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

In this issue you’ll find…

• The Sky This Month for May 2020
• HAA’s Library Corner
• Doing Spectra Under Difficult Suburban Conditions and What Needs to be Done
• NASA Night Sky Notes
• Eye Candy
• Plus More

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

Photo credit: Venus, the Pleiades, the Hyades, and the International Space Station, by Sue MacLachlan and Doug Turner.

John here once again, with the second installment of our weekly story time.

Today’s tale comes to us from Jo Ann Salci.  Jo Ann has been a wonderful addition to the HAA, involving herself in club activities and observing.  I was smart enough to invite her on to council a couple of years back and she is now our Education Director, offering wonderful programming to groups all around the city.  She has a real gift for dealing with the public, and has enhanced the children’s programming tremendously. She represents the club admirably and, well…basically makes us look good out there!

Her story today is something that, in one form or another, we can all relate to.  A big thank you to Jo Ann for sharing this with us. 

If you would like to share your story in an upcoming week please feel free to send it in to me (chair@amateurastronomy.org).  We would all love to hear from you.  For now, enjoy this week’s story, and please stay safe.

And now, here’s Jo Ann…  __________________________________________________________  

“As a young girl in a US elementary school in the 1960s, becoming an astronomer seemed like a remote option.  That didn’t stop me from loving the night sky and being in awe of its wonders.     My first memory is a striking one. Not only was it striking, but it was the beginning of my love of the night sky.  Somehow, my 9 year old cousin and I learned that our local science museum held Wednesday night observing sessions using the museum’s large telescope.  I don’t remember how large it really was, but they opened a large dome at the museum for this telescope.  The dome exists until this day at the top of the Buffalo Museum of Science, although I’m not sure if the telescope is still there.   So there we were, a pair of 9 year old girls, dragging our fathers (who took turns!!) to the Buffalo Museum of Science on Wednesday nights.  The first time I looked through the telescope and saw the moon, I never looked back.  That was the beginning of my love for astronomy and I had told my parents at that point that I wanted to be an astronomer.  The vivid detail of the moon’s surface was etched in my mind.  The light and dark areas, the craters, the peaks…seeing the moon with a telescope changed how I saw the moon and the night sky forever!  The moon literally “filled my eyes like a big pizza pie”, and I fell in love with Astronomy!!    –  The 8″ refractor at the Buffalo Museum of Science Flash forward to now…I consider myself a VERY amateur astronomer, yet I became one as I had wished for as a child.  I had taken an Astronomy 101 course at Mohawk College back in the 1990’s, and guess who the instructor was?  Our very own John Gauvreau!  So when I joined the HAA about 6 years ago, and saw a familiar face, I knew right away I was in the right place.  At that point in time I owned a cumbersome 4″ reflector telescope on a grumpy equatorial mount, purchased from a big box store.  I’ve since upgraded (as club members are great at helping me spend my money and they know who they are!).  I now own a 5″ Schmidt-Cassegrain and a 6″ Dobsonion.  I have also purchased a great set of binoculars, and have accumulated a number of filters and eyepieces. I have even enjoyed 2 Star Party outings…a definite Bucket-list item.

I credit those early days with bringing me to this point. Even though I consider myself a very amateur astronomer, I took on the role of HAA Education Director because I absolutely love sharing the joy of astronomy with others.  I just love when people look through a telescope for the first time at the moon or any other object in the sky.  Their reactions are similar to what mine was…the surprise, the awe, and the disbelief at how much there is to see on the moon and in the sky. It’s almost as though the moon is sending an invitation for us to see the rest of the night sky with that same sense of surprise and wonder. Children’s reactions are the best!  I had one child ask if I had put a picture of Saturn inside my telescope!  They couldn’t believe they were seeing the “real thing”.   Whenever you show someone an object through your telescope, try not to take it for granted.  You have no idea the impact that it will have on them.  Who knows?  You might be showing the moon, or planet, or … to a future Hamilton Amateur Astronomer!”       –   Jo Ann Salci

During these times, as we find ourselves distanced from family and friends, we have all had to adapt to a new way of life, with some strange new customs and unfamiliar activities.  And when there are so many more pressing and troubling matters that each of us has to deal with it seems trite to focus on a mere hobby.  And yet, my time at the telescope has always been a salve for me, lifting me from daily worries and giving me a few minutes or hours of respite.  This may be a strange, new world around us, but it remains a familiar and friendly sky above us.  Our old friends are still there, and still offer the same pleasures, peace and wonder that they always have.

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

In this issue you’ll find…

• The Sky This Month for April 2020
• When Things are Looking Down…Look Up!!
• Beta Testers Wanted
• NASA Night Sky Notes
• Eye Candy
• Plus More

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

Photo credit: The Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, by Bob Christmas. 

Today HAA is launching a new portal to help education, inform, and entertain the children in our lives as we adjust to the new normal of social distancing and remaining at home to flatten the curve.

To that end, we will be posting a daily astronomy or STEM based activity to help foster the learning process.

The new portal can be accessed here.

Unfortunately it has become clear that the only prudent action under the current circumstances is to cancel the March meeting of the HAA.  Do NOT go to the meeting location tomorrow (Friday March 13, 2020)

We know that it is disappointing, but considering the small, enclosed meeting space, demographic of our group and various other factors (as outlined by the Public Health Agency of Canada), cancelling is the only responsible course of action.  In the end, it is a small sacrifice to make in order to ensure the safety and well being of our fellow members and the community at large.

The status of the April meeting will be determined at a later date.

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

In this issue you’ll find…

• February Astrophysics Group Meeting Summary
• The Sky This Month for March 2020
• BASEF Honours Michael Jefferson
• NASA Night Sky Notes
• Upcoming McCallion Planetarium Shows
• Upcoming Events
• Plus More

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

Photo credit: Orion’s Sword and Nebula, by John Gauvreau

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

In this issue you’ll find…

• The Sky This Month for February 2020
• NASA Night Sky Notes
• Eye Candy
• The Summer “Impromptu” Star Party
• Upcoming McCallion Planetarium Shows
• Upcoming Events
• Plus More

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

Photo credit: The stars of Orion, by Sylvie Gionet

Join us on February 14^th 2020 at 7:30pm – Admission is free and everyone is welcome!

Did you know that about 85% of the stars in the sky belong to multiple-star systems?

This month, our very own Bernie Venasse presents an introduction to DOUBLE STARS with emphasis on how to observe, measure and record your targets. Join him for an informative discussion about what you need to know to enjoy double-star observing.

Bernie Venasse is a former Hamilton Amateur Astronomers chairman and has been an active astronomer since the days of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. He is an active member of the British Astronomical Association, the Astronomical League, AAVSO, ALPO, and RASC.

He has received various awards from the Astronomical League including the Binocular Messier Award, Lunar Program Award, Outreach Award, Comet Observers’ Award, and three challenging Double Star Program Awards. Bernie has been awarded the prestigious Master Observer Award from the Astronomical League.

Bernie is a frequent user of the Binbrook Conservation Area site and whether he is using a solar scope, a refractor, or reflector there, on a street corner, or in a neighbourhood park, Bernie is always willing to give his time to assist a fellow astronomer.

Join us on January 10^th 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”