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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for RASC Hamilton
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18736-1733529600-1733529600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mars Enters Retrograde
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, December 7\, Mars’ easterly orbital motion through the stars of Cancer will slow to a stop in order for it to begin a westerly retrograde loop that will last through its mid-January opposition and into late February. Tonight the bright\, reddish dot of Mars will be positioned in the eastern evening sky in Cancer\, just above the large Beehive Cluster and below the bright “twin” stars of Gemini\, Castor and Pollux. Over the coming weeks\, you can watch Mars travel upwards (celestial west) towards those stars. Retrograde loops occur when Earth\, on a faster orbit closer to the sun\, passes more distant solar system objects “on the inside track”\, making them appear to move backwards across the stars for a while. Mars’ loop will cover almost two fist widths\, or 19 degrees of the celestial sphere.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mars-enters-retrograde/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18737-1733529600-1733529600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Jupiter at Opposition
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, December 7\, Jupiter will reach opposition while it gleams brightly between the horns of Taurus and a palm’s width to the left (or 7.5 degrees to the celestial northeast) of the bright star Aldebaran. At opposition\, planets rise in the east at sunset and cross the sky all night long before setting in the west at sunrise. Jupiter will be at its minimum distance from Earth for this year of 380.1 million miles (611.8 million km) or 34 light-minutes\, boosting its brilliance to magnitude -2.8. Viewed in a telescope\, the planet will display a generous\, 48.2 arc-seconds-wide disk striped with brown equatorial bands. Around opposition\, Jupiter and its four large Galilean satellites frequently eclipse and occult one another\, and cast their round\, black shadows on the planet – singly and in pairs. The Great Red Spot will cross the planet’s disk for a few hours on every second or third night.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/jupiter-at-opposition/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18738-1733529600-1733529600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Moves Past Saturn
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday evening\, December 7 in the Americas\, the waxing crescent moon will shine a palm’s width to the lower right (or celestial west) of Saturn. The pair will be due south after dusk and then set in the west around 11 p.m. local time. On Sunday night\, the half-illuminated first quarter moon will hop east to shine to Saturn’s upper left. In the interim\, observers located in a zone extending from eastern Indonesia and the Philippines\, and northeast across most of Japan to the Aleutian Islands can see the moon occult Saturn on Sunday evening. Use an app like Starry Night or Sky Safari to look up the occultation timings for a specific location.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-moves-past-saturn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241208T152700
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241208T152700
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18739-1733671620-1733671620@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete the first quarter of its 29.53-day trip around Earth on Sunday\, December 8 at 10:27 a.m. EST\, 7:27 a.m. PST\, and 15:27 GMT. At first quarter\, the moon’s 90-degree angle from the sun causes us to see it half-illuminated on its eastern side. First quarter moons always rise around mid-day and set around midnight\, so they are also visible in the afternoon daytime sky. The evenings surrounding first quarter are the best ones for seeing the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight\, especially along the terminator\, the pole-to-pole boundary that separates the moon’s lit and dark hemispheres.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/first-quarter-moon/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241210T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241210T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18740-1733788800-1733788800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mare Imbrium’s Golden Handle
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday night\, December 10\, the terminator on the waxing gibbous moon will cross Sinus Iridum\, the Bay of Rainbows. The circular 155 mile (249 km) diameter feature is a large impact crater that was flooded by the same basalts that filled the much larger Mare Imbrium to its east – forming a round bay encircled on the north and west by the prominent Montes Jura mountain range. The “Golden Handle” effect\, produced when sunlight strikes the mountain peaks while the floor of the bay remains dark\, will appear for observers in the Americas. With each passing hour\, more of the mountains will become illuminated\, brightening the handle.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mare-imbriums-golden-handle/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241212T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241212T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18741-1733961600-1733961600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Points to Uranus
