Welcome to the Astronomical Society of South Australia

This month we take a close look at our own natural satellite – The Moon. Where did it come from? What are it’s physical properties? These questions and many more will be explored about our companion in space.

Mesopotamia was the land of the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians; and is the birthplace of the earliest sky maps, and it is the original home of many of the contemporary western constellations. Mary Adam will explain how this information was passed down to later civilisations. Furthermore, she will explain the importance of the ‘Islamic Golden Age’ of science, and the preservation of ancient texts and how the translation of those texts has allowed us to look back onto the same ancient Arabian night skies. We will look at the notable stars in the Arabic night sky and learn about the origin and meaning of their names.

In this session, we will look at the Night Sky and discuss the mechanics of the celestial sphere. Learn how to find your way around the sky and become familiar with common terms. We will also look at some of the brighter stars which are high in the sky in autumn and how to find them.