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X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for RASC Hamilton
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250427T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250427T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250329T002236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T004100Z
UID:19578-1745712000-1745712000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Venus at Greatest Illuminated Extent (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday\, April 27\, Venus will reach its greatest illuminated extent for the current morning apparition. In a telescope (inset)\, the planet will show a surprisingly slender\, 26%-illuminated\, waxing crescent phase on a large apparent disk size of 39 arc-seconds. Even with a less than fully-illuminated disk\, Venus’ distance from Earth of only 0.432 Astronomical Units (40.12 million miles or 64.57 million km) will boost its brightness to a brilliant magnitude -4.75. After rising at about 4:20 a.m. local time\, Venus will be visible in the eastern pre-dawn sky below the western fish in Pisces and a few finger widths to the upper left of Saturn. Venus will appear nearly as bright on the surrounding mornings.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/venus-at-greatest-illuminated-extent-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr27-2025-at-430-am-Venus-at-Greatest-Illuminated-Extent.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250427T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250427T193000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250329T002236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T004212Z
UID:19579-1745775000-1745782200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:New Moon (at 19:31 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its new phase on Sunday\, April 27 at 3:31 p.m. EDT or 12:31 p.m. PDT or 19:31 GMT. At that time our natural satellite will be located in Aries and 3.25 degrees north of the sun. While new\, the moon is travelling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only reach the far side of the moon\, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun\, the moon becomes unobservable from anywhere on Earth for about a day (except during a solar eclipse). 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/new-moon-at-1931-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr27-2025-at-1931-GMT-New-Moon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250428T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250428T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250329T002236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T004315Z
UID:19580-1745798400-1745798400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Venus Shines above Saturn (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:In the eastern sky before dawn in late April\, the orbital motion of the brilliant planet Venus will be carrying it past 240 times fainter Saturn. On the mornings before Monday\, April 28\, Saturn will be positioned several finger widths below (or 3.6 degrees to the celestial south of) Venus\, allowing the two planets to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). After Venus shines closest above Saturn on Monday\, it will descend more to Saturn’s left and widen their separation. All told\, you’ll be able to see the duo in binoculars from about April 16 to May 6.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/venus-shines-above-saturn-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr28-2025-at-5-am-Venus-Shines-above-Saturn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250429T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250429T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250329T002251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T004417Z
UID:19581-1745953200-1745964000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Jumps Jupiter (evening)
DESCRIPTION:In the western sky after dusk on Tuesday\, April 29\, the waxing crescent moon will shine prettily a fist’s diameter to the lower right (or 11 degrees to the celestial northwest) of Jupiter. On the following evening\, April 30\, the moon will climb to shine a palm’s width to Venus’ upper right. The moon’s nightly shift across the stars and planets has long shown us that the moon is orbiting around Earth. The moon and Jupiter will make a lovely photo opportunity when composed with some foreground scenery before they set in the west around 11 p.m. local time.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-jumps-jupiter-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr29-2025-at-930-pm-Crescent-Moon-Jumps-Jupiter.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250430T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250501T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250329T002251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T004449Z
UID:19582-1746043200-1746075600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Three Leaps of the Gazelle (all night)
DESCRIPTION:The large and bright constellation of Ursa Major\, the Great Bear is at the zenith after dusk in late April. Everyone is familiar with the Big Dipper asterism portion of that constellation. Another easily seen\, but lesser-known pattern is the Three Leaps of the Gazelle\, composed of three pairs of medium-bright stars strung in a line spanning nearly 30 degrees of the sky. In each pair\, the stars are separated by about a thumb’s width (or 1.5 degrees). The most westerly stars Al Kaprah and Talitha\, are found by extending a line drawn diagonally through the Big Dipper’s bowl from Megrez to Merak\, i.e.\, towards Castor and Pollux. The central pair of Tania Borealis and Tania Australis shines midway between the bright stars Dubhe and Ras Elased Australis in Leo. The lowest (most easterly) duo named Alula Borealis and Alula Australis\, are close to a line extended to the right (celestial south) from Dubhe through Merak. The word Alula arises from Arabic for “first leap”\, while Tania means “second”\, and Talitha means “third”.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-three-leaps-of-the-gazelle-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr30-2025-at-10-pm-The-Three-Leaps-of-the-Gazelle.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250501T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250502T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144941Z
UID:19798-1746129600-1746162000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Minor Planet Vesta at Opposition (all night)
DESCRIPTION:From time to time\, the largest asteroids in our solar system become bright enough to be seen without special equipment by skywatchers. On Thursday\, May 1\, Earth’s orbital motion will carry us between the minor planet Vesta and the sun. On the nights around that date\, Vesta will be visible all night long and shine at its peak brightness for the year of magnitude 5.4\, which is well within reach of binoculars (orange circle) and small telescopes. Tonight\, look for the asteroid as a medium bright speck located about two finger widths to the left (or 2.5 degrees to the celestial northeast) of the star Mu Virginis\, which marks the lower toes of Virgo\, the Maiden. Vesta’s trajectory over the rest of May will carry it retrograde westward between Virgo’s feet (red dotted line).
