| STARGAZING
On several game
farms in the Western Cape you hear about the big five, but
in Sutherland we are honored to present the Celestial Big
Five and where else as at Sterland, just one kilometer outside
Sutherland, in the direction of Matjiesfontein. Regular Stargazing
sessions are presented every night, right through out the
year and not even the coldest night keeps stargazers away.
Cold
air provides excellent viewing of the Milky Way and Deep Sky
Images. Bookings is essential. Contact Jurg at 082 556 9589.
The show at Sterland
starts at 18:00 in winter and in summer at 20:00 lasting two
hours. The stargazer is first treated with an indoor presentation
on a three meter big screen explaining all the constellations
and sizes in the universe. A short DVD about Sutherland is
shown.
Inside the dam
are numerous posters of Astronomy and books to be read. After
that the stargazer is taken outside to the Muisbos Amphi theatre
and first treated with an explanation of how to find South,
with the aid of the Magellan Clouds, Southern Cross and other
stars. We make use of a very powerful laser so that each person
can see what we are talking about.
All the relevant
constellations, stars, planets and objects to be observed
are then explained before looking through the eye piece of
the telescope.
At
present we make use of 3x 11 inch (280mm) Celestron Go-To
telescopes, each with its own GPS.
Each
telescope is operated by a knowledgeable person. Every person
gets enough time to enjoy the object to be seen. The show
normally lasts two hours and the cost is R50-00 per person.
The following dates will not offer Stargazing in 2010 -
17, 18, 19 January
- 14, 15, 16 February
- 14, 15, 16 March
- 28, 29, 30 April
16, 17, 18 May
- 6, 7, 8, June
- 18, 19, 20 July
- 22, 23, 24 August
19, 20, 21 September -
17, 18, 19 October
- 24, 25, 26 November
24, 25, 31 December
- 1, January 2011
Other
things to do:
Stars to Midnight
Booking
is essential contact Jurg 082 556 9589.
Daily
guided tours to SALT – call (023) 571-2436
Visit
the “Halley-sê-kom-eet” coffee shop in town.
Visit
the Louw Museum and Dutch Reformed Church.
Donkey
cart rides – booking essential – Jurg 082 556
9589
Historical
Walking trail on Historical Buildings in town available at
Kambro Kind Guesthouse.
Enjoy
the Kambro Kind Veldplant route over 145 km with 22 stop over
points where you learn to identify 110 plant species.
Enjoy
several scenic drives like the Moordenaars Karoo, Komsberg,
Verlate Kloof, Ou Berg and Gannaga Pass.
Kambro
veldplant route just outside town over 3 & 12 km where
all plants are numbered and categorized in an A5 booklet.
Several
mountain bike routes.
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