Welcome to Melkbosch Skies Observatory’s website

Introduction

This Observatory is situated in my backyard in the little suburban town Melkbosstrand some 25 km from the City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

I have always been interested in astronomy. I can recall many nights lying on my back on a blanket outside on our lawn as a young boy, observing the stars and other “funny smudges” in the sky with a pair of cheap binoculars that someone had given me. I started to recognise certain objects and constellations and marveled at their movement across the sky. I didn’t realise it at the time, but I had effectively become an “amateur astronomer”!

It was however only when I turned 60 that I decided to get a telescope. My first telescope was a Celestron NexStar 127SLT MAK. I soon, however realised that it simply wasn’t going to be enough. I subsequently bought an old Meade XL200 10” Classic and soon after a Meade LX200R 14”. While the 10” scope can still be seen as being “mobile”, the latter definitely is not. This obviously lead to the construction of the Melkbosch Skies Observatory and subsequently to this website. My main purpose for this site is to share my enthusiasm and love for astronomy with like-minded visitors, but also to create an awareness and interest for Astronomy. Lastly, and this is probably being rather presumptuous on my part, I would like to think that I might even be able to contribute to the general knowledge base of Astronomy, even if only in minute quantities.

I trust you find your visit as much fun as I have had developing it and maintaining it.

Please also take the time to follow the links to other related sites. They all can and will contribute to your knowledge and enjoyment of Astronomy.

Who am I?

I am 60 year plus and retired. I have no formal education in Astronomy, but what I lack in formal (astronomical) education, I make up with enthusiasm. I am a member of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA), on occasion participate in the public awareness events of the Star People Astronomy Outreach and is member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit company, Centre for Astronomical Heritage. You are most welcome to visit these fine organisations’ websites.

My advice to aspiring amateur astronomers

I read somewhere that reading is the most important way to learn about Astronomy. I wish to humbly disagree. Don’t get me wrong, reading as much as possible about the subject is important, but my experience has taught me that joining Astronomy groups and organisations where you can actively participate in anything Astronomical, is the best and easiest way of improving your knowledge base. I have probably learnt more about both Astronomy itself and about the tools required to practice this hobby during the last three years, than I learned my whole life, notwithstanding all the reading done during my previously “solo” Astronomical life.

Another important piece of advice. Join a local Astronomy group or club BEFORE you buy your first telescope. You might do a lot of online research about which type or brand of telescope to buy or listen to a lot of sales talk by salesmen in telescope shops, but be assured….you will eventually find out that you chose wrong. Amateur astronomers who have already gone through these pains, can provide excellent advice on what to buy and importantly what NOT to buy. And by the way, if you don’t immediately have the money to buy a telescope, invest in a good pair of binoculars. Many of the better known brighter objects can be seen with binoculars, especially in darker areas. Another benefit of binoculars is the fact that they have a much larger field of view, which lends itself better for viewing larger objects such as star clusters.

I hope these comments are of value to you in your new hobby as amateur astronomer.