Events & Outreach

HAA Spring Workshop

It’s that time again! The HAA will be hosting our spring workshop on Saturday April 20, from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. There will be a jam packed schedule for those interested in learning some key skills in the field of astronomy. As always, be sure to bring your questions and curiosity as there will be several knowledgeable amateur astronomers available to help you start out in astronomy or take it to the next level.

There will also be a number of door prizes available including a beginner’s telescope!

The schedule of speakers is as follows;

1:00 – How to use planispheres and Binoculars with Matthew Mannering
1:30 – Star hopping across the Sky with Steve Germann
2:00 – Intermission
2:30 – Seeing and Transparency with Leslie Webb
3:00 – Keeping an Observing Journal with Bernie Venasse

Admission is free so bring your family and friends!

Location:
Hamilton Spectator Building at 44 Frid St, Hamilton

When:
Saturday, April 20 2019 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

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.

April 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…

  • April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse Planning
  • March Astrophysics Group Meeting Summary
  • The Sky This Month for April 2019
  • For Dog Lovers!
  • The Best of Cartoon Corner
  • Upcoming Events
  • Plus More

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

Photo credit:This month’s Waning Gibbous Moon, by Sylvie Gionet

Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Telescope Clinic & Open House

Find yourself the proud owner of a shiny new telescope this holiday season and not sure how to use it? Or perhaps thinking of buying one but have some questions? You’re in luck! The Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will be hosting a Scope Clinic and Open House on Saturday February 2, 2019. Held in the auditorium of the Hamilton Spectator Building, 44 Frid St Hamilton, the doors are open to the public from 1:00 – 5:00PM.

A wide variety of astronomical equipment will also be on display, including telescopes, binoculars, astro-photographic equipment, charts and meteorites! Bring your own telescope to get tips and pointers on using it, or help fixing it if it is in need of repair.

Admission is free so bring your family and friends!

Location:
Hamilton Spectator Building
44 Frid St, Hamilton

When:
Saturday, February 2nd, 1:00 – 5:00pm

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

HAA Fall Workshop

Mark your calendars! Join the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers on November 16 at 6:00 PM for our Fall workshop.  As with our spring event, there will be several speakers discussing various aspects of astronomy and how to get the most out of this very rewarding hobby.  As always, be sure to bring your questions and curiosity as there will be several knowledgeable amateur astronomers available to help you start out in astronomy, take it to the next level, or perhaps give you some holiday gift ideas for the amateur astronomer in your life.

The schedule of speakers is as follows;

6:00 PM – Jim Wamsley,  Meteorite Display (this will be an on going display throughout the evening)
6:30 PM – Barry Shermann, Introduction to Telescope Types
7:00 PM – Bernie Venasse, Choosing the Right Star Atlas
7:30 PM – Kevin Salwach, Binoculars for Astronomy
8:00 PM – Sue MacLachlan, The Astronomers’ Library
8:30 PM – Matthew Mannering, Eyepieces and Accessories

Admission is free so bring your family and friends!

***Please note that this event will be a workshop only.  The scope clinic will held in January 2019.  Stay tuned for those details.

Continue Reading

View the Perseid Meteor Shower with the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers

Join Us – All Welcome for the Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Event this Saturday, August 11, 2017

Free Admission

Watch the Perseids meteor shower with the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers at the Binbrook Conservation Area from 8 to 11 p.m. on Saturday August 11. Admission is free so bring the whole family for a fun evening under the stars!

Continue Reading

HAA 25th Anniversary Celebration

Join us for a BBQ and Star Party to celebrate the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers 25th Anniversary. After dinner there will be a brief Night Sky Tour followed by an evening of star gazing. So come prepared!

For full details and to buy your tickets online…

 

Photo credit: Don Pullen

Spring Telescope Clinic

Join the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers this April 7 for our Spring telescope clinic! This year our format is a little different and we’ll have scope-stations setup each covering different aspects of telescopes. Move from station to stating to get a comprehensive understanding of many telescope types, eyepieces, and approaches to astrophotography. Bring your questions and curiosity as many amateur astronomers will be on hand to help you either get into astronomy or expand your existing experience.

  • 1:30pm, Barry Shermann, Introduction to Telescope Types
  • 2:00pm, Matthew Mannering, Introduction to Eyepieces
  • 2:30pm, Kevin Salwach, Binoculars Astronomy
  • 3:00pm, Sue McLachlan, The Beginning Astronomer’s Library
  • 3:30pm, Bernie Venasse, Approaches to Astrophotograhy

Admission is free so bring your family and friends!

Continue Reading

Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Scope Clinic and Open House

Thinking about purchasing a telescope for Christmas? Not sure what to get or not sure how to use the scope that you have? Grab it and come to the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Scope Clinic and Open House on Friday, November 17, 2017. Held in the auditorium of the Hamilton Spectator Building, 44 Frid St Hamilton, the doors are open to the public from 5:00 till 10:00PM.

Admission is free so bring your family and friends!

The HAA 2018 Celestial Events Calendar will be available at this event.

Continue Reading

View the 2017 Solar Eclipse with the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers

On Monday August 21, 2017 a partial solar eclipse will be visible from Hamilton and surrounding areas. This is a wonderful opportunity to see a rare and spectacular natural event. The eclipse will last over 2½ hours, changing in appearance throughout that time, with the greatest amount of the Sun being eclipsed at 2:31 pm. At that time about 76% of the Sun will be blocked.

Continue Reading

View the Perseid Meteor Shower with the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers

Join Us – All Welcome for the Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Event this August 12, 2017

Free Admission

Watch the Perseids meteor shower with the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers at the Binbrook Conservation Area from 8 to 11 p.m. on Saturday August 12. Admission is free so bring the whole family for a fun evening under the stars! There will also be a meteorite display, night sky tour and members will set-up their telescopes for observing celestial objects.

Continue Reading