Whether you consider it the largest resident of the asteroid belt, or the smallest dwarf planet in the solar system; either credential should merit Ceres a look while it makes its closest pass to Earth since 1857. It won’t be this close again until 4164.
The next couple of nights are particularly ideal because:
a) it just might be clear out, and
b) Ceres will be less than a degree from the close double star 54 Leonis – meaning that if you can find the double, the aster-dwarf-planetoid should be in the same FOV of a low-power eyepiece.
The components of 54 Leonis are mag. 4.5 and 6.3, and Ceres will be about mag. 7.
You can use this chart to locate it, or reference John Gauvreau’s accurate forecast in February’s Event Horizon.

Glenn

I stacked and processed the sequences of images I took of Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) on February 23, 2009, when it was beside Saturn. Here are a couple of results:

Saturn and Comet Lulin, by Bob Christmas

Larger versions are now in my HAA Gallery:
HERE and HERE.

Bob Christmas

Were it not for a large system below Lake Erie doing some cross-border hopping, last night would have been a lot more fruitful for this backyard observer than it was.
I’d spent the afternoon making up a hit list of targets but ended up chasing sucker holes instead. But the evening wasn’t a total bust as Anthony Tekatch dropped by to join Gail and I, and we had nice views of the Moon and Venus, both showing a beautiful crescent phase. Comet Lulin, in the 6″ dob was a small grainy fuzz spot, and Saturn was a small olive on a toothpick – Martini’s anyone!
However, I was successful in one quest, and that was to see the fifth, “E”, star in Orion’s Trapezium. This we did with the 12″ dob. The seeing was somewhat turbulent but, surprisingly, it could still be seen even when a cloud passed over (under?) the nebula. The E star is mag. 10.3 and nestled between A & B which are the two stars in the Trapezium that are closest to each other. Apparently, a sixth star, “F” can also be had on a good night, but F is fairly tight to the C star and would need a fair bit of magnification in steady air to split the two.
If you want more information on the Trapezium, the following link will take you to an excellent web page on the subject:
http://www.astropix.com/HTML/B_WINTER/TRAPEZ.HTM
So, the next time you have the Great Orion Nebula in your sights, see if you can go a little deeper and pick up some bonus stars.

Glenn

Everyone is invited to the Spectator Auditorium on April 3rd for the monthly meeting of the
Hamilton Amateur Astronomers club. Our distinguished list of speakers and demonstrations is sure to please.

This month following John Gauvreau’s interesting and informative preview of what’s in the sky in April,
Bob MacDonald of CBC Radio’s “Quirks and Quarks” will be addressing the club on topics astronomical, in a way that only he can.

It’s sure to be an enjoyable evening for everyone.

After the meeting, there will be observing of Saturn in the parking lot if the sky is clear enough.

The meeting gets underway at 7:30 PM and will be finished before 10 PM, but the astronomy outside may
last a good deal longer.

Here’s a map of the location:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.259999,-79.892535&spn=0.001344,0.003001&t=h&z=19

Members of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will be sharing an evening of Astronomy, telescope equipment demonstrations, and viewing of Jupiter, the Moon, and other celestial objects. The Brantford tourism center also has a fine auditorium and there will be several informative talks during the evening.

We will be setting up October 24th, rain or shine, at 7 PM, and will remain until about 11 PM. Note that daytime clouds often dissipate as evening approaches, so plan to come regardless.

Here’s a map of the location:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.167869,-80.243124&spn=0.001346,0.003001&t=h&z=19

Come early to see what it takes to assemble and set up a telescope, or come on time and get a good look through those same telescopes. Either way, enjoy the talks, indoor demonstrations, and handouts.

If you have a telescope, bring it along: we can help set it up and point it at Jupiter for you.
If you have binoculars, by all means bring them too. Binoculars are an excellent and easy to use way to get more from the sky.

As part of the International Year of Astronomy, we will also have some handouts to interest
children and adults.

Members of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will be sharing an evening of Astronomy, telescope equipment demonstrations, and especially viewing of the year’s most attractive Meteor Shower, the Perseids.

Each year around August 11, there’s a noteworthy increase in meteors coming from the direction of the constellation Perseus. Since August is usually warm and fair, it’s an ideal time to bring an air mattress,
and perhaps a warm blanket, and just stare at the sky, watching for the big ones.

