Events & Outreach

October 2022 Event Horizon Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available for download!

In this issue you’ll find…

  • HAA Explorers
  • The Sky This Month for October 2022
  • What’s Up in Awards? October – November 2022
  • NASA Night Sky Notes
  • Eye Candy
  • Plus More

Download the latest issue or visit the newsletters section for past issues.

Photo credit: Star Trails around the North Celestial Pole, by Dan Copeland

September 2022 Event Horizon Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available for download!

In this issue you’ll find…

  • HAA Explorers
  • The Sky This Month for September 2022
  • What’s Up in Awards? September – October 2022
  • The Search for Life on Mars, Part 2
  • NASA Night Sky Notes
  • Eye Candy
  • Plus More

Download the latest issue or visit the newsletters section for past issues.

Photo credit: The Pelican Nebula, by Alex Kepic

May 2022 Event Horizon Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available for download!

In this issue you’ll find…

  • HAA Explorers
  • The Sky This Month for May 2022
  • What’s Up in Awards? May-June 2022
  • The Search for Life on Mars, Part 1
  • Making The Best Of It
  • NASA Night Sky Notes
  • Eye Candy
  • Plus More

Download the latest issue or visit the newsletters section for past issues.

Photo credit: M81 and M82 galaxies, by Michel Audette

The First Astronomers

Join us this Friday December 10th as we welcome Bill Burnyeat Program Manager from Canadian Planetariums, as he discusses “The First Astronomers”.

“Today’s highly complex and mathematical astronomy, an outcome of modern society, is often seen as distinct from folk tales, star myths and the astronomical notions found in traditional society or historically remote epochs. Although some of these “perspectives” are mentioned, from time to time, the impression is given that only modern western based astronomy has any traction in reality and that the astronomy of other peoples and epochs are “just” fairy tales. 

“What is missing from this simplistic model is the marked continuity that is evident from the earliest notions of the sky, leading, in ever increasing steps, to the current picture of the cosmos based on technical tools and astrophysical insights. The first notion, encountered in the earliest astronomy is a division, both of time and space, which leads to an increasing set of subdivisions, as the sky becomes networked by horizon and then meridian based subunits. The constellations are one example. As divisions become more general, and complex, as in the Astrology of Chaucer’s time, the very units used to make these divisions take on a life of their own and become a set of commonly held values that help organize life in the community. 

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September 2021 Event Horizon Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available for download!

In this issue you’ll find…

  • HAA Explorers
  • The Sky This Month for September 2021
  • What’s Up in Awards, September 2021
  • June 10th Annular Eclipse from Hamilton
  • Juno Mission Flies Past Ganymede
  • A Tribute To My Wife Jean
  • NASA Night Sky Notes
  • Plus More

Download the latest issue or visit the newsletters section for past issues.

Photo credit: June 10 Partial Annular Solar Eclipse at sunrise, by John Gauvreau.

The Search for True Earth Analogs

Join us this Friday December 11th at 7:30 PM for our monthly meeting on ZOOM for members, as well on our YouTube channel for non-members. The YouTube link will be posted at 7:15 PM on Friday.

Our guest speaker this month is Dr. Yanqin Wu whose interests are in extra-solar planets, and and will discuss some of her most recent discoveries. These discoveries led her and her team to propose a new space mission, one that promises to find true Earth analogs.

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A Message from our Chair

Hi everyone,

These are challenging times for many, and I hope that each and every one of you is doing well, keeping safe, and staying healthy.  When any of us might be facing serious hardships the wellfare of the club and it’s activities might not seem like a top priority, and that is perfectly understandable.  And yet for some, indeed many, it is little things like the familiarity of the night sky and the pleasure of an evening under the stars that provide solace and escape from our daily struggles.  So I want to keep you informed of how the club is adapting to these changing climes and what we plan to do in the near future.  Even if we can’t get together, we are still a community and we can feel a part of that closeness even when apart.

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Show and Tell the HAA Way

Join us on January 10th 2020 at 7:30pm – Admission is free and everyone is welcome!

On Friday January 10th we will enjoy our first meeting of 2020!  In the wake of the gift giving season there are surely many new astro toys out there.  At our meeting we have several members bringing in new gear to show, and tales to tell why they are so enthused about their new acquisitions.

All members are invited to participate.  If you would like to share a story about a piece of equipment, new or old, large or small, please get in touch.  Telescopes, eyepieces, books, accessories and anything astro related is welcome.  It’s all good!  And the more participants we have the better!

Each member need only spend a couple of minutes sharing their story about their item.  To be part of this fun evening and get in the lineup just get in touch with our Chair John Gauvreau via email at “chair ‘at’ amateurastronomy.org”

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December 2019 Event Horizon Newsletter

The latest issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available for download!

In this issue you’ll find…

• The 2019 Christmas Social
• November Astrophysics Group Meeting Summary
• The Sky This Month for December 2019
• NASA Night Sky Notes
• Eye Candy
• 2018-2019 Financial Statements
• Upcoming Events
• Plus More

Download the latest issue or visit the newsletters section for past issues.

Photo credit: Galaxy NGC 891 in Andromeda, by Matthew Mannering

Fall HAA Scope Clinic and Workshop

Join us this Friday November 15 at the Hamilton Spectator building for our Fall Scope Clinic and Workshop. It will be an evening to show off your astronomy gear (or tips on fixing it) and to listen to some very informative speakers on a wide array of topics and answer all of your questions.

Some of the topics to be covered include Planispheres, the beginning astronomer, telescope expectations and much more.

The scope clinic will run from 6:00 -7:30 PM, with the workshops starting immediately after at 7:30 – 9:30.

Admission is free so bring your family and friends!

Location:
Hamilton Spectator Building
44 Frid St, Hamilton

When:
Friday, November 15th, 6:00 – 10:00pm

Food Share Donations:
Donations of non-perishable food for the Hamilton Food Share program will be collected at this meeting. Please drop off any items at the drop-box located near the entrance of the auditorium. All donations gratefully accepted and thanks to your generosity we’ve collected thousands of pounds of food since we began. Let’s keep up the great work as the need continues.

Photo credit: John Gauvreau