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday night\, December 12\, the bright\, nearly full moon will shine near the planet Uranus. Use binoculars (orange circle) to look for the medium-bright star Botein (Delta Arietis) shining below the moon. If you place Botein just at the upper edge of the binoculars’ field of view\, Uranus will appear as a dull\, blue-green “star” near the bottom of the field of view. Uranus is far easier to see without a bright moon nearby\, so take note of Botein’s location with respect to the nearby bright Pleiades star cluster and return to Uranus on another night. In a dark sky\, you can see the magnitude 5.7 planet without optical aid. A backyard telescope will reveal its tiny disk.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-points-to-uranus/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18742-1734048000-1734048000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Crosses the Pleiades
DESCRIPTION:On Friday evening\, December 13\, the orbital motion of the bright\, nearly full moon will carry it through the Pleiades star cluster (aka Messier 45\, Subaru\, and the Seven Sisters) for some parts of the world. While bright moonlight overwhelms fainter objects\, viewing the encounter during evening twilight\, especially through binoculars\, will make a pretty\, and fascinating\, sight. Skywatchers in Europe and Africa will see the moon among the Pleiades’ scattered stars. Observers in Asia and the Americas will have to settle for seeing the moon shining to their upper right (or celestial west) and lower left (or celestial east)\, respectively.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-crosses-the-pleiades/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18743-1734048000-1734048000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Geminids Meteor Shower Peak
DESCRIPTION:The Geminids\, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year\, is active from November 19 to December 24 annually while Earth passes through the cloud of sand-sized grains dropped by the asteroid designated 3200 Phaethon. The number of Geminids meteors will gradually ramp up to a peak in the wee hours of Saturday morning\, December 15\, and then decline rapidly on the following nights. Geminids meteors are often bright\, intensely colored\, and slower-moving than average. In the Americas\, expect to see a good number of Geminids meteors beginning after dark on Friday evening and upwards of 120 meteors per hour around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday – the time when the sky overhead will be pointing toward the densest part of the debris field. True Geminids will appear to streak away from a position near Gemini’s bright stars Castor and Pollux\, but the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky\, so just keep looking up and around. Unfortunately\, this year’s shower will be hampered by bright moonlight. Stand where the moon is blocked from view or head outside around 4 a.m. local time\, when the moon will be sinking out of sight.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/geminids-meteor-shower-peak/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241214T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241214T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18744-1734134400-1734134400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Joins Jupiter
DESCRIPTION:Shortly after the very bright moon clears the rooftops in the east after dusk on Saturday\, December 14\, the brilliant planet Jupiter will rise to join it. The duo will make a lovely photo opportunity when composed with some nice foreground scenery. As the moon and Jupiter climb the eastern sky\, the bright winter stars will surround them\, including yellowish Capella on their upper left and reddish Aldebaran to their right\, both part of the huge winter hexagon asterism. The bright pair will culminate due south towards midnight and set in the west before dawn. By then the diurnal rotation of the sky will lift the moon\, now full\, above Jupiter.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-joins-jupiter/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241215T090200
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241215T090200
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18745-1734253320-1734253320@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Full Oak Moon
DESCRIPTION:The December full moon will occur at 4:02 a.m. EST\, 1:02 a.m. PST\, or 09:02 GMT on Sunday\, December 15. Traditionally known as the Oak Moon\, Cold Moon\, and Long Nights Moon\, it always shines in or near the stars of Taurus and Gemini. The Ojibwe of the Great Lakes region call the December full moon Manidoo Giizisoons\, the “Little Spirit Moon”. For them it is a time of purification and of healing of all Creation. Since it’s opposite the sun on this day of the lunar month\, the moon is fully illuminated and rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. Full moons during the winter months reach as high in the sky at midnight as the summer noonday sun\, and cast similar shadows.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/full-oak-moon/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241216T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241216T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172130Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172130Z
UID:18746-1734307200-1734307200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon between the Twins
DESCRIPTION:Look low in the eastern sky after dusk on Monday\, December 16 to see the bright\, waning gibbous moon gleaming just to the right (or celestial southwest) of Gemini’s brightest stars. Golden Pollux and the brighter\, whiter double star Castor above it should still be visible against the moon’s glare. Binoculars (orange circle) will reveal a handful of smaller stars immediately to the left of the moon\, marking where the brothers are grasping hands. Bright\, reddish Mars will shine off to their lower left. As the night wears on\, the moon’s orbital motion will carry it closer to Pollux while the diurnal rotation of the sky shifts the constellation to the moon’s right (or celestial northwest) and puts Mars above them all.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-between-the-twins/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241217T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241217T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18747-1734393600-1734393600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Moves toward Mars
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday evening\, December 17\, the bright\, 90%-illuminated moon will shine a short distance above (or celestial WNW of) the prominent reddish dot of Mars. The moon and the reddish planet will be close enough to share the view in binoculars\, which will also show the widely scattered stars of the Beehive Cluster below Mars. As they cross the sky together all night long\, the moon will move closer to Mars\, and will actually occult the planet for observers located at far northern latitudes. In the Americas\, the moon will be positioned very closely above the planet as they sink into the west around sunrise on Wednesday morning.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-moves-toward-mars/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241218T234700
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241218T234700
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18748-1734565620-1734565620@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Watch Algol Brighten
DESCRIPTION:The star Algol in the constellation of Perseus represents the glowing eye of Medusa from Greek mythology. Also designated Beta Persei\, it is among the most accessible variable stars for skywatchers. During a ten-hour period that repeats like clockwork every 2 days\, 20 hours\, and 49 minutes\, Algol dims noticeably and re-brightens by about a third when a fainter companion star with an orbit nearly edge-on to Earth crosses in front of its much brighter primary\, reducing the total light output we perceive. Algol normally shines at magnitude 2.1\, similar to the nearby star Almach (aka Gamma Andromedae). But while fully dimmed\, Algol’s brightness of magnitude 3.4 is almost identical to Rho Persei (or Gorgonea Tertia or ρ Per)\, the star sitting just two finger widths to Algol’s lower right (or 2.25 degrees to the celestial south). On Wednesday evening\, December 18 at 6:47 p.m. EST or 23:47 GMT\, Algol will be at its minimum brightness while it shines about two thirds of the way up the eastern sky\, above and between the bright star Capella and Jupiter. Five hours later Algol will return to full intensity while it shines high in the western sky below Capella and Jupiter.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/watch-algol-brighten/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241219T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241219T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18749-1734566400-1734566400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Stellar Halo around Mirfak
DESCRIPTION:On mid-December evenings the constellation of Perseus is climbing the northeastern sky. Just for 2024\, bright Jupiter will also be gleaming to the lower right of Perseus. The outer rim of our Milky Way galaxy runs through Perseus’ stars\, filling its territory with rich star clusters. The largest of those surrounds his brightest star\, Mirfak\, or Alpha Persei. That elderly yellow supergiant star has evolved out of its blue phase and is now fusing helium into carbon and oxygen in its core. Melotte 20\, also known as the Alpha Persei Moving Group and the Perseus OB3 Association\, is a collection of 100 or so young\, massive\, hot B- and A-class stars sprinkled over several finger widths (or 3 degrees) of the sky around Mirfak. The cluster can be seen with unaided eyes\, but it’s especially dazzling in binoculars (orange circle). Its stars are approximately 600 light years from the sun and are moving as a group – Mirfak along with them.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/stellar-halo-around-mirfak/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241220T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241220T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18750-1734652800-1734652800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Hyades Cluster
DESCRIPTION:Located only about 150 light years away from the sun\, Taurus\, the Bull’s triangular face is actually one of the nearest open star clusters to our solar system. Its stars are commonly called The Hyades\, named for the five daughters of Atlas in Greek mythology. It also has the designations Melotte 25 and Caldwell 41. The cluster contains several hundred stars\, with a half-dozen or so readily seen under moonless suburban skies\, many as close-together pairs. It’s a superb target to view in binoculars. The five brightest members\, all naked-eye stars\, are within a few light years of one another. The cluster’s stars likely formed together about 625 million years ago. The bright orange star Aldebaran\, at the lower (or southeastern) vertex of the Hyades triangle\, is actually not part of the cluster. It is less than half as far away! In mid-December\, the Hyades climbs the eastern sky in early evening and reaches its highest point due south around 10:30 p.m. local time. This winter\, Jupiter will be gleaming just a palm’s width to the left (or 6 degrees to the celestial northeast) of the bull’s face.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-hyades-cluster/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241221T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241221T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18752-1734739200-1734739200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Ursids Meteor Shower Peak
DESCRIPTION:The Ursids meteor shower\, which is produced by particles of debris dropped by the periodic comet 8P/Tuttle\, runs from December 17 to 26 every year. The weak\, short-duration shower will peak (usually with only 5 to 10 meteors visible in an hour) while Earth is traversing the densest part of the debris field on Sunday morning in the Americas\, but the best time to watch for Ursids meteors will be Saturday evening\, December 21 before the bright\, waning gibbous moon rises around midnight local time. True Ursids will streak away from a location near the North Star Polaris\, but the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/ursids-meteor-shower-peak/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241221T092100
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241221T092100
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18751-1734772860-1734772860@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Northern Winter Solstice
DESCRIPTION:Winter in the Northern Hemisphere will officially commence in the Americas on Saturday\, December 21 at 4:21 a.m. EST and 1:21 a.m. PST\, or 09:21 GMT. At the solstice\, the sun will attain its southernmost declination for the year\, resulting in the lowest elevation in the sky of the noonday sun\, the least amount of solar insolation\, and the shortest amount of daylight of the year. Conversely\, the Southern Hemisphere will see its highest sun and maximum daylight hours for the year. After the December solstice\, the amount of daylight time will begin to increase for the Northern Hemisphere.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/northern-winter-solstice/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241222T221800
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241222T221800
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18753-1734905880-1734905880@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Third Quarter Moon
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete three quarters of its orbit around Earth\, measured from the previous new moon\, on Sunday\, December 22 at 5:18 p.m. EST\, 2:18 p.m. PST\, or 22:18 GMT. At its third (or last) quarter phase the moon is half-illuminated\, on its western\, sunward side. It will rise around midnight local time\, and then remain visible until it sets in the western daytime sky during early afternoon. Third quarter moons are positioned ahead of the Earth in our trip around the Sun. About 3½ hours later\, Earth will occupy that same location in space. The week of dark\, moonless evenings that follow this phase are ideal for observing fainter deep sky targets.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/third-quarter-moon/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241223T074800
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241223T084800
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18754-1734940080-1734943680@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Two Shadows and the Red Spot Cross Jupiter
DESCRIPTION:From time to time\, observers with good quality telescopes can watch the small\, round\, black shadows of the Galilean moons traverse Jupiter’s disk. On Monday morning\, December 23\, sky-watchers located in the Americas can watch two of the shadows and the Great Red Spot crossing the southern hemisphere of Jupiter together for about an hour. At 2:48 a.m. Eastern Time (or 07:48 GMT)\, the red spot and the small shadow of Io will join the much larger shadow of Ganymede\, which began its own crossing of the planet’s south polar zone 70 minutes earlier. Ganymede’s shadow will leave Jupiter at 3:48 a.m. EST (or 08:48 GMT)\, leaving Io’s shadow and the spot to continue on alone until 4:58 a.m. EST. Watch for Io itself to move off of Jupiter’s disk by 4:35 a.m. EST.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/two-shadows-and-the-red-spot-cross-jupiter/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241224T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241224T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18755-1734998400-1734998400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Moves Toward Spica
DESCRIPTION:Early risers on Tuesday morning\, December 24 will see the pretty sight of the waning crescent moon shining in the southern sky close to Libra’s brightest star\, Spica. The star will be twinkling a few finger widths to the moon’s lower left (or celestial southeast) from about 3 a.m. local time to the onset of civil twilight. Hours later\, observers in a zone extending from eastern China\, most of Japan\, and the northernmost islands of the Philippines and southeast through Micronesia\, most of Melanesia\, and Polynesia can watch the moon occult Spica. Use an app like Starry Night or Sky Safari to look up the times for the occultation.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-moves-toward-spica/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241225T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241225T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18756-1735084800-1735084800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