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/minor-planet-vesta-at-opposition-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/May01-2025-at-10-pm-Minor-Planet-Vesta-at-Opposition.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250502T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250502T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T145021Z
UID:19799-1746144000-1746144000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Neptune Lurks near Venus and Saturn (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:In the early days of May\, the brilliant planet Venus will be gleaming in the pre-dawn eastern sky near two other planets. Medium-bright Saturn will be readily visible a few finger widths to the Venus’ lower right (or celestial south)\, while far fainter Neptune will be located below Venus and a few finger widths to Saturn’s left. All three planets will be close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Observers located at southerly latitudes\, where the planets will shine higher and in a darker sky\, will have the best chance to see Neptune – but you will need a quality telescope to see its blue speck. On every morning after Friday\, May 2\, Venus’ easterly orbital motion will carry it farther to the left of Saturn and Neptune.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/neptune-lurks-near-venus-and-saturn-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/May02-2025-at-515-am-Neptune-Lurks-near-Venus-and-Saturn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250503T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250503T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T153455Z
UID:19800-1746298800-1746309600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Half-moon over Mars and the Beehive (evening)
DESCRIPTION:In the western sky after dusk on Saturday\, May 3\, the reddish dot of Mars will be positioned just below the nearly half-illuminated moon. Binoculars (orange circle) will also reveal the scattered stars of the large open star cluster named the Beehive to Mars’ left (or celestial SSE). Other names for the cluster include Praesepe\, the Manger\, Messier 44 and NGC 2632. Tonight\, skywatchers located in eastern Canada and the continental USA can watch the dark leading edge of the moon pass over Cancer’s medium-bright star Asellus Borealis “the Northern Donkey” shortly after 10 p.m. Eastern Time or 9 p.m. Central Time. Binoculars or a backyard telescope will help.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/half-moon-over-mars-and-the-beehive-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/May03-2025-at-10-pm-Half-moon-over-Mars-and-the-Beehive.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250504T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250504T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144324Z
UID:19801-1746385200-1746396000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon (at 13:52 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:When the moon completes the first quarter of its orbit around Earth at 11:52 a.m. EDT\, 8:52 a.m. PDT\, or 13:52 GMT on Sunday\, May 4\, the 90 degree angle formed by the Earth\, sun\, and moon will cause us to see our natural satellite half-illuminated on its eastern\, sunward side. While at first quarter\, the moon always rises around noon and sets around midnight in your local time zone\, allowing us to see it in the afternoon daytime sky\, too. The evenings surrounding the first quarter phase are the best ones for viewing the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/first-quarter-moon-at-1352-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250504T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250504T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144324Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144324Z
UID:19802-1746385200-1746396000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mars Buzzes the Beehive (evening)
DESCRIPTION:During the first week of May\, the eastward orbital motion of the planet Mars will carry it through the northern edge of the large\, bright open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive and Messier 44. After dusk\, you can locate the medium-bright\, reddish dot of Mars shining about halfway up the western sky. Binoculars (orange circle) or a backyard telescope (green circle) will reveal “the Bees” sprinkled just to Mars’ lower left (or celestial south). Mars will approach the cluster from the right (celestial west) until Monday\, May 4\, when it will graze the outer part of the cluster. Every night after Monday\, the cluster will move a little farther below Mars. The Beehive’s position close to the ecliptic allows it to be frequently visited by the moon and planets.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mars-buzzes-the-beehive-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250505T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250506T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144327Z
