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X-WR-CALNAME:RASC Hamilton
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for RASC Hamilton
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BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
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DTSTART:20240310T070000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250121T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T193153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200939Z
UID:19055-1737486000-1737496800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Third Quarter Moon (at 20:31 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete three quarters of its orbit around Earth\, measured from the previous new moon\, on Tuesday\, January 21 at 3:31 p.m. EST or 12:31 p.m. PST\, or 20:31 GMT. At the third (or last) quarter phase the moon appears 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 in 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 evening skies that follow this phase are ideal for observing fainter deep sky targets.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/third-quarter-moon-at-2031-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250122T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250123T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T193153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200938Z
UID:19056-1737576000-1737608400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mars Close to Pollux (all night)
DESCRIPTION:From mid-January to mid-April Mars’ retrograde loop will carry it through the stars of Gemini. On Wednesday\, January 22\, the bright red planet will pass only 2.4 degrees from Gemini’s bright\, white star\, Pollux. The planet and the star will be less than two finger widths apart for several days\, and binoculars close (orange circle) for several weeks. After dusk the pair will be located low in the eastern sky. They’ll climb high\, due south\, by midnight and set in the west just before sunrise. After Wednesday\, Mars will continue to travel into central Gemini.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mars-close-to-pollux-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250124T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250124T000000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T192900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200938Z
UID:18976-1737676800-1737676800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Attacks the Scorpion (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:In the southeastern sky before dawn on Friday morning\, January 24\, the waning crescent moon will be shining among the medium-bright stars that form the claws of Scorpius\, barely missing an occultation of the southernmost star\, Pi Scorpii. The moon’s easterly orbital motion (by about its own diameter every hour) will produce an occultation of Scorpius’ brightest star Antares on Saturday morning for observers located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar\, including Mauritius and Reunion Islands.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/__trashed-5/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250125T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250126T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T193153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200938Z
UID:19058-1737835200-1737867600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Spectacular Orion Nebula (all night)
DESCRIPTION:The bright stars of mighty Orion\, the Hunter\, shine in the southeastern sky during evening in January. Orion’s sword\, which covers an area of 1.5 by 1 degrees (about the end of your thumb held up at arm’s length)\, descends from Orion’s three-starred belt. The patch of light in the middle of the sword is the spectacular and bright nebula known as the Orion Nebula (or Messier 42 and NGC 1976). While binoculars will reveal the fuzzy nature of this object\, medium-to-large aperture backyard telescopes (green circle) will show complex veils of gas and dark dust lanes\, and the Trapezium Cluster\, a tight clump of young stars that formed from the nebula’s collapsing gas. The nebula and its internal stars are located approximately 1\,350 light-years from the sun in the Orion arm of our Milky Way galaxy.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-spectacular-orion-nebula-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250129T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250129T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T193153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200938Z
UID:19059-1738171800-1738179000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:New Moon (at 12:36 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its new phase on Wednesday\, January 29 at 7:36 a.m. EST\, 4:36 a.m. PST\, or 12:36 GMT. At that time our natural satellite will be located in Capricornus and 4.6 degrees south 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-1236-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250130T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250130T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T193208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200845Z
UID:19060-1738263600-1738274400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Uranus Stands Still (evening)
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, January 30\, the motion of the distant\, blue-green planet Uranus through the background stars of eastern Aries will slow to a stop – completing a westward retrograde loop that it began in early September. After tonight\, the planet will begin to creep eastward again. At magnitude +5.7\, Uranus can be seen in binoculars and backyard telescopes\, and even with unaided eyes under dark skies. In mid-evening\, the planet’s small\, blue-green dot will be shining less than a fist’s diameter to the lower right (or 8 degrees to the celestial southwest) of the bright Pleiades star cluster\, Messier 45. Place the medium-bright star Botein (Delta Arietis) in the upper right part of your binoculars  field of view (orange circle) and Uranus will be the dull blue “star” positioned about half the field to that Botein’s lower left. Once you have identified Uranus\, enlarge the planet with your telescope.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/uranus-stands-still-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250131T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250131T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20241229T193208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241229T200818Z
UID:19061-1738342800-1738353600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Shines with Saturn and Venus (early evening)