We are fortunate to be able to invite the public to the Binbrook Conservation Area, after normal hours, for this ever-popular free event. Starting at about 8 PM, we will assemble on the hill by the pavillion. After some short talks about what’s in the sky that night, and how best to watch for meteors, the sky will darken and the show will begin.

Because the park is open for business beforehand, you will have to come at 8 PM, on August 11, with
a rain/cloud date of August 12, or, if you have already paid to be there for the day, simply remain, and come to the pavillion. We will let you out at 11 PM when the evening winds down.

Here’s a map of the location:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.100137,-79.835914&spn=0.001347,0.003001&t=h&z=19

Although meteor showers are not much for Telescope viewing… (in fact, you will notice that most meteors seem to shoot across the sky while you are looking the other way in a telescope), you can still bring
binoculars for a peek at the sky while waiting for the meteors to show.
Binoculars are an excellent and easy to use way to get more from the sky.

As part of the International Year of Astronomy, we will also have some handouts to interest
children and adults.

Members of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will be sharing an evening of Astronomy, telescope equipment demonstrations, Solar Observing during the afternoon, and viewing of Saturn, the Moon, and other celestial objects. Astronomy Day is scheduled to coincide with the best time to observe the Moon.

Solar observing from 2-4 PM, at Van Wagners Beach Park,
(see map for the afternoon here)
http://www.amateurastronomy.org/sites/confedpark/confedpark.jpg

will be followed with more activities in the evening, at a different park.
We will be setting up on the lawn at Bayfront Park, (Known to Google as Harbourfront Park), on May 2nd, with a rain/cloud date of May 3rd, at 8 PM, and will remain until about 11 PM.

Check back here on May 1st to see which date has been chosen. Note that daytime clouds often dissipate as evening approaches, so we will be checking the weather predictions carefully. If it rains, that’s a different story.

The park is at the junction of Bay St and Harbourfront Dr (near Strachan St E).

Here’s a map of the location:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=43.269136,-79.869334&spn=0.001318,0.003001&z=19

Come early to see what it takes to assemble and set up a telescope, or come on time and get a good look through those same telescopes.

If you have a telescope, bring it along: we can help set it up and point it at Saturn for you.
If you have binoculars, by all means bring them too. Binoculars are an excellent and easy to use way to get more from the sky.

As part of the International Year of Astronomy, we will also have some handouts to interest
children and adults.

Members of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will be sharing an evening of Astronomy, telescope equipment demonstrations, and viewing of Jupiter, the Moon, and other celestial objects.

The Burlington Burloak Park has an excellent dark southern horizon, and not too much interference from the city lights, so it’s sure to be an enjoyable evening with interesting things to see.

We will be setting up in Burlington on October 3rd, with a rain/cloud date of October 4th, at 8 PM, and will remain until about 11 PM. Check back here on September 25th to see which date has been chosen. Note that daytime clouds often dissipate as evening approaches, so we will be checking the weather predictions carefully.

Here’s a map of the location:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.367916,-79.727719&spn=0.002683,0.006003&t=h&z=18

Come early to see what it takes to assemble and set up a telescope, or come on time and get a good look through those same telescopes.

If you have a telescope, bring it along: we can help set it up and point it at Saturn for you.
If you have binoculars, by all means bring them too. Binoculars are an excellent and easy to use way to get more from the sky.

As part of the International Year of Astronomy, we will also have some handouts to interest
children and adults.

I hope you had a chance to see the conjunction of Venus & the Moon tonight. It was spectacular! I snapped a quick photo hoping to record this beautiful pairing but my photo doesn’t even begin to do it justice.

Venus & The Moon

A lovely view through a scope! Ann’s drawing is impressive for its accuracy; check how the stars match up perfectly to Bob’s photo. My photo, taken a little after 3am, is nowhere near the quality of Bob’s, but I include it here so you can compare the comet’s change in position over the 4 hours between Bob’s photo and mine. Visually, I agree with Ann; the comet definitely appeared elongated, and gave the impression that you were seeing the tail. What a treat we had tonight!

Saturn and Comet Lulin