UID:19804-1746475200-1746507600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Eta-Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:The annual Eta-Aquariids Meteor Shower is produced when Earth’s orbit carries us through a cloud of particles left behind by repeated trips of Halley’s Comet along its own orbit around the sun. The shower\, which runs from April 19 to May 28\, will peak in intensity from Monday evening to Tuesday morning\, May 6 in the Americas. A relatively bright moon will hide the fainter meteors until it sets around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning. While some meteors should be visible on Monday evening\, more should appear once the shower’s radiant point in Aquarius rises above the southeastern horizon around 3 a.m. local time on Monday. A few dozen meteors per hour are typical during the peak – including some fireball meteors. Its southerly radiant makes the Eta-Aquariids shower better for observers located closer to the tropics.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/eta-aquariids-meteor-shower-peak-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250505T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250506T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144327Z
UID:19803-1746475200-1746507600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon near the Lion’s Heart (all night)
DESCRIPTION:As the sky is darkening on Monday evening\, May 5\, Leo’s brightest star Regulus will appear just to the right of the waxing gibbous moon. That hot\, white\, B-class star\, which is located only 79 light-years from our sun\, marks the heart of Leo\, the Lion. For skywatchers viewing the duo later at night\, or in more westerly time zones\, the moon’s easterly orbital motion will carry it farther from the star.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-near-the-lions-heart-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250509T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250510T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144327Z
UID:19805-1746820800-1746853200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Approaches Spica (all night)
DESCRIPTION:When the sky darkens on Friday evening\, May 9 in the Americas\, Spica\, the brightest star in Virgo\, will appear a short distance to the moon’s lower left – close enough for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). As the pair crosses the sky during the night\, the moon’s orbital motion will carry it closer to the star and the rotation of the sky will shift Spica above the moon. Hours later\, observers located within a zone extending southeast across the South Pacific from Micronesia\, Melanesia\, and southwest Polynesia almost to South America can see the moon occult Spica around 06:30 GMT.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-approaches-spica-all-night-2/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250512T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250512T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144327Z
UID:19806-1747008000-1747008000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Full Milk Moon (at 16:56 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its full phase on Monday\, May 12 at 12:56 p.m. EDT\, 9:56 a.m. PDT\, or 16:56 GMT. In the Americas\, the moon will appear to be full on both Sunday and Monday night\, but closer inspection will reveal a strip of shadow curving along the moon’s left and right limb\, respectively\, on those nights. Full moons in May always shine in or near the stars of Libra or Scorpius. The indigenous Ojibwe groups of the Great Lakes region call the May full moon Zaagibagaa-giizis\, the “Budding Moon” or Namebine-giizis\, the “Sucker Moon”. For them it signifies a time when Mother Earth again provides healing medicines. The Cree of North America call it Athikipisim\, the “Frog Moon” – the time when frogs become active in ponds and swamps. The Cherokee call it Ahnisguti\, the “Planting Moon”\, when the fields are plowed and sown. Other common names are the Milk Moon\, Flower Moon\, or Corn Planting Moon.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/full-milk-moon-at-1656-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250513T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250514T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144327Z
UID:19807-1747166400-1747198800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Covers Antares (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:When the still very full moon rises over the southeastern horizon in mid-evening on Tuesday\, May 13\, it will be positioned very close to the very bright\, reddish star Antares\, which marks the heart of Scorpius. As the duo crosses the sky all night long\, the rotation of the sky will shift the moon to Antares’ lower left. Meanwhile\, observers in a zone extending from easternmost Polynesia\, east across southern South America and the tip of Antarctic Peninsula and over to the South Atlantic can watch the moon cross in front of (or occult) Antares. Lunar occultations are safe to watch with eyes\, binoculars\, and telescopes. Use an app like Starry Night or Sky Safari to look up the timings where you live.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-covers-antares-overnight-2/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250517T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250518T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144341Z
UID:19813-1747512000-1747544400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Catch the Colors of Stars (all night)
DESCRIPTION:Stars shine with a color that is controlled by their surface (or photospheric) temperature\, and this is captured in their spectral classification. In mid-May every year\, the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle asterism are climbing the eastern sky after dusk. Deneb\, Vega\, and Altair are A-class stars that appear blue-white to the eye and have temperatures in the range of 7\,500 to 10\,000 Kelvin. Arcturus\, which dominates the southern sky in evening\, is an orange\, K-class giant star with a temperature of only 4\,300 K. Chara\, the fainter of Canes Venatici’s two stars\, is a yellowish\, G-class star with a temperature of 5\,900 K\, similar to our sun’s. Reddish Antares\, the heart of Scorpius\, which twinkles above the southern horizon\, is an old M-class star with a low surface temperature of 3\,500 K. You can estimate the temperatures of other stars by comparing their color to these bright reference stars.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/catch-the-colors-of-stars-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250520T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250520T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144341Z
