Gaze at summer’s brightest stars with Stargazing at Maropeng

January 24, 2012 – Bianca Bothma

Maropeng’s stargazing event calendar for 2012 begins on January 28 with Stargazing Our summer sky, the perfect introduction to astronomy and ideal for those wanting to explore and know more about the universe.

Resident astronomer at Maropeng, Vincent Nettmann, says that, in the summertime, the main constellation we see is the constellation of Orion. “This region of the sky is very attractive and many of the traditional African stories about stars are based on it.”

The following photo essay highlights some of the stellar objects you can look forward to seeing at this event (weather permitting). It takes place at the Tumulus Restaurant, where the family can enjoy a delicious buffet dinner.

Book online for Stargazing Our summer sky

Venus

Before dinner, have a quick look at Venus, the brightest “star” in the sky. It is actually a planet, but is also called the Morning Star and the Evening Star as it reaches maximum brightness just after sunset and just before sunrise.

Seven Sisters (Pleiadies)

One of the star clusters nearest to Earth, Pleiadies, also known as Seven Sisters, has been revered by cultures around the world since ancient times.

Jupiter

The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter has 64 confirmed moons. The largest of these four will also be visible.

Orion Nebula

One of the most photographed objects in the sky, the Orion Nebula is a vast cloud of dust and gas.

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