Author Archives: Allen Versfeld

About Allen Versfeld

Allen is an amateur astronomer, an IT professional, a podcaster, a father of five growing kids, a barely competent chess player, and the owner and publisher of the Urban Astronomer podcast and website. He has formerly served as Director of the Astrophotography and Citizen Science sections of the Astronomical Society of South Africa. You can find his personal social media feed on Mastodon!

Our dark skies need You!

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As part of the global fight against Light Pollution, Globe At Night recruit ordinary citizens twice a year to measure the light pollution in their neighbourhood.  All you have to do is print out their maps, and compare them to a certain area of the sky (This time around, it’s the constellation of Orion).  Different levels of light pollution drown out different numbers of stars, so well-known constellations take on different appearances depending on how bright the sky is in … Continue reading →

No more Climate confusion

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Let’s face it, there are so many claims and counterclaims about global warming that ordinary folk like us don’t know what to believe any more.  On the one hand we have legions of scientists presenting long-winded explanations about how human activity is accelerating the planet towards a ghastly thermageddon, and on the other hand we have dissenters gleefully exposing weakness in methodology and statistical methods, or suspicious emails to show that it’s all a giant con and that everybody’s going … Continue reading →

Chief Astronomer Suspended

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The National Research Foundation, which falls under the Department of Science and Technology  recently suspended Professor Phil Charles, Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory, in what seems to be a collision between the secretive bureaucratic government thinking of the DST and the open, free-exchange mindset of the academic community at large.  While official statements only refer to “The leaking of confidential information”, unofficial sources say that he had discussed the potential location of the SKA (Square Kilometer Array) head … Continue reading →

The Seven Sisters hide behind the Moon

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The Pleiades are recognised by countless cultures around the world, almost always as a group of sisters.  In Greek mythology, they were the daughters of Atlas and Pleione.  The hunter Orion spotted them in the countryside and, taking a fancy to them, gave chase.  For seven years they tried to avoid him until Zeus answered their prayers by turning them into doves and placing them in the sky out of Orion’s reach.   Presumably the chase continues, because they regularly … Continue reading →

Asteroid through Binoculars

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Last night, following a tip from SkyandTelescope.com, I pointed my binoculars to Gamma Leonis and found Vesta, the second largest asteroid in our solar system.  Vesta is currently so bright, that under dark enough skies it can be seen with the naked eye.  In the city, though, binoculars or a telescope are required.  If you’re keen, you can join me watching it move from night to night by following the diagrams below, which were generated in Stellarium. Note that these … Continue reading →