UID:19814-1747767600-1747778400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Third Quarter Moon (at 11:59 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its third quarter phase on Tuesday\, May 20 at 7:59 a.m. EDT\, 4:59 a.m. PDT\, and 11:59 GMT. Third quarter moons always rise around midnight in your local time zone and then linger into the southern sky after sunrise. At third\, or last\, quarter\, the moon’s western half is illuminated by the pre-dawn sun and the pole-to-pole terminator line becomes a straight line. The week of dark\, moonless evening skies that follow this phase will be ideal for observing deep sky targets in binoculars and telescopes\, especially spring galaxies.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/third-quarter-moon-at-1159-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250522T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250522T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144341Z
UID:19815-1747872000-1747872000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon with Saturn and Neptune (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday morning\, May 22\, the pretty\, waning crescent moon will begin its monthly cruise past the planets gathered above the eastern horizon. The moon will rise in the east during the wee hours of the morning. About 20 minutes later\, the prominent\, yellowish dot of Saturn will become visible several finger widths to the moon’s lower left (to its celestial east). The duo will share the view in binoculars (orange circle) while the morning sky brightens ahead of sunrise. The tiny blue speck of the distant planet Neptune will be positioned a generous thumb’s width to Saturn’s left (or 2 degrees to the celestial northeast)\, but it will be a challenge to see from mid-northern latitudes\, where the slope of the ecliptic will keep the planets lower in the hazy sky. Early-rising skywatchers at southern latitudes\, where the planets will be higher in a darker sky\, will have a better view of the conjunction.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-with-saturn-and-neptune-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250523T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250523T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144341Z
UID:19816-1747958400-1747958400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Old Moon joins Venus and Saturn (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:After another 24 hours of easterly orbital motion\, the old crescent moon will shine between Saturn and much brighter Venus on Friday morning\, May 23. Their assemblage above the eastern horizon will offer a nice photo opportunity when composed with some interesting foreground scenery. Venus\, the last of the trio to rise\, will clear the horizon by about 4 a.m. local time. It will continue to gleam on the moon’s lower left until almost sunrise\, but Saturn will fade from sight before then. If Friday brings clouds\, don’t worry. On Saturday morning\, the moon’s sliver of a crescent will be positioned to the left of Venus with Saturn off to their upper right.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/old-moon-joins-venus-and-saturn-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250526T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250526T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250502T144342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250502T144342Z
UID:19817-1748286000-1748296800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The New Moon (at 11:02 pm EDT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will officially reach its new moon phase on Monday\, May 26 at 11:02 p.m. EDT or 8:02 p.m. PDT\, which converts to Tuesday\, May 27 at 03:02 GMT. While new\, our natural satellite will be located in Taurus\, and 4 degrees north of the sun. While at its new phase\, the moon is travelling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only shine on the far side of the moon\, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun\, it becomes completely hidden from view from anywhere on Earth for about a day. After the new moon phase\, Earth’s natural satellite will return to shine as a very thin crescent in the western evening sky.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-new-moon-at-1102-pm-edt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250702T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250702T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185308Z
UID:19973-1751414400-1751414400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:See the Lunar X and V (peaks at 9 p.m. EDT)
