Join the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers at T.B. McQuesten Park this April 16th for a public stargazing night. Telescopes will be setup and club members will be available to answer astro-questions. Public stargazing nights are a great way to look at the universe in a friendly environment; bring yourself, your family and friends!
T.B.McQuesten Park
1199 Upper Wentworth St, Hamilton
7:30 – 11:00pm
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Subject to weather conditions.
General Meeting for April 15, 2016 @ 7:30pm
In the past few months, the discovery of Gravity Waves has made headlines. From the inordinate amount of coverage this discovery has generated in the popular press, it must be something rather significant. Why so much hype? What are Gravity Waves? How were they detected? What does it means to Science? What does it mean to us? Long time HAA member Don Pullen will attempt to break down this revelation in terms that we can all understand.
The April issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available.
In this issue you’ll find…
Download your copy from the newsletters section.
Photo credit: The November 2014 HAA Telescope Clinic, by John Gauvreau.
Come join the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers for a night under the stars. This March 19th we will be holding a public stargazing night at the Niagara Gateway Tourism Centre between 7:30 – 11:00pm. Our friendly club members will have telescopes setup where you can ask questions and gaze upon celestial objects of interest; The Moon, Jupiter, Orion constellation, etc.
Niagara Gateway Tourism Centre
424 South Service Rd., Grimsby
7:30 – 11:00pm
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Subject to weather conditions.
General Meeting for March 11, 2016 @ 7:30pm
Long ago Vincent van Gogh said, “The lamps are burning and the starry sky is over it all.” How times have changed with the emergence of light pollution. Today bright city lights are burning all over the evening sky, outshining the greatest night show on earth to the detriment of future generations. If the starlight storytellers are to disclose the tale of the universe, then the night needs to stay alive. This lecture presentation will examine light pollution from its onset; discuss its consequences, and then outline the measures one can take to curb its effects.
The March issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available.
In this issue you’ll find…
Download your copy from the newsletters section.
Photo credit: The Moon, by Peter Wolsley
The February issue of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Event Horizon newsletter is now available.
In this issue you’ll find…
Download your copy from the newsletters section.
Photo credit: Binbrook Conservation Area & Lake Niapenco, by Kevin Salwach
General Meeting for February 12, 2016 @ 7:30pm
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is a new and powerful radio telescope that has recently completed construction on a high plateau in northern Chile. The first science results from ALMA include a stunning array of images of astronomical sources ranging from very young stars that are still in the process of forming to galaxies at the limits of the visible universe. Professor Christine Wilson has been involved with ALMA in a variety of roles throughout its design and construction and will give an overview of the telescope itself as well as some of its most exciting science.
General Meeting for January 15, 2016 @ 7:30pm
As a reporter with CHCH-tv for many years, Karen Cumming was used to telling other people’s stories. Turns out she has a pretty interesting one of her own to tell now. In February of last year, Karen was chosen as one of 100 people from around the world who are moving on to the final round of astronaut selection in the Mars One Mission. They’re known as “The Mars 100”. Their goal?
To colonize Mars. Oh, and did we mention? It’s a one way trip. To say the whole experience has been surreal would be an understatement. Join Karen on January 15th as she tells us about her own unique space story.
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1960’s Star Trek could only imagine the power we wield today with our smart phones and the amount of information available at our fingertips. I’m never far from my phone, dawning it from my pocket whenever I need a bit of information or to access some tool for a task at hand. Somewhat akin to Mr. Spock’s tricorder, using astronomy apps I can point my phone at the cosmos and see what star is in view, when the International Space Station will cross the sky or predict upcoming aurora. Here is a list of some of the apps I use and while I’ll be focusing on iOS apps, many of these or similar are also available for Android and other platforms.
Be it under a night sky or riding the train home from work, Aurora Forecast provides up-coming aurora predictions and includes a 3D view of the Earth showing exactly where the aurora is presently visible. Added details such as solar wind speed and density help provide a complete picture which can be fascinating on its own even if the aurora is not visible.
