Blending bush and stars
Dec 29, 2015
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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SA
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
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~ 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
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
Content:
Part 4 - practicalities
Orio
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Ast
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Afr
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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
Outcomes:
The average ranger / guide will entertain ~ 500 people with the night sky per annum
Since late 2006, about 50 rangers have been trained