DESCRIPTION:Several times a year near the moon’s first quarter phase\, small clair-obscur effect features on the moon called the Lunar X and the Lunar V become visible in strong binoculars and backyard telescopes for a few hours. The Lunar X\, a prominent X-shaped pattern\, appears when the rims of the craters Purbach\, la Caille\, and Blanchinus are illuminated from a particular angle of sunlight (inset). Look for it beside the terminator about one third of the way up from the southern pole of the Moon. The Lunar V forms along the northern span of the terminator near the crater Ukert. On Wednesday\, July 2 the features are predicted to start developing by about 9 p.m. EDT (or 01:00 GMT on Thursday\, July 3)\, peak in intensity at around 10:15 p.m. EDT (or 02:15 GMT on July 3)\, and then gradually fade out toward midnight Eastern time. The event will occur during waning daylight for observers in western North America – but you can observe the moon in a telescope during the daytime\, as long as you take care to avoid aiming it near the sun. The Lunar X will be visible anywhere on Earth where the moon is shining\, especially in a dark sky\, between 01:00 and 04:00 GMT on July 3.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/see-the-lunar-x-and-v-peaks-at-9-p-m-edt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250702T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250702T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185308Z
UID:19972-1751482800-1751493600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon (at 19:30 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete the first quarter of its orbit around Earth\, measuring from the previous new moon\, on Wednesday\, July 2 at 3:30 p.m. EDT or 12:30 p.m. PDT\, which converts to 19:30 GMT. The 90 degree angle formed by the Earth\, sun\, and moon at that time will cause us to see our natural satellite half-illuminated on its eastern side. At first quarter\, the moon always rises around mid-day and sets around midnight\, allowing it to be seen in the afternoon daytime sky\, too. The evenings surrounding the first quarter phase are the best ones for viewing the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/first-quarter-moon-at-1930-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250703T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250703T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185308Z
UID:19974-1751500800-1751500800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earth at Aphelion (at 20:00 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, July 3 at 4:00 p.m. EDT\, 1:00 p.m. PDT\, or 20:00 GMT\, Earth will reach aphelion\, its greatest distance from the sun for this year. Aphelion’s 94.51 million miles (152.09 million km) distance is 1.67% farther from the sun than the mean Earth-sun separation of 92.96 million miles (149.6 million km)\, which is also defined to be 1 Astronomical Unit (1 A.U.). Seasonal temperature variations arise from the Earth’s axis of rotation tilting towards and away from the sun\, and not from our distance from the sun. Earth will reach its minimum distance from the sun\, or perihelion\, on January 4\, 2026.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/earth-at-aphelion-at-2000-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250703T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250703T193000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185308Z
UID:19975-1751563800-1751571000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation near the Beehive (after sunset)
DESCRIPTION:After sunset on Thursday evening\, July 3\, Mercury (orbit shown in red) will stretch to its widest separation of 25.9 degrees east of the sun\, and its maximum visibility\, for its current apparition. This appearance of the planet will be reasonably good for both Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere observers. The optimal viewing time at mid-northern latitudes will commence around 9 p.m. local time. Viewed in a telescope (inset) the planet will exhibit a waning\, nearly half-illuminated phase. As the sky darkens\, watch for the scattered stars of the Beehive cluster aka Messier 44\, spread out to Mercury’s upper right (or celestial north)\, and Cancer’s medium bright star Delta Cancri shining to Mercury’s upper left (or celestial east). Mercury will pass very close to that star on the following evening\, July 4.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mercury-at-greatest-eastern-elongation-near-the-beehive-after-sunset/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250703T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250703T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185308Z
UID:19976-1751569200-1751580000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Gibbous Moon Slides by Spica (evening)
DESCRIPTION:When the sky darkens after dusk on Thursday\, July 3\, Virgo’s brightest star Spica will appear just to the upper right of the waxing gibbous moon in the southwestern sky. Until they set after midnight\, the duo will share the view in binoculars (orange  circle). Observers viewing the pair later\, or in more westerly time zones\, will see the moon’s easterly orbital motion carry it farther from the star. Hours earlier\, that motion will cause the moon to pass in front of Spica for skywatchers located at the extreme southern end of South America and most of Antarctica.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/gibbous-moon-slides-by-spica-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250704T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250704T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185310Z