DESCRIPTION:On the mornings surrounding Wednesday\, December 25\, Mercury will reach its widest angle of 22° west of the sun\, and peak visibility\, for its current morning apparition. Starting around 5:45 a.m. in your local time zone\, look for the planet shining very low in the east-southeastern sky\, and climbing. The bright star Antares will sparkle a palm’s width to the planet’s lower right (or 6 degrees to the celestial SSW). In a telescope\, Mercury will exhibit a 64%-illuminated\, waxing gibbous phase. Mercury’s position above the morning ecliptic will make this a good apparition for mid-northern latitude observers\, and reasonably good showing for those located south of the Equator\, too. The planet will continue to be well-placed for viewing for two weeks after greatest elongation. Turn all optical aids away from the eastern horizon before the sun rises.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mercury-at-greatest-western-elongation/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241226T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241226T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18757-1735171200-1735171200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Night’s Brightest Star
DESCRIPTION:Sirius\, the brightest star in Canis Major and in the entire night sky\, too\, is hard to miss once it clears the trees and rooftops in the southeast by 7:30 p.m. local time. Also known as the Dog Star\, it will climb to its highest point in the lower part of the southern sky shortly after midnight local time. If you are walking through your darkened house in the middle of the night\, Sirius might catch your eye out a window because it never climbs very high. Sirius is a hot\, blue-white\, A-class star located only 8.6 light-years from our sun. Its extreme brightness and its low position in the sky combine to produce spectacular flashes of various colors as it twinkles. A very large telescope may allow you to see Sirius B\, a faint white dwarf companion star located just 10 arc-seconds to the east of Sirius.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/nights-brightest-star/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241228T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241228T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18758-1735344000-1735344000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earthshine Moon with Antares and Mercury
DESCRIPTION:If the weather forecast calls for clear skies to the southeast on Saturday morning\, December 28\, it will be worth venturing outside around breakfast time to see the pretty spectacle of the old\, waning moon’s slender crescent shining close to Scorpius’ bright star Antares and brighter Mercury. All three objects will clear the treetops by about 6:15 a.m. local time. Reddish Antares will sparkle just to the moon’s lower left. They’ll be extra close together for observers in westerly time zones. Mercury’s bright dot will be positioned nearly a fist’s diameter to the left (or 9 degrees to the celestial northeast) of Antares. The old moon should also display Earthshine\, also known as the Ashen Glow and “the old moon in the new moon’s arms”. The phenomenon\, sunlight reflected off Earth and back onto the moon\, slightly brightening the dark portion of the moon’s Earth-facing hemisphere\, appears for several days before and after each new moon.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/earthshine-moon-with-antares-and-mercury/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241230T222700
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241230T222700
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18759-1735597620-1735597620@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Second New Moon of December
DESCRIPTION:The moon cycles through its phases every 29.5 days\, allowing a phase to repeat if it first occurs early in a calendar month. For the second time in December\, the moon will reach its new moon phase on Monday\, December 30 at 5:27 p.m. EST\, 2:27 p.m. PST\, and 22:27 GMT. At that time our natural satellite will be located within Sagittarius and 5.5 degrees south of the sun. Since sunlight is only reaching the far side of the moon\, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun\, the moon becomes completely hidden from view. On the evenings following the new moon phase\, Earth’s planetary partner will return to shine in the western sky after sunset.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/second-new-moon-of-december/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250101T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250102T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241229T193105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:19035-1735761600-1735794000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Pleiades (all night)
DESCRIPTION:In the evening during early January\, the prominent open star cluster known as the Pleiades\, the Seven Sisters and Messier 45\, is climbing the southeastern sky. The stars of its home constellation Taurus\, the Bull will be below the cluster. This year\, the brilliant planet Jupiter will be shining about 1.3 fist diameters to the lower left (or 13 degrees to the celestial east) of the cluster. The “sisters” are medium-bright\, hot blue stars named Asterope\, Merope\, Electra\, Maia\, Taygeta\, Celaeno\, and Alcyone. In Greek mythology\, those characters were the daughters of Atlas\, and half sisters of the Hyades. They are indeed related – born of the same primordial gas cloud. To the unaided eye\, only six of the stars are usually apparent\, including their parents Atlas and Pleione huddled together at the east end of the grouping. In binoculars (inset) and backyard telescopes\, hundreds of fainter stars surround them. Not surprisingly\, many cultures\, including Aztec\, Maori\, Sioux\, Hindu\, and more\, have developed stories about those stars. In Japan\, it is called Subaru\, and forms the logo of the eponymous car maker. Due to its shape\, the cluster is sometimes confused with the Little Dipper.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-pleiades-all-night-2/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250102T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250103T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241229T193106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:19036-1735848000-1735880400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Andromeda Galaxy (all night)
