Remember the big Grimsby Mars Event of 2005? HAA members returned to Murray Street Park Saturday night May 24th from as far away as Waterloo to share the celestial sights of Spring with residents of Grimsby.
As usual, the Club was well-represented with nearly 20 members and as many telescopes of all sorts and sizes on hand to entertain and educate visitors to the park. Attendance was not equal to Don’s publicity efforts – mostly due to lack of cooperation from the hometown papers but folks turned up from the local area as well as from out of town. The event began before dusk and lasted almost ’till midnight.
With a magnificent clear sky and calm, warm atmosphere, there was no lack of targets. Many observers kicked off the evening with wide-field views of Mars near the Beehive Cluster.
Then it was off to Saturn under high magnification with four moons easily visible. Titan 3′ E and Iapetus 7′ W of the planets disk; larger apertures showed tiny diamond chip-like Tethys, Dione and Rhea clustered just W of the rings.
Going “deep (sky)” gave marvelous views of globular clusters M3, M13, M92, colourful double stars and galaxies M51, M65-66, M81-82 and M104 in particular. Nebulae were also captured and presented. Refractors, reflectors, SCTs and binoculars all got a workout. The very bright ISS made a fly-by on schedule and there was even a meteor or two to round out the “astro-buffet”.
All in all, another fun great-weather get-together for the HAA and guests. Thanks to everyone who made it such a good night! HAA is dedicated to spreading the word about this wonderful hobby!