UID:19977-1751587200-1751587200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Venus Passes Uranus (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:The brilliant planet Venus will dominate the eastern predawn sky for most of this year while it slowly swings back toward the sun. On the mornings surrounding Friday\, July 4\, Venus will pass close enough to Uranus to allow early risers to use Venus to locate the far fainter planet in binoculars (orange circle). On the previous mornings\, the magnitude 5.8\, blue-green speck of Uranus will shine several finger widths to Venus’ left (or 3.5 degrees to its celestial northeast). At their closest approach on Friday the distant planet will be about half that distance to Venus’ upper left (or celestial north). From Saturday onward\, Uranus will shift farther above Venus\, but they will share the view in binoculars until about July 9. Watch for the bright Pleiades star cluster above Uranus.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/venus-passes-uranus-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250705T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250705T220000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185310Z
UID:19978-1751742000-1751752800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Sinus Iridum’s Golden Handle (evening)
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday night\, July 5\, the terminator on the waxing gibbous moon will fall just west of 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 rounded handle-shape on the western edge of that mare. The “Golden Handle” effect is produced by way the slanted sunlight brightly illuminates the eastern side of the prominent Montes Jura mountain range surrounding the bay on the north and west\, and by a pair of protruding promontories named Heraclides and Laplace to the south and north\, respectively. Sinus Iridum is almost craterless\, but hosts a set of northeast-oriented dorsae or “wrinkle ridges” that are revealed at this phase. (Image – Jul05-2025 at 10 pm – Sinus Iridum’s Golden Handle.jpg)
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/sinus-iridums-golden-handle-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250707T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250708T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185310Z
UID:19979-1751918400-1751950800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Follows Antares (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:In the southern sky after dusk on Monday\, July 7\, the prominent reddish star Antares will be twinkling several finger widths to the right of the bright\, waxing gibbous moon. By the time that Antares sets ahead of the moon\, at around 2:30 a.m. local time\, the rotation of the sky will have shifted it lower than the moon. About half a day earlier\, residents of the southern tip of Africa\, the Kerguelen Islands\, and easternmost Antarctica can watch the moon occult Antares using their unaided eyes or through binoculars and backyard telescopes. Antares marks the heart of Scorpius\, the Scorpion\, and is frequently visited by the moon and planets.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-follows-antares-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250709T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250710T050000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185310Z
UID:19980-1752091200-1752123600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Saturn Returns to the Evening (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:On the nights around Wednesday\, July 9\, the ringed planet Saturn will finally begin to rise before midnight for observers located at mid-northern latitudes – making Saturn available for evening viewing again after a long absence. During the wee hours\, the bright\, creamy-yellow planet will  climb the southeastern sky below the Great Square of Pegasus. Due to Earth’s motion around the sun\, the stars and distant planets rise about 4 minutes earlier each day – or about half an hour earlier with each passing week. Saturn will be returning just a few weeks before the red dot of Mars disappears into the western twilight. Then Saturn will reign until Jupiter enters the evening sky around mid-October.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/saturn-returns-to-the-evening-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250710T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250710T000000
DTSTAMP:20260417T112500
CREATED:20250626T184055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T185310Z
UID:19981-1752105600-1752105600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Full Thunder Moon (at 20:37 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its full phase on Thursday\, July 10 at 4:37 p.m. EDT or 1:37 p.m. PDT and 20:37 GMT. The July full moon\, commonly called the Buck Moon\, Thunder Moon\, or Hay Moon\, always shines in or near the stars of Sagittarius or Capricornus. The indigenous Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region call this moon Abitaa-niibini Giizis\, the Halfway Summer Moon\, or Mskomini Giizis\, the Raspberry Moon. The Cherokees call it Guyegwoni\, the Corn in Tassel Moon. The Cree Nation of central Canada calls the July full moon Opaskowipisim\, the Feather Moulting Moon (referring to wild water-fowl habits)\, and the Mohawks call it Ohiarihkó:wa\, the Fruits are Ripened Moon. The moon only appears full when it is opposite the sun in the sky\, so full moons always rise in the east as the sun is setting\, and set in the west at sunrise. Since sunlight is hitting the moon face-on at that time\, no shadows are cast. All the variations in brightness you see arise from differences in the reflectivity\, or albedo\, of the lunar surface rocks. Summertime full moons are as low in the sky as the winter noonday sun.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/full-thunder-moon-at-2037-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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