March 2009 |
| ATTENDANCE |
M. Arsenault; D. Beaudin; A. Bordage; N. Comeau; A. Davis; D. Driscoll; J. Dunlap; A. George; M. Giberson; P. Jensen; G Jones;
C. MacAfee; J. MacDonald; K. Melville; W. Slaney; D. Thorn; S. Thorn; S. Tompkins; C. Trott
|
| |
| WHAT'S UP |
Peter reviewed what could be seen in the sky for this month. Comet Lulin is in Leo & will be next to the Eskimo Nebula NGC 2392 Mar. 14; Mercury seen low in the morning; Venus is in inferior conjunction Mar.27; Can see Jupiter ~30min. before dawn Mar.22-24; Middle of March – zodiacal light visible, best around the 20th.
|
| |
| ASTRONOMY NEWS |
Peter also reviewed what’s new this month so far in the world of astronomy. Earth Hour is Mar. 28 starting at 8:30pm. There are > 538 cities involved & 75 countries; “100 hrs. of Astronomy” as part of IYA, begins April 2, through to the 5th – the group discussed what we could do. Peter mentioned the near miss this week – Mar. 3, by a big asteroid designated 2009 DD45 – size of a 10 storey bldg. - which zoomed by the Earth at a distance of 72,000 km – came between us & the moon. (at approx. twice the distance of Earth orbiting satellites). Kepler was launched Mar. 6 – it is a space telescope designed to look for Earth-sized planets.
|
| |
| OBSERVING |
Adrien continues to get out early before work to get more objects on his “Explore the Universe” certificate - got a few craters on the moon. Adrien also talked about the Science East Planetarium that was at Harbourview & Seawood schools. Dave D. observed some open clusters around Canis Major M48 with a planetary nebula. The general consensus was that comet Lulin was very difficult to see. Marc got Lulin Feb.25, saw Jupiter in the morning.
|
| |
| SHOW AND TELL |
Peter showed a new purchase & gave the group during the break to think of what it could be – a Polar Scope Illuminator. Count on Pete to find that. Peter also showed a new book “Pluto Files” by Neil Degrasse Tyson. Adrien showed a few astrophotos taken by Tim Doucette that he donated for us to display at the library or elsewhere. June brought a few new books.
|
| |
| CANADIAN WOMEN ASTRONOMERS |
June told the group about some of the famous Canadian female astronomers from the mid 1800’s to today. The most famous: Alice Vibert-Douglas – in the early-late 1900’s, taught at Queen’s U., died in 1988; Helen Sawyer-Hogg, the most honoured & recognized at the time, wrote a history of astronomy that was published by RASC; Anne Underwood, a feisty maverick, who worked for NASA for 15 yrs.; Wendy Freedman, much honoured & recognized, worked to discover the “Hubble Constant”, now leading a team to build the largest telescope in the world – the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) which will be sued to search for Earth-sized planets; Mary Lou Whitehorne, from N.S., soon to be President of RASC & has devoted her life to public outreach & education, won a prestigious award from the ASP for her work in education.
|
| |
| DVD LECTURE SERIES |
Intro (Filippenko) - series of 90 half hour lectures bought by the club: Lecture 2 - Rainbows & Other Sky Delights
|
| BUSINESS |
Nothing changed from last month – Club scope – Ed Woods; PST – Curt/Adrien; book “the Cosmic Perspective” – Ed Kaine; DVD – “Destiny in Space” – Roy Hess; book “Backyard Astronomer’s Guide” - ?; book on “Mars” – Shawn. June told the group that the museum wanted to get together with the members involved around the middle of March to meet at the museum in order to be shown how to take apart & put together the display case & to discuss where & what is going to be displayed & hung about the museum.
|