Blending bush and stars

Blending bush and stars

Chris EngelbrechtUniversity of Johannesburg

Southern Africa draws a few million visitors to nature reserves per annum

Southern Africa contains millions of km2 covered bydark skies at night

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Southern Africa draws a few million visitors to nature reserves per annum

Southern Africa contains millions of km2 covered by dark skies at night

Communicate astronomy to the publicin nature reserves

~ 50 professional astronomers in SA

~ 100 amateur astronomers in SA

A few million touristsper annum

?

~ 50 professional astronomers in SA

~ 100 amateur astronomers in SA

A few million touristsper annum

~ 1 000 trained nature communicatorswork in game reserves

~ 50 professional astronomers in SA

~ 100 amateur astronomers in SA

A few million touristsper annum

~ 1 000 trained nature communicatorswork in game reserves

The Skyranger course

Indigo Bay

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The Kgalagadi

Northern Botswana

Olifants Camp(KNP)

Skukuza

Kruger National Park

Gauteng

Waterberg

2006 – 2010:

5 full courses in reserves

2 truncated courses in a city-edge resort

3 “toolbox” courses in reserves

2006 – 2010:

5 full courses in reserves

2 truncated courses in a city-edge resort

3 “toolbox” courses in reserves

game rangers: camp management:

game-drive stargazing camp-based astronomy shows

FGASA etc:

existing courses

Content:

Part 1 - the mechanics of the sky

Content:

Part 1 - the mechanics of the sky

Content:

Part 2 - the content of the universe

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O/V

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Content:

Part 3 - folklore

Content:

Part 4 - practicalities

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Part 4 - practicalities

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Assessment goals:

- estimation of RA and Dec of objects at night- use of charts to locate faint objects- rapid acquisition of these objects with telescope- entertaining with the constellations- entertaining with folklore- entertaining with modern astronomy

Enable presenters to communicate with authority

Learning in the Kgalagadi

Outcomes:

Outcomes:

The average ranger / guide will entertain ~ 500 people with the night sky per annum

Since late 2006, about 50 rangers have been trained

Follow-up …..