African Astronomical Society

#LookUp to spot the elusive planet Mercury, which will be the farthest east from the Sun on this date. Your best chance to see it is during the few days around July 22, about 30 minutes after sunset. Find a location with a clear view of the western horizon, and you might catch a glimpse of Mercury shining brightly!

#AfricaLookUp and witness a rare celestial event! On July 24, 2024, the Moon will hide planet Saturn for a few hours. Visible from various parts of Africa, don't miss this incredible sight!

#AfricaLookUp and see the Moon hide the star Antares! On the night of July 17/18, 2024, watch as the gibbous Moon passes in front of the bright red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. This spectacular event will be visible from Southern Africa and nearby regions!

#AfricaLookUp and observe the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, a special event where we can see 'shooting stars' in the night sky, starting around July 18 and lasting until August 21!

Introducing #AfricaLookUp! Stay tuned for our regular feature, #AfricaLookUp to the Sky, where we'll keep you updated on the most fascinating astronomical events visible from the African continent. Follow us to catch interesting celestial events!

Join the Data Science Trainers Hackathon 2024!: Call Extension Hack4dev is excited to announce a global call for the Data Science Trainers Hackathon 2024, taking place this October at WITS University in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is your opportunity to leverage data science for impactful community development. Why Join? • Global Collaboration: Connect with individuals worldwide. • Empowerment: Gain skills to host regional hackathons. • Innovation: Address real-world problems with data science. Key Benefits: • Training and Support: Comprehensive training, our Ilifu cloud computing facility, funding, and essential resources. • Broaden Your Impact: Contribute to a sustainable, community-centric approach. Applications are open and have been extended to close on July 22, 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity! For more details and applications: https://lnkd.in/dhPwn2XA #Hack4Dev24_25Journey #Hackathons #TrainersHack2024 #RegionalHacks2025 #ML #DataScience #CommunityDevelopment

Witness the Moon Occulting Antares! Get ready for an awe-inspiring celestial experience! On the night of 17/18 July, the gibbous Moon will pass in front of the bright red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. Watch as Antares disappears behind the dark side of the Moon and reappears on the bright side. This incredible experience will be visible from southern Africa, within the blue shaded region on the map (see poster) . The moon can be seen to pass very close to Antares in the sky for the rest of Africa. Don’t miss this spectacular cosmic spectacle! #AfricaLookUp #MoonOccultsAntares #Astronomy #Scorpius IAU General Assembly 2024 Department of Science and Innovation The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF)

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly 2024 is upon us -the 6 - 15 August is around the corner. We shall see many of you soon in Cape Town at the International Convention Centre. As part of this event, our outreach and education committee has organised unique opportunities for schools and science centers to engage with astronomers through virtual sessions. The purpose of these sessions is to inspire and share scientific knowledge with learners, teachers, students, and the public about the wonders of the universe, recent discoveries, and the intrigue of astronomical research. As such we are extending an invitation to you to request a virtual session/slot for your school, science centre or organisation by completing the REGISTRATION FORM (https://bit.ly/3LCWdGl). Please provide details about your preferred dates, topics of interest, target group, and the age group of your audience to help us tailor the sessions to your needs. These sessions are scheduled from 29 July – 15 August. Virtual Session Opportunities: Interactive Q&A sessions: Engage, and ask questions, and learn about their research. Educational Presentations: Attend virtual lectures on various astronomy topics tailored for different age groups and knowledge levels. Teacher training sessions on specific curriculum-aligned topics How to Request a Session: Complete the registration form with your details and preferences. Submit the form, and our team will get in touch with you to confirm the arrangements. For more information about all the other planned outreach and education activities that you can participate in, please visit our website: www.astronomy2024.org

Join us for a Media information session in preparation for the IAU-GA2024 conference. This session aims to deepen your understanding of astronomy, highlight its significance in our lives, and explore its potential as a topic for science journalism. To register: https://lnkd.in/d6X62wZS To join: https://lnkd.in/dycrW4aQ More details are provided in the poster. #IAU-GA2024 #AfricaLookUp #sciencejournalism

Celebrate International Asteroid Day with us! Join the European Space Agency (ESA) and the African Astronomical Society for a special virtual event on July 1st at 5 pm CAT. Our speakers include Marco Micheli, an expert in near-Earth asteroids; Laura Faggioli, a specialist in orbit determination; and Juan Luis Cano, a veteran in planetary defense. Talk Abstract: Solar system asteroids are not just confined to the Asteroid Belt, and comets can get very close to the orbit of the Earth. These near-Earth objects (NEOs) have been the subject of dedicated observations and assessments to evaluate the threats they pose to our societies and life on Earth. This new space safety discipline, known as Planetary Defence, has been a priority for ESA and NASA over the past 25 years. ESA’s Planetary Defence Office (PDO) was established in 2009, and the NEO Coordination Centre (NEOCC) team will explain how ESA responds to these challenges during the Asteroid Day 2024 public talk. 🔗 Join Zoom Meeting: https://lnkd.in/dRgrQNAX For more information, visit: The International Asteroid Day and Talk abstract - Google Docs #AsteroidDay #SpaceLovers #ESA #AfAS #VirtualEvent