BOTSWANA
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF BOTSWANA MAKES ASTRONOMY SEXY FOR GENERAL PUBLIC By: Keletso Thobega
M
ost things in the universe happen over millions or even
billions of years but some things change on the timescales of human life and can be seen to change in a matter of months, days, or even seconds. These are some of the most extreme events in the universe, things like the collapse of a dying star, or a collision of two massive objects. Human beings have been observing astronomical transients for centuries, from supernovae to gamma ray bursts and gravitational waves. In 2007, scientists discovered a new type of transient called fast radio bursts – bright radio pulses that last only a few milliseconds. All these observations and findings of the astronomy make it an interesting field to explore. Their origin is one of the newest unsolved mysteries of astronomy. Botswana is a country that offers many opportunities for clear viewing conditions because of its climate and weather, which is bright and clear most times. In Botswana, the rainy season begins in October and finishes in April, and the months in between leave little to no rain, which results in clear night skies which are ideal for for astronomical observation, says the chairperson of the Astronomical Society of Botswana,
Answers to the quiz on page 40 1-D, 2-A, 3-A, 4-C, 5-D, 6-B, 7-B, 8-C, 9-B, 10-B, 11-A, 12-B, 13-A, 14-A, 15-C, 16-C, 17-C
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African Science Stars Issue 3 | www.assap.co.za
