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??”

On July 7, the Full Moon was upon us once again. With that, a couple of us ventured out to pay homage and witness the Full Moon break into the evening horizon. Each month we gather at the ridge on Scenic Drive to observe, and perhaps photograph, this wonderous sight. We have yet to be disappointed.

Last night Moonrise was at 21:30 to the SE. Upon arrival we target the Moonrise location along the opposite side on the escarpment. There is always the excitement of anticipation as the time grows close at hand. All eyes are fixed on the horizon waiting for that first hint of orange glow to break through. A loud yell and a pointing arm signal the Moon’s arrival. The Full Moon rises ever so quickly so the time for talk is over. With cameras and scopes set, we are honed in on our equipment to capture the moment. Then for a short while the only sound is the flurry of cameras clicking. With a sigh of satisfaction the Moonrise has been captured for another month. Then discussion turns to sharing photos and good natured bragging rights for the “Shot of the Night”.

Watching the moonrise is an activity the whole family can take part in…and its free. No equipment is needed. Sometimes around us, all along the ridge, couples sit on cars or fence rails drinking coffee in the solitude, leisurely talking and waiting. For family fun, you can gather and see who will be first to spot the Moon on the horizon. You can linger longer to view the city, the harbour, even talk about the Moon as it makes it’s ascent into the night sky. Each month, and as the seasons change, you can pick a different lookout point in the area. In these times of ?Staycations? why not give it a try.

Tonight July 8, Moonrise is at 21:59 and the Moon is 99.8% full, still well worth venturing out to see.
Future Moonrise times can be accessed through ?Stargazing? by the CSC. Then, below the weather, you click near the bottom where you see the phases of the Moon for the upcoming months.

The next Full Moon is on August 5 at 20:55….hope to see you on the ridge.

Jackie

As you are well aware (and as I have mentioned at a couple of the meetings) we are in a long, deep solar minimum, with very little solar activity to report and even fewer sunspots to observe. In fact, so far this year, 3/4 of the time the sun has been completely blank, and since solar activity started to decline in 2004 there have been 653 sunspot free days! (that’s way higher than average)

Recently there has been some signs of revival, and sunspots from the new cycle have been trading places with the last straggling spots from the old cycle, although so far the new spots have been small and short lived. Today there is a large grouping of spots on the sun that are visible in amateur telescopes. The grouping is about the size of Jupiter and has been waxing and waning for a couple of days now. In my 80mm refractor it appears as a chain near the limb, with two large, detailed groups and a string of small spots linking them. So, if you have been missing your chance for solar observing, or have had a solar filter or even a hydrogen alpha scope that you have been wondering what to do with, now is your chance! Get out and see sunspot group 1024, the first big sunspot of the new solar cycle 24. (there have also been a number of associated B-class solar flares with this group, so I will be intested to hear if Mike J. has picked up any ionospheric activity due to these spots on his LOFAR apparatus).

Remember, always use proper solar filter material or the projection method when looking at the sun, whether using a telescope, binocular or even just your eye. Using anything other than a proper solar filter or projection could result in permanent eye damage or injury. If you have any questions about properly and safely observing the sun, contact me before you try.

Or, if you don’t have proper solar observing equipment, try these links to see the latest images from the SOHO satellite:
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-images.html
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/sunspots/

Now, lets see some solar observing reports!

Sunspot 1024 group, July 8, 2009; a sign of good things to come.

Well, it’s been a while since I did any late night astro photos. I still haven’t gotten back into using any dedicated astro gear – just my camera, standard lenses, and standard (non-tracking) camera tripod. The following moon shot was taken with a 100-300mm lens at 300mm (single shot) and the Cygnus wide field was taken with a 24-70mm lens at around 50mm f2.8 (63 x 4seconds at ISO 3200)

Hi

The computers call for a -3.3 pass of the space station. (That’s brighter than Jupiter)

It will start in the southwest and peak in the southeast direction, very high overhead (55 degrees altitude).

I hope lots of people see it.

I have followed it with a dob before (72x magnification).
The trick is to catch it in the eyepiece by estimating ahead of it with a red dot finder, then move the whole scope to keep it in there. With 2 people (one guiding, one looking), it’s much easier.

Steve

If conditions are clear Saturday (July 4) evening, a few of us are going to set up our telescopes to do some summer observing at McQueston Park here in Hamilton. The parking lot and paved pathways in the park are illuminated by lights, but that won’t stop us from seeing the moon, Saturn, some interesting stars, star clusters and brighter deep sky objects.

McQueston Park is on Upper Wentworth Street, just south of the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway. There is lots of parking. If it’s clear, I will probably arrive about 9:00 pm for setup.

Hope to see you there!

Ann Tekatch

It is looking for tonight I will be there to help out.

Jim Wamsley

Report on McQueston Park Sidewalk Astronomy:

Our first Sidewalk Astronomy event at McQueston Park was a huge success! As expected, the park was full of families out for an evening stroll, watching a soccer game or bike riding and everyone was thrilled to look through our telescopes at the Moon and Saturn. Many people even went home to return with the rest of their families to look through the telescopes! I estimate that there were at least 100 “Galileo Moments” tonight.

There were 7 HAA members in attendance and we were all kept busy from the moment we set up our telescopes and binoculars until after 11:30. Many members of the public were reluctant to leave and we were asked many times when we would be returning to the park. Considering how appreciative our audience was and how well we were received, I am certain we will be returning soon.

Many thanks to Jim, John, Ed, Don, Joe and Alexandra for volunteering to help me with my first foray into Sidewalk Astronomy. What an awesome night!

Ann Tekatch

I awoke this morning a little before 5am and decided to step outside to have a look at the day. Sure enough, the clouds had broken up a little and there was Jupiter, shining brightly in the south. Turning to the left, there in the glow if the eastern dawn was Venus, brilliant in the lightening sky. After a moment I realized that it had company, and that I could see Mars just above it. The two were separated by no more than two finger-widths, and made a lovely pair. Most striking was the colour contrast of white for Venus and red for Mars, and I thought there could be no better way to start my Canada Day than with this perfect colour combination on display in the sky. The two will be paired for some time, so as Saturn lowers itself into the western evening sky, remember that there are still plenty of planets in the morning sky for you to enjoy.

Canada’s colours on display in the morning sky

Friday night 6 members showed up on the hill at the main site. On arrival I got to work setting up my new CG5 mount performed the polar alignment and completed the scope alignment. Low and behold we have success!!!The goto is spot on and tracking is flawless!!!Needless to say I am very happy with my new addition.

We were joined by a group of about 30 scouts and their leaders,that happened to be camping at the park that night.This was the icing on the cake. Successful first light and public night.There were many holy cows, cools,that’s sick,and insane man as we showed them views of the new crescent moon, saturn and some of the brighter messier’s.

The scouts left us about 11:30 and we continued to observe till almost 1:30 even though we had some cloud that blew through about 12:00.The night was concluded at Tim’s shortly after 2:00.

Hopefully the others present that night will add to this report.

Hi All
Several members showed up at the alt. site last night. The skies were clear and the seeing was good but tech problems plagued the group all night. First Ann worked hard and got a great alignment on her mount only to have the focusing knobs on the scope break. Then I had my hand control break down for the second time in a month. Today I went to Cam Tec to see about a repair and of course it is going to take some time to get it repaired or replaced. So if the weather turns to rain and fog for the month blame me, as I have bought a new CG5 mount to jinx the weather and bend my mind to learn to polar align.

A couple of us are going out to the Alternate site tonight, so if any HAA members want to join us we would be happy to see you! We plan on getting there around 10pm. See you then!