BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//SAAO - ECPv5.2.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:SAAO
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.saao.ac.za
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for SAAO
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Africa/Johannesburg
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:SAST
DTSTART:20250101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250322T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20250322T220000
DTSTAMP:20260422T200839
CREATED:20250227T130257Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250318T125537Z
UID:24599-1742673600-1742680800@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Open Night
DESCRIPTION:The NRF|SAAO Open Nights in Cape Town take place on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. \n\n\nAll Open Nights will start with a presentation on topics of astronomy or related science fields. Visitors will then be given an introduction to the history of the observatory\, library\, museum\, and the 120 year-old McClean telescope. If the weather permits\, stargazing will take place with McClean and smaller telescopes.\nPlease note that guests are only allowed entry into our premises from 7:30pm. \nFree entry for kids aged 6 & under. \n\n\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings. \n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker: Francois Campher \n \nFrancois Campher is a first year MSc student at The University of Cape Town\, currently working on detecting and studying the astrophysical parameters of compact binaries and other gravitational wave sources in large transient survey databases using machine learning techniques. He is also the podcast manager for The Cosmic Savannah\, hosted by Dr Jacinta Delhaize\, Dr Tshiamiso Makwela and Dr Daniel Cunnama. \nAbstract: Cataclysmic Variables and the Future of Gravitational Wave Astronomy with LISA \nCataclysmic Variable (CV) stars are some of the most fascinating binary systems in the universe\, where a white dwarf strips material from a companion star\, creating dramatic outbursts and high-energy phenomena. These systems are not just astrophysical curiosities; they are key laboratories for studying accretion\, binary evolution\, and even the sources of gravitational waves. While traditional telescopes reveal much about their light\, future space-based observatories like the LISA mission will allow us to study CV stars through an entirely new lens—by detecting the “ripples in spacetime” they produce. LISA\, the first space-based gravitational wave detector\, will open a new window into the dynamics of compact binaries\, helping us uncover the hidden population of CVs and their role in shaping the cosmos.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-open-night-2/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR