Saturday eveing, July 11, John Gauvreau condicted an excellent sky tour for members and their guests, at the Binbrook Conservation Area, on the ‘hill’. Sixteen of us were there for the evening.

I made sure people got safely into the park, and put the combination lock on the gate for any stragglers, returning to the group at about 9:40 PM, having seen the International Space Station glide serenely across the sky toward the northeast.

After we waited a while for darkness, in the meantime setting up our telescopes, John called us together for the sky tour. Starting with the big dipper, we learned how to find a dozen constellations, and the milky way. We also paid tribute to the upcoming 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon, this month. Using a green astronomy laser, we were all easily able to see where he was pointing.

The key to star-hopping is remembering certain star-hopping tips which get you from one constellation to the next. The most famous star hop is from the big dipper to the North Pole’s star, Polaris. “Arc to Arcturus” then gets you going to other constellations.

Everyone had a good time, with several members lingering until 2 AM, when we locked up and headed to Tim Horton’s for some cookies and drinks.

Thanks, John for another fine evening. You were our ‘star’.

“Update: “John’s Galaxy” (NGC4565) taken by Ann Tekatch Saturday evening at Binbrook. Is that line of four stars in the lower right corner of the frame a real asterism or was there a satellite or other UFO travelling through the field during the exposures??”