DESCRIPTION:The western sky on Friday\, January 31 after sunset will offer a pretty sight and photo opportunity when the slim crescent of the waxing moon will shine below Saturn\, with much brighter Venus gleaming above them. The moon and Saturn will be close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Hours later\, observers in northeastern Russia can see the moon occult Saturn for the second time in January\, at about midnight local time.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-shines-with-saturn-and-venus-early-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jan31-2025-at-6-pm-Crescent-Moon-Shines-with-Saturn-and-Venus.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250201T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250201T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005147Z
UID:19306-1738429200-1738440000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon with Brilliant Venus and Faint Neptune (early evening)
DESCRIPTION:The western sky after sunset on Saturday\, February 1 will offer a pretty sight when the slim crescent moon will shine close to the brilliant planet Venus\, while the medium-bright\, yellowish dot of Saturn shines about a fist’s diameter below them (or 10 degrees to their celestial southwest). After the sky darkens fully\, around 6:30 p.m. EST\, the faint\, blue speck of distant Neptune might be glimpsed one lunar diameter to the moon’s lower left (or 0.7 degrees to its celestial south). The moon and the two planets will form a line that easily fits within the field of view of binoculars (inset\, orange circle)\, but a telescope will be needed to see Neptune well. Due to the moon’s orbital motion\, by about its own diameter every hour\, the moon will move above Neptune and to Venus’ left in more westerly time zones.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-with-brilliant-venus-and-faint-neptune-early-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb01-2025-at-7-pm-EST-Crescent-Moon-with-Brilliant-Venus-and-Faint-Neptune.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250203T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250204T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005253Z
UID:19307-1738612800-1738645200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Jupiter Completes a Retrograde Loop (all night)
DESCRIPTION:On Monday\, February 3\, the very bright planet Jupiter will temporarily cease its motion (dotted line) through the background stars of central Taurus – marking the end of a westward retrograde loop that it began in early October. The planet will be gleaming high in the southern sky every evening. After tonight\, Jupiter will resume its regular eastward motion and travel between the horns Taurus. 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 period of time. Jupiter’s loop covered about a fist’s diameter\, or 10 degrees\, of the ecliptic.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/jupiter-completes-a-retrograde-loop-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb03-2025-at-8-pm-Jupiter-Completes-a-Retrograde-Loop.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250205T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250205T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005429Z
UID:19308-1738782000-1738792800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon (at 08:02 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete the first quarter of its 29.53-day journey around Earth on Wednesday\, February 5 at 3:02 a.m. EST\, or 12:02 a.m. PST\, or 08:02 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 spectacular lunar terrain when it is 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-at-0802-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb05-2025-at-0802-GMT-First-Quarter-Moon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250205T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250206T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005505Z
UID:19309-1738785600-1738818000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Crosses the Pleiades (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday night\, February 5\, skywatchers in North America west of Winnipeg\, Manitoba and Kansas City\, Missouri can watch the orbital motion (green dotted line) of the bright\, 60%-illuminated\, waxing gibbous moon carry it through the Pleiades star cluster (aka Messier 45\, Subaru\, and the Seven Sisters). In the Central Time zone\, the moon will be getting ready to set in the west when it first contacts the cluster around 1 a.m. CST. In the Mountain Time zone the moon will reach the centre of the cluster when it sets around 2 a.m. MST. Lucky observers in the Pacific Time zone will see the entire event in the western sky between about 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. PST. While bright moonlight overwhelms fainter objects\, viewing the encounter through binoculars (orange circle)\, will show the “sisters” well\, but not the blue nebulosity shown here. Skywatchers in other parts of the world will see the moon shining close to the cluster.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-crosses-the-pleiades-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb05b-2025-at-11-pm-PST-in-Seattle-Moon-Crosses-the-Pleiades.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250206T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250206T200000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005549Z
UID:19310-1738861200-1738872000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Shines above Jupiter (evening)
DESCRIPTION:As the sky darkens after sunset on Thursday evening\, February 6\, the bright planet Jupiter will shine less than a palm’s width below (or 5 degrees to the celestial south of) the waxing gibbous moon high in the southern sky – close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). By early evening\, the bright stars of winter will appear around them\, particularly yellowish Capella well to their upper left (or celestial north) and reddish Aldebaran just to their lower right (celestial south). Those stars are part of the huge winter hexagon asterism. The moon and Jupiter will culminate due south around 8 p.m. local time and set in the west in the wee hours of Friday morning.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-shines-above-jupiter-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb06-2025-at-645-pm-Moon-Shines-above-Jupiter.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250207T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250207T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005633Z
UID:19311-1738954800-1738965600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Brushes the Bull’s Horn (evening)
DESCRIPTION:On Friday evening\, February 7 in the Americas\, the bright\, gibbous moon will shine closely below (or celestial south of) the bright star Elnath. That blue giant star serves to mark both the upper horn-tip of Taurus\, the Bull\, and the southern end of the roughly oval shape of Auriga\, the Charioteer\, thus giving it the twin astronomical designations of Beta Tauri and Gamma Aurigae. The star is located 134 light-years from our sun. Binoculars (orange circle) will show the star against the glare of the moon. The moon’s eastward orbital motion will carry it farther from the star in more westerly time zones.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-brushes-the-bulls-horn-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb07-2025-at-7-pm-Moon-Brushes-the-Bulls-Horn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250209T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250210T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005814Z
