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Blending Bush and Stars: Communicating Astronomy in Southern Africa's Nature Reserves

Explore the unique initiative in Southern Africa that blends astronomy with nature conservation to engage tourists and empower nature communicators. The course, Skyranger, offers training to game rangers, enabling them to entertain visitors with the wonders of the night sky and universe. The curriculum covers sky mechanics, universe content, folklore, and practical stargazing techniques. With assessment goals focused on object location, chart usage, and constellation communication, rangers are equipped to educate with confidence. This innovative approach has already impacted hundreds of visitors, with potential for broader outreach.

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Blending Bush and Stars: Communicating Astronomy in Southern Africa's Nature Reserves

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  1. Blending bush and stars

  2. Blending bush and stars Chris Engelbrecht University of Johannesburg

  3. Southern Africa draws a few million visitors to nature reserves per annum Southern Africa contains millions of km2 covered by dark skies at night NASA

  4. Southern Africa draws a few million visitors to nature reserves per annum Southern Africa contains millions of km2 covered by dark skies at night Communicate astronomy to the public in nature reserves

  5. ~ 50 professional astronomers in SA ~ 100 amateur astronomers in SA A few million tourists per annum ?

  6. ~ 50 professional astronomers in SA ~ 100 amateur astronomers in SA A few million tourists per annum ~ 1 000 trained nature communicators work in game reserves

  7. ~ 50 professional astronomers in SA ~ 100 amateur astronomers in SA A few million tourists per annum ~ 1 000 trained nature communicators work in game reserves The Skyranger course

  8. Indigo Bay mozambiqueaccommodation.co.za roamingafrica.com

  9. The Kgalagadi

  10. Northern Botswana

  11. Kruger National Park Skukuza Olifants Camp (KNP)

  12. Waterberg Gauteng

  13. 2006 – 2010: 5 full courses in reserves 2 truncated courses in a city-edge resort 3 “toolbox” courses in reserves

  14. 2006 – 2010: 5 full courses in reserves 2 truncated courses in a city-edge resort 3 “toolbox” courses in reserves game rangers: camp management: game-drive stargazing camp-based astronomy shows

  15. FGASA etc: existing courses

  16. Content: • Part 1 - the mechanics of the sky

  17. Content: • Part 1 - the mechanics of the sky

  18. Content: • Part 2 - the content of the universe ESO/VLT

  19. Content: • Part 3 - folklore

  20. Content: • Part 4 - practicalities Orion telescopes Astronomical Society of Southern Africa

  21. Content: • Part 4 - practicalities Astrovisulas.com.au/Wil Tirion

  22. Assessment goals: • estimation of RA and Dec of objects at night • use of charts to locate faint objects • rapid acquisition of these objects with telescope • entertaining with the constellations • entertaining with folklore • entertaining with modern astronomy • Enable presenters to communicate • with authority

  23. Learning in the Kgalagadi

  24. Outcomes:

  25. Outcomes: The average ranger / guide will entertain ~ 500 people with the night sky per annum Since late 2006, about 50 rangers have been trained

  26. Follow-up …..

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