ScopeX 2004

ScopeX 2004

SCOPEX 2004 - A TELESCOPE & ASTRONOMY EXPO

(Hosted by the Johannesburg Centre of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa www.assajhb.co.za)

WHEN:

Saturday 24 April 2004 (Astronomy Day)

TIME:

10am - 9pm

WHERE:

SA National Museum of Military History (aka War Museum), behind Joburg Zoo

ENTRANCE:

R10 for adults, R5 for children and senior citizens

FORMAT FOR THE DAY:

We are very fortunate to have several eminent presenters for the day. The theme for the auditorium talks is:

'Life in the Universe'. Come join the big debate on "Are we Alone?"

Amateur telescope makers will exhibit self-built equipment and may enter the Amateur Telescope Making (ATM) competition. They will be available to explain their designs and provide specialist advice on build/buy options.

Our commercial exhibitors will show off and sell equipment such as telescopes and accessories, cameras and books and be on-hand to answer your questions.

The ATM class members will conduct mirror-grinding demonstrations, and explain the principles of making your own reflector telescope.

Experilab's MAD SCIENCE Shows to entertain 8 to 80 year olds with the wonders of science.

Astrophotography competition and display. Come submit your photos by 11am. Main prize is a spotting scope and tripod. Anyone may enter! See www.assajhb.co.za for the rules (click Imaging>Imaging Competition).

Experienced amateur telescope makers will lead visitors through a guided tour of the outside exhibits. This will be followed by a Q&A session, aimed at educating and entertaining visitors whether they already own telescopes or are considering buying/building one.

STAR PARTY from 6pm:

Telescope owners and the commercial sponsors will have telescopes available, through which you can see the Moon, Saturn and other objects (weather permitting). Come tour the night sky through a telescope, bring a picnic and join us!

AUDITORIUM LECTURES AND MAIN EVENTS:

- 11am - MARS - How to get there! by Emmanuel Petrakakis

- 12 Noon - ZOOM JOURNEY TO THE STARS by Gerrit Penning

- 1pm - Astrophotography and ATM competition - announcement of winners

- 2pm - Telescope Guided Tour (starts at Mirror Grinding stand)

- 2pm - COMETS by Case Rijsdijk

- 3pm - LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE by Prof Anthony Fairall

- 4pm - ARE WE ALONE? IF THERE's LIFE OUT THERE, WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE?

Introductory talks followed by an open debate with Case Rijsdijk as Chairman:

- The molecular origin of life - Prof Rob Veale

- Are there other planets out there, how do we go about finding them? - Prof Hartmut Winkler

- What is the probability of life out there? - Prof Derck Smits

- 5pm - Raffle Draw

- 6pm - WHAT's UP IN THE SKY TONIGHT by Dave Gordon

- 6pm to 9pm STAR PARTY on the Lawns.

Throughout the day in the Lecture Room:

- MAD SCIENCE SHOWS by Experilab at 11am, 2pm amd 4pm, Mad Science Shop

- will be open during day and Carl Ahlers will arrange some GasZooka launches.

CREDENTIALS OF PRESENTERS:

- Prof Anthony Fairall: Professor of Astronomy at UCT, Planetarium Director at the Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town

- Case Rijsdijk: President of ASSA and previously of the South African Astronomical Observatory

- Prof Derck Smits: Professor of Astronomy, UNISA

- Prof Rob Veale: School of Molecular and Cell Biology, Wits

- Prof Hartmut Winkler: Professor of Physics, RAU

- Gerrit Penning: Boyden Observatory Educational Assistant and Chairman, ASSA Bloemfontein Centre

- Dave Gordon: Chairman, ASSA Johannesburg Centre

- Emmanual Petrakakis: Founding member of the Mars Society

KEY EXHIBITORS:

- Exhibits by the owners of home built and commercial telescopes;

- Department of Science and Technology exhibits:

- Winners of the Southern Skies Challenge Competition from World Space Week 2003

- Square Kilometre Array (SKA) exhibition

- SA Science Lens brochures

- Photoweb SA (Telescopes and photographic equipment)

- Universal Image (Telescopes and photographic equipment)

- Experilab (Science related toys, gadgets, etc)

- Astronomy Africa (Astronomy Shows at The Castle at Kyalami)

- Telescope SA (Telescopes)

- FOTON Optoelectronics cc (Telescopes and accessories, GPS products, FOTON Laser products (telescopes related)

- Planetarium (Books)

- Exclusive Books (Books)

- AfricanItch - Solar Eclipse tour to Turkey, 2006

ScopeX Main Sponsor:

- WORLD SPACE WEEK <http://www.space.gov.za/wsw/> (4 - 10 October 2004) and the Department of Science and Technology