DESCRIPTION:After the sky fully darkens in early January\, the Andromeda Galaxy is positioned near the zenith\, which is ideal for viewing it through a minimum of Earth’s atmosphere. The galaxy will descend the western sky as the hours roll by\, but you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy it. This large spiral galaxy\, also designated Messier 31 and NGC 224\, is 2.5 million light years from us\, and covers an area of sky measuring 3 by 1 degrees (or six by two full moon diameters)! Under dark skies\, M31 can be seen with unaided eyes as a faint smudge located a palm’s width to the lower right (or 7 degrees to the celestial north-northwest) of the medium-bright star Mirach. The three westernmost stars of W-shaped Cassiopeia\, Caph\, Shedar\, and Navi (Gamma Cas)\, also conveniently form an arrowhead that points towards M31. Binoculars (orange circle) will reveal the galaxy very well. In a telescope\, use your lowest magnification eyepiece and look for M31’s two smaller companion galaxies\, the foreground\, brighter Messier 32 and the more distant\, fainter Messier 110.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-andromeda-galaxy-all-night-2/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250103T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250103T200000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241229T193106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:19037-1735923600-1735934400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Meets Venus (early evening)
DESCRIPTION:The southwestern sky will provide a beautiful photo opportunity on Friday evening\, January 3 when the slender waxing crescent moon will shine near the brilliant planet Venus. They’ll be close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle) from sunset until they set at about 8:30 p.m. local time. Keep an eye out for Earthshine on the moon. Sometimes called the Ashen Glow or the Old Moon in the New Moon’s Arms\, the phenomenon is visible within a day or two of new moon\, when sunlight reflected off Earth and back toward the moon slightly brightens the unlit portion of the moon’s Earth-facing hemisphere. A backyard telescope will reveal that Venus has a half-moon shape.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-meets-venus-early-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250103T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250104T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241229T193106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:19038-1735934400-1735966800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Quadrantids Meteor Shower Peak (all night)
DESCRIPTION:Named for a now-defunct constellation called the Mural Quadrant\, the Quadrantids meteor shower runs from December 26 to January 16 every year. Quadrantids meteors always radiate from a point in the northeastern sky below the tip of the Big Dipper’s handle. This shower commonly produces bright fireballs because it is produced by particles dropped by an asteroid designated 2003EH. The Quadrantids’ most intense period\, when up to 50 to 100 meteors per hour can appear during a short\, 6 hour window\, will occur on Friday\, January 3 at 18:00 GMT. That converts to daytime in the Americas\, but observers located in the Pacific Ocean and eastern Asia will have ideal conditions in the hours before dawn. The moon will not interfere with the shower this year.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/quadrantids-meteor-shower-peak-all-night-2/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250104T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250104T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241229T192900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:18956-1735948800-1735948800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earth at Perihelion (at 8 a.m. EST)
DESCRIPTION:The Earth will reach perihelion\, its minimum distance from the sun for the year\, on Saturday\, January 4 at 8 a.m. EST\, or 5 a.m. PST\, or 13:00 GMT. At perihelion Earth will be 91.404 million miles (or 147.101 million km) from our star\, about 1.67% closer than our mean distance of 1.0 Astronomical Unit. As winter-chilled Northern Hemisphere dwellers will attest\, daily temperatures on Earth are not controlled by our proximity to the sun\, but by the number of hours of daylight we experience.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/__trashed-23/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250104T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250104T193000
DTSTAMP:20260417T012939
CREATED:20241229T193108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:19040-1736011800-1736019000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Waxing Moon joins Saturn (evening)
DESCRIPTION:In the southwestern sky after sunset on Saturday\, January 4\, the yellowish dot of Saturn will appear several finger widths below (or celestial WSW of) the waxing crescent moon – close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Venus will gleam to their lower right. The moon and Saturn will be visible from dusk until they set at about 10 p.m. local time. Hours earlier\, skywatchers located in a zone extending across northwestern Africa\, most of Europe\, Iceland\, and northeastern Greenland can safely watch the moon occult Saturn with unaided eyes\, binoculars\, and backyard telescopes. Use an app like Starry Night or Sky Safari to look up the event’s start and end times where you live.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/waxing-moon-joins-saturn-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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