HartRAO Home > news > Sasol Techno X 2008/08/11-15
Sam commented, "Techno X was very successful and very well organised. A memorable event was the young learner who, energised by the show, came up to me to tell me he wants to become an astronomer".
Five or more school groups had shows about astronomy each day. While most visiting schools were from relatively nearby - Sasolburg, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Johannnesburg - the attraction of the expo is revealed in the distances many school travelled. Phetogane Secondary came from Thaba Nchu, Mafube Intermediate came from Phuthadijhaba, and Nthathakuza Secondary came from Winterton in Kwazulu-Natal. Others came from Klerksdorp and Delareyville in the NorthWest Province. Smaller towns in the Free State from which schools arrived included Frankfort, Heilbron, Ventersburg, Viljoensdrift, Viljoenskroon and Vredefort.
Outside the "Astronomy SA" tent.
Left click on image for large version.
A school group streams into the tent.
Left click on image for large version.
Scales giving one's weight on Earth, the Moon, Jupiter and the Sun were popular.
Left click on image for large version.
A school group investigates the displays.
Left click on image for large version.
Learners investigate a model of a possible layout for the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT).
Left click on image for large version.
HartRAO's Sam Rametse during an astronomy presentation.
Left click on image for large version.
SAAO's Sivuyile Manxoyi talks about astronomy in South Africa to the visitors.
Left click on image for large version.
The scales were a "great attractor".
Left click on image for large version.
A rare quiet time! Sam and Sivuyile assist visitors.
Left click on image for large version.
Sivuyile discusses the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project with departing learners.
Left click on image for large version.
Sivuyile relaxes as a group departs. He is chatting to HartRAO's Anacletta Koloko, in the black jacket.
Left click on image for large version.
This year the Astronomy SA team won the award for best presentation. Anacletta Koloko and Sam Rametse are shown above with the award, back at HartRAO.