South African Skies

[robbymain]

A slight change from our usual suburban Bristol Skies as my wonderful new wife and I are on honeymoon at last!

Here in rural Kwazulu-Natal the dark skies are truly sensational with Sagittarius and Scorpius sailing high overhead and Centaurus and Crux (just visible) to the South. Don't recognise many other constellations!!!

Oh and the Large Magellanic Cloud was truly impressive naked eye from the helipad (!) at our hotel up in the Central Drakensberg mountains the other night!

[Geoff Barnes]

23 minutes ago, robbymain said:

Don't recognise many other constellations!!!

Yes it's all a bit strange down here isn't it Robby!

Have you taken any kit with you for observing? Some of the globs and nebulas will blow you away!  

[robbymain]

Just my Nikon Monarch 8x42 safari bins... I did have a little look at some bright globs in Sagittarius and Scorpio from outside our tent at Thanda safari camp but otherwise this is strictly honeymoon and most definitely not astronomy holiday

Epic whale watching this morning from Gaansbaai - Cape Town tomorrow!

[DirkSteele]

Didn't stop me taking a small scope to Mozambique on my honeymoon a couple of years ago! 😉

 

Though I did restrict it to three sessions at different times of the night.

 

Hope you have a great time!