General Meeting for December 11, 2015 @ 7:30pm

Imagine if you will… you have been enjoying a crisp clear night with all of nature’s glory before you for a couple hours. Orion’s nebula semmingly coming alive in the night sky. That comet is glowing brighter than advertised, it seems that indeed the universe is unfolding as it should. You feel a chill as the breeze gains a little character, you go to get your sweater out of the car and… it’s LOCKED and the key is in the ignition! Now you are 10 miles from anywhere and it is suddenly colder…

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Hot off the press, the 2016 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Celestial Calendar is now available!

Calendars can be purchased at any club event or general meeting for $15 each or two for $25.

Packed full of beautiful astro-photos from club members, each month will inspire your own astrophotography or visual observing sessions. Each month also includes upcoming celestial events so you can stay up-to-date on great sky events. Any revenue generated from sales goes back into the club to help support club activities.

Be sure to grab your calendar or pick-up a few as gifts before supply runs out.

Recognition:

• “Features astrophotography by members of the not-for-profit club” ~ Hamilton Community News
• “Hamilton Amateur Astronomers’ calendar tells you when to watch the night skies” ~ Hamilton Spectator

The November issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available.

In this issue you’ll find…

• The 2016 HAA Celestial Events Calendar
• The Sky This Month
• Treasurer’s Report
• The Wave – It is not over until it’s over!
• Plus Much More!

Download your copy from the newsletters section.

Photo credit: Bob Christmas, Polaris and Comet C/2014 S2 PanSTARR

Testing Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity (Gravity)

Peter Sutherland began his 37-year career at Mac in 1976 when the Physics Department was given permission to hire two astronomers/astrophysicists. He was hired along with Bill Harris, an observational astronomer and world expert on globular clusters. Peter is a theoretical astrophysicist, and much of his research has been concerned with neutron stars, pulsars, supernovae, and X-ray binary systems. Peter retired in 2013 but still teaches the occasional course in  physics. While he enjoyed teaching and research, he was also happy to serve in a wide range of administrative capacities – Chair, Dean, and (twice) President of the McMaster University Faculty Association. He has diverse musical and reading tastes. An avid cyclist and outdoors-man, he takes regular canoe trips with his wife and also with his best friend. In May this year he was part of a small group that went trekking in Nepal, around Annapurna. He is especially proud of his three children, the youngest of whom is currently an MA student at Mac and a water polo player.
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The October issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available.

In this issue you’ll find…

• The Sky This Month
• Treasurer’s Report
• Astronomy Crossword
• Cartoon Corner
• Upcoming Events
• Plus Much More!

Download your copy from the newsletters section.

Photo credit: Ann Tekatch, Lunar Eclipse

The Astronomical Experience

From the earliest days of the first hominids and through the epochs into the 21st century, mankind has held a deep fascination with the night sky. In today’s technological society, massive mountaintop observatories and high-tech space telescopes are at the forefront of astronomical research, but an ever-growing group of individuals continue to peer up from dark fields, secluded parks and their own backyards in the quest to explore and understand the universe. From varied backgrounds, cultures and professions, amateur astronomers are united in their curiosity and desire to wonder at the beauty of the heavens above, and to find our true place in the cosmos.

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With the Binbrook observing site open for the past few nights — thanks to Councillor at Large Bernie Vanasse — various HAA members made an appearance to catch the Perseid Meteor Shower. Despite a mid-week peek making late nights difficult I grabbed my wife, essential gear,  the dog, and headed down to Binbrook to take in the show.

With only an hour to spend under the night skies I quickly setup my camera to record the action while we laid on camping air mattresses. Looking straight up, the skies were busy with celestial highlights. The main attraction did not disappoint with both faint and bright meteors streaking across the sky. The best left visible smoke trails, briefly illuminated by the glow of the meteoroid  itself. Satellites silently moved overhead in high numbers as well as an unexpected fly-over by the International Space Station (ISS).

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In the May 1996 issue of our club newsletter, Event Horizon, Rob Roy wrote an excellent article about this phenomenon. Here is a link to everything you ever wanted to know about Blue Moons.

http://www.amateurastronomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/May1996.pdf

The Hamilton Amateur Astronomer’s 2016 Celestial Events Calendar is in production and it’s time to submit your images! 

The HAA calendar showcases photos, illustrations and other visuals exclusively from you, HAA club members. In the past we’ve have images from very experienced astrophotographers and absolute beginners. Everyone is encouraged to participate and all images are welcome.

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That’s Venus (left) and Jupiter (right) on Thursday, July 2, 2015, 10:03 pm.

Jupiter’s moons, from left to right, I believe, are Callisto, Europa (barely visible as a bump on Jupiter’s upper left limb), Io and Ganymede.

Taken with my Canon 40D through my Tamron 300mm telephoto lens, set at ISO 800 and f/5.6 for 1/2 second. A fixed tripod was used.

Brightened a bit, cropped a LOT, but otherwise unprocessed.