HartRAO Home > School and Group Visits to HartRAO

• To find out about the Universe
• To spark an interest in science and technology, through astronomy
• To help understand astronomy- and space-related concepts in the school syllabus
• To provide enrichment beyond the school syllabus
• To have a fun learning experience.

• Watch a slide show on a range of astronomy- and space-related subjects
• Get a close-up view of the 26-metre diameter radio telescope in action - the only one in Africa
• See the Satellite Laser Ranger in action
• Tell the time using the Sun
• Use an Earth globe to learn about the Earth in Space
• Launch water/air rockets to learn about basic principles of physics
• Set up a scale model of the Solar System to learn about the planets
• Use an orrery to see why we have day, night and the seasons
• Take a "trip to the Moon"
• See how the Moon orbits the Earth and how they both orbit the Sun
• Use a telescope to project an image of the Sun to look for sunspots
• Make a starfinder for identifying stars and constellations
• At night use binoculars and telescopes to look at planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies (weather permitting).

How many people can come?

Evening visits: up to 60 children and adults.
To maintain the quality of the experience we will not accept more than one busload / 60 persons.

Overnight visits: up to 30 children and 6 adults.
To maintain the quality of the experience we will not accept more than this number.

Minimum group size: 20. We suggest that small groups join the public visits.

Entrance fees per person for visits to HartRAO

Visitor	Time of Day	Monday - Thursday	Friday	Saturday
learners	day	R35	R35	R50
learners	evening	R45	R55	R55
learners	overnight	R50	R60	R65
adults	day	R50	R50	R60
adults	evening	R60	R65	R65
adults	overnight	R65	R70	R75

Payment:

Payment may be made in advance by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
Alternatively, on arrival payment can be by cash (preferred) or cheque.
We are not able to accept payment by credit card.

Notes:

• You may be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your booking.
• If you have to cancel a visit you have booked, please inform us immediately to free the time for other visitors.
• Up to three educators supervising learners will be admitted at no entrance fee provided they participate fully in the visit programme and help maintain discipline.
• Group visits are not taken for pre-school children.
• Pensioners' entrance fees are the same as those of learners. Proof of age may be required.
• Use of a foam mattress (NO bedding supplied) on the floor in the Visitors Centre on overnight visits: free - bring your own bedding, e.g. sleeping bags or blankets.
• There are three bedrooms in the Visitors Centre, each with two beds and a washbasin.
  Use of a bed on an overnight visit: R50 per person
• Learner = a genuine full-time pupil or student at a primary, secondary or tertiary education institution.

When can we visit ?

• Phone, fax or e-mail us to book - all visits MUST be booked in advance. HartRAO has a small team running this programme, so the number of visits that can be taken per month, especially for evening and overnight visits, is limited. Please book early to secure the date you prefer.
• Day visits typically take 2 - 4 hours. They usually run from 09h00 - 12h00 or 12h30 to 15h30, but can be adjusted to suit your schedule.
• Evening visits typically run from 16h00 to 20h00. Visitors do not sleep at HartRAO.
• Overnight visits typically run from 16h00 to 08h00, with activities from 16h00 until 21h00 or 22h00, depending on the weather etc. Visitors sleep at HartRAO.
• Evening and overnight visits are normally only held away from Full Moon to permit better viewing of the night sky.
• We can also travel to schools or other sites to present a more limited programme of activities. Costs depend on distance travelled by our staff.

• toilets and showers
• a picnic area
• a double hot plate or stove for cooking food
• a fridge for storing food
• an urn for boiling water
• overnight: foam mattresses on the floor (use at no cost), but no bedding is supplied - bring your own sleeping bags or blankets
• overnight: three bedrooms each with two beds and bedding, usually used by supervising adults (at extra cost, see above).

What to bring for day visits:

• food and soft drinks (we do NOT supply food)
• camera.

What to bring for evening or overnight visits:

• for meals: food and soft drinks (we do NOT supply food) and implements - plates, cups, bowls, knives, forks, spoons
• for cooking on the double hot plate or stove: pots, pans and utensils
• for braaing: gas skottel
• warm clothing
• sleeping bags or blankets, pillow, towel, soap
• camera

Do NOT bring:

• Radios, tape players, CD players etc.
• Alcoholic drinks

Please switch off all radio transmitters while visiting HartRAO.

This includes cellphones, bluetooth hands free kits, computer wifi radio networking, walky-talkies etc. These interfere with the operation of the radio telescope.

Who to contact?

phone: (012) 301-3100
fax: (012) 301-3300
post: HartRAO, PO Box 443,Krugersdorp 1740, South Africa.
World Wide Web: http://www.hartrao.ac.za

Picture Gallery

Click on the pictures to see larger versions.

Energy and forces in action - launching an air/water rocket at a science camp.	Observing the Moon at sunset - boys from Athlone Boys High School, Johannesburg

An orrery demonstrates why we have seasons to the Tirelong Intermediate School, Rustenburg	Using a turntable to find out whether a collapsing star spins faster or slower - Radford House School, Johannesburg

How does a radio telescope work? Tirelong Intermediate School children find out.	What do radio signals from the telescope sound like?

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