Following each month’s club meeting, Dr. Michael Burns prepares a PDF of the latest Club meeting presentation.
Michael spends extra time curating daily links to compelling astronomical stories—each one connected to what’s visible in the night sky that specific day of the month.
Thanks for all your work, Michael.
Explore each day’s link to discover the science, history, and wonder behind what you’re seeing overhead.
Click HERE to view.
Tom Kimber – News
A double star known as V Sagittae in the constellation Sagitta has been identified as a candidate to trigger a Type Ia supernova that could be as bright as the moon.
This constellation is situated between the constellations Cygnus and Aquila. Read this story by Robert Lea published in SPACE.com to find out more.
Tom Kimber – News
Sixteen years back, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen joined the elite company of astronauts training for a Moon mission. Find out what it has been like to train for this once-in-a-life-time Moon mission by reading this story by science journalist Nicole Mortillaro published in CBC News.
Tom Kimber – News
Paul Bartlett took some photos of celestial objects with his S50 SEESTAR. He then processed the photos with Siril, GraXpert, GIMP and StarNet++ (all free programs).
And for members interested in the other equipment that you might check out for borrowing, see this list HERE. If you are a member and interested in a loan of any equipment in the above list, reach Paul Bartlett at this email address: 1948paul.bartlett@gmail.com
Tom Kimber – News
Keep looking up!
Perched on a high, flat-topped mountain in Chile, the Vera Rubin Observatory has released its first images. See this link to the Vera C Rubin website.
Tom Kimber – News
Do you know the ” Curse of Iron” with respect to a star?
Club member Patrick Hayes delivered a fascinating presentation on the life cycle of a star. His was the first presentation of the night at the SAG Star Party held at the Stratford Museum Friday, March 21. This was followed by Paul Bartlett’s presentation on the 15 Guide Stars of the Night Sky throughout the Seasons. Dr. Michael Burn’s wrapped up with a talk where he answered questions about the Universe.
(15 GUIDE STARS OF THE NIGHT SKY THROUGH THE SEASONS AND THE WINTER HEXEGON AND SUMMER TRIANGLE)
Fusing atoms is what generates energy for a star. With each fusion process beginning with hydrogen fusing into helium, energy is released.
This process continues in a star with each new fusion producing a new atom reflected in the periodic table. This fusion continues until two silicon atoms fuse together into an iron atom.
As Patrick explains, “Iron doesn’t produce energy when it fuses, it absorbs energy”.
Do you know what comes next? Click HERE to view the presentation (A Star is Born and Then…)
Following the talks, attendees went outside the museum where two SeeStar S50 telescopes were operated to view the night sky.
Many thanks to Patrick and to presenters Paul Bartlett and Michael Burns as well. And to Patrick and to Ken Roberts for operating the telescopes.
Megan Patterson of the Stratford Museum was very pleased with the night. The museum donated $150 to the Stratford Astronomy Group.
Tom Kimber – News
The night sky in the Stratford area was crystal clear last night and early Friday morning and all eyes were turned toward the eclipsing Moon.
Ken Roberts took this photo as the Moon was exiting its total phase in the early hours Friday, March 14. He used the Seestar Z50 astrophotography Smart scope (for background on this scope and another ZWO smart telescope, click HERE).
As Ken points out, locating the Moon is not always as easy to”zero in on” as one might think. He says, “Upon starting, the S50 could not “goto” the Moon.
I asked it to goto another object (M100).
Then it knew its orientation and could goto moon”.
We will have some Z50 smart telescopes on display at the Friday, March 21 Star Viewing Party. Come. out and see for yourself.
Tom Kimber – News
Two Canadian companies play important roles in the recent Firefly Aerospace moon lander mission. One, Integrity Testing Laboratory Inc., a manufacturer of moon dust repellent and the other, NGC Aerospace based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, involved in the lander’s moon making system. Click on the above links to read their stories.
Tom Kimber – News
Over the past two years, at Club Meetings, when time permitted, Dr. Michael Burns has delivered on-going talks of the Big Bang based on the physical theory of the universe expanding from an initial high density and temperature state. Members in attendance at any of these talks have been mesmerized by the presentations.
He plans to continue. For those needing a refresher (me for sure), here is a link to the Big Bang Talks Summary to-date.
Updated December 7, 2024
And for those curious about Space-time and how best to understand it and relativity, see this article by Sean Caroll appearing in Quanta Magazine. To read. the story, click HERE
Tom Kimber – News
Following in the path of the SeeStar S50 Smart Telescope is an even smaller ZWO product, the SeeStar S30 Smart Telescope.
This “little brother” telescope comes equipment with similar high quality optics, GoTo functionality and internal technology within a highly affordable, miniature build.
For a comparison of the two smart telescopes, you can view this video by clicking HERE
You can view the discussion published in March about the SeeStar S50 by clicking HERE.
Tom Kimber – News
