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Rooisand's weather and
climate
Rooisand Desert Ranch is located on the C26, at the edge
of the Namib Desert. As a result of the dry air and an altitude of roughly
4.000 ft above sea level we frequently have crystal clear night skies with
excellent seeing conditions.
What is more, there
is absolutely no light pollution; Windhoek is 130
km to the east, as the crow flies, and Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast is
about the same distance to the west. There are no other towns closer than that.
During the winter months, from early May until late September
(our peak season, astronomically), you can expect
clear skies from dusk till dawn with an almost 100% guarantee. |
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Day
temperatures range between 20 and 28 degrees in winter, and at night the
mercury never drops below zero.
Between the months of October and April
(our low season, astronomically) we have a short
rainy season around November and the main rainy season from January until
March. Due to the proximity of the desert, however, the rainy season is even
less reliable and poorer than in other parts of the country.
During the
summer months we also have a high percentage of clear or partly clear nights.
Day temperatures may soar to just below 40 degrees, and at night we enjoy a
pleasant 20 degrees.
Naturally we cannot guarantee clear skies for any
specific time of the year. |
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The Night Sky over
Rooisand
Winter is the best time for observation of the southern
Milky Way. In the course of a long night all the constellations rise to their
furthest position above the horizon - starting with Vela, followed by Carina,
Centaurus, the Southern Cross, Sagittarius, Scorpio and Eagle. Towards north
the Summer Triangle can be seen.
In late July/early August the big
southern galaxies/galaxy clusters - e.g. Formax, NGC 253, NGC 247 and NGC 300 -
appear in the morning sky. |
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During summer (October to April) the Magellan Clouds rise to their
highest culmination points above the horizon. The constellations of Orion,
Canis Major, Gemini and Taurus almost cross the zenith.
The
constellations of Pegasus and Andromeda are visible above the northern horizon.
Vela reaches its culmination above the southern horizon in the morning
sky. |
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In
July 2007, scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Berlin visited
Rooisand. The DLR is busy with a research project on so-called exoplanet
search: extrasolar planets which orbit around fixed stars beyond the solar
system. The prototype of an observation station ...
Read more |
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Weather, Climate and the Night Sky
above Rooisand
