Category: Universe Today
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CANCELLED! 2026 Awards Dinner
Jun 10 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. EDT The Mandarin at The Centre on Barton 1223 Barton St E Hamilton ON L8H 2V4 Click For tickets Join us for the 2026 Awards Dinner 🌌, an evening to recognize the volunteers, observers, and educators who keep astronomy thriving at RASC Hamilton Centre. Your registration helps support…
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Henry Norris Russell – Architect of Modern Stellar Astronomy
Henry Norris Russell was a trailblazing American astronomer who transformed our understanding of stars and their evolution. Known for his co-development of the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram, Russell’s contributions to stellar classification, chemical composition, and astrophysics laid the groundwork for modern stellar astronomy. His ability to synthesize observational data with theoretical models made him one of…
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The Cosmic Morse Code Mystery
Picture this: you’re wandering through a forest and stumble upon a blinking light. At first it seems random, but then you notice it’s flashing the same pattern, again and again. That’s kind of what happened to astronomers, except they weren’t in a forest—they were gazing into space. Instead of a flashlight, it was a radio…
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April 3 Meeting – The Atacama Backyard Observatory by Malcom Park
Malcolm will talk about different aspects of the experience of having an observatory in the pristine skies of Chile’s Atacama Desert. Included will be pictures taken from one of the best viewing areas on Earth. Malcolm Park is President of the RASC, Kingston Centre. Malcolm is a past-president of the North York Astronomical Association (NYAA)…
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Antonia Maury – Pioneering Stellar Classification
Antonia Maury was a trailblazing American astronomer whose meticulous work on stellar classification laid the groundwork for modern astrophysics. Her innovative approach to analyzing stellar spectra revealed patterns and relationships that advanced the understanding of stars’ physical properties. Despite facing challenges in gaining recognition for her work during her lifetime, Maury’s contributions remain fundamental to…
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Keep Watch! The Rare “Blaze Star” Could Light Up Our Skies This Week
• A star explosion may be visible to the naked eye! • Happens only once every 80 years • Look toward the constellation Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown) • Go outside at night and keep watching the sky! Something incredible might happen this week, and you won’t want to miss it. Astronomers around the world…
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Guide to the Lyrid Meteor Shower – April 2025 in Southern Ontario
April 2025 brings an exciting celestial event for skywatchers in Hamilton and the rest of Southern Ontario: the Lyrid meteor shower. Known for its fast, bright meteors, the Lyrids are one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, dating back over 2,500 years. Here’s how to catch this spectacular display. Lyrid Meteor Shower Overview Moon Conditions…
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The Ancient Roots of Astronomy: Ancient Egypt’s Contributions to Modern-Day Astronomy
Exploring the history of astronomy before 1000 AD and how ancient Egypt’s celestial advancements shaped our understanding of the universe. Astronomy, the oldest of the natural sciences, has captivated humanity since our ancestors first gazed at the stars. Its history spans thousands of years, with ancient civilizations contributing significantly to the foundations of modern-day astronomy.…
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Percival Lowell – The Visionary of Planetary Exploration
Percival Lowell was an American astronomer, writer, and diplomat whose passion for the exploration of the solar system sparked significant advancements in planetary science. Best known for his work on Mars and his prediction of a ninth planet, Lowell’s efforts laid the groundwork for the discovery of Pluto. Though some of his ideas were controversial,…
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Revolutionizing Astronomy: The Shift and Stack Method in Moon Discovery Around Saturn and Beyond
Recent advancements in astronomical techniques have led to the discovery of numerous small moons around Saturn, propelling it ahead of Jupiter in the count of natural satellites. This surge in detections is largely attributed to the innovative shift and stack method. While many of us are familiar with traditional image stacking, the shift and stack technique offers…
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Ancient Astronomy: Central and South America’s Stellar Legacy
The stars have always been a source of wonder, guiding human civilizations in their understanding of time, space, and life itself. Before the year 1000 AD, ancient astronomers across Central and South America developed sophisticated systems of celestial observation, blending science, mythology, and practical applications. Their contributions significantly influenced both their own societies and modern…