planet and the wider universe.
With the number of visitors to the observatory now having exceeded 100,000, we wish to take the Cederberg Astronomical Observatory to the next level and provide an even better experience for our visitors.
In order to achieve this we need to upgrade the facilities, buy new equipment and build enclosures for the telescopes we use on open nights.
We would be extremely grateful if you could donate to Cederberg Observatory and help us become a leading Astrotourism and Astronomy outreach hub in Southern Africa.
ANY DONATION ABOVE R1000 ($54) WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF HAVING THEIR NAME DISPLAYED ON THE "FRIENDS OF THE OBSERVATORY WALL".