UID:19312-1739131200-1739163600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Menaces Mars (all night)
DESCRIPTION:In the eastern sky after dusk on Sunday evening\, February 9\, the bright\, nearly full moon will be shining a short distance to the lower left (or celestial east) of the bright reddish planet Mars – close enough for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Gemini’s bright stars Castor and Pollux will twinkle to their left (or celestial northeast). The grouping will climb high in the southern sky around 10:30 p.m. local time and then set in the west before dawn on Monday. By then the orbital motion of the moon and the diurnal rotation of the sky will shift the moon farther from and above Mars. Hours before it rises in the Eastern Time zone\, the moon will occult Mars for observers located in the Canadian Arctic\, Greenland\, Iceland\, most of Scandinavia\, most of Russia\, eastern Kazakhstan\, Mongolia\, and most of China. Lunar occultations of planets are safe to observe with unaided eyes\, binoculars\, and telescopes. Use an app like Starry Night to look up the timings where you live.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-menaces-mars-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb09-2025-at-7-pm-Moon-Menaces-Mars.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250212T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250212T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004638Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005911Z
UID:19313-1739386800-1739397600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Full Snow Moon (at 13:53 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:February’s full moon will occur on Wednesday\, February 12 at 8:53 a.m. EST\, 5:53 a.m. PST\, or 13:53 GMT. In the Americas the moon will appear full on both Tuesday and Wednesday evening. The indigenous Anishnaabe (Ojibwe and Chippewa) people of the Great Lakes region call the February full moon Namebini-giizis “Sucker Fish Moon” or Mikwa-giizis\, the “Bear Moon”. For them it signifies a time to discover how to see beyond reality and to communicate through energy rather than sound. The Algonquin call it Wapicuummilcum\, the “Ice in River is Gone” moon. The Cree of North America call it Kisipisim\, the “the Great Moon”\, a time when the animals remain hidden away and traps are empty. For Europeans\, it is known as the Snow Moon or Hunger Moon. Full moons during the winter months climb as high at midnight as the summer noonday sun\, and cast similar shadows.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/full-snow-moon-at-1353-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb12-2025-at-1353-GMT-Full-Snow-Moon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250214T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250214T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T005353Z
UID:19315-1739554200-1739561400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Goddess of Love at Greatest Brilliance (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:For several hours after sunset on Friday\, February 14\, Venus will shine in the western sky at its greatest illuminated extent for the current evening apparition. In a telescope\, the planet will show a 27%-illuminated waning crescent phase and an apparent disk size of 39 arc-seconds. Even with a less than fully-illuminated disk (inset)\, Venus’ nearness to Earth of only 0.425 Astronomical Units (39.5 million miles or 63. 6 million km) will boost its brightness to a brilliant magnitude -4.85.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/goddess-of-love-at-greatest-brilliance-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250214T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250214T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010325Z
UID:19314-1739559600-1739570400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Evening Zodiacal Light (after dusk)
DESCRIPTION:If you live in a location where the sky is free of light pollution\, you might be able to spot the Zodiacal Light during the two weeks that precede the new moon on February 27. Starting on Friday\, February 14\, after the evening twilight has faded\, you’ll have about half an hour to check the western sky for a broad wedge of faint light extending upwards from the horizon and centered on the ecliptic below the planet Venus. That glow is the zodiacal light – sunlight scattered from countless small particles of material that populate the plane of our solar system. Don’t confuse it with the brighter Milky Way\, which extends upwards from the northwestern evening horizon at this time of year.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/evening-zodiacal-light-after-dusk/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb14-2025-at-7-pm-Evening-Zodiacal-Light.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010510Z
UID:19321-1739732400-1739743200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Watch Algol Fade (from 6:56 to 11:56 pm EST)
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 Sunday evening\, February 16 at 6:56 p.m. EST (or 23:56 GMT)\, Algol will start to fade from its usual brightness. At that time it will be shining very high in the western sky\, below the bright star Capella. Five hours later\, at 11:56 p.m. EST (or 04:56 GMT on Monday)\, Algol will have faded to its minimum brightness. It’s location at that time will be in the lower part of the northwestern sky.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/watch-algol-fade-from-656-to-1156-pm-est/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb16-2025-at-656-pm-EST-Watch-Algol-Fade.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010449Z
UID:19322-1739732400-1739743200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon approaches Spica (late night)
DESCRIPTION:When the waning gibbous moon rises in late evening on Sunday\, February 16\, it will be shining to the upper right (or celestial west) of Virgo’s brightest star Spica. As the night wears on the moon will shift closer to the star while Earth’s rotation carries them west\, where they will set after sunrise on Monday. Meanwhile\, skywatchers in a zone stretching across the South Pacific Ocean can watch the moon occult Spica in the middle of the night. Lunar occultations of stars are safe to observe with unaided eyes\, binoculars\, and telescopes. Use an app like Starry Night to look up the timings where you live.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-approaches-spica-late-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb16b-2025-at-11-pm-Moon-approaches-Spica.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250217T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250217T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010550Z
UID:19323-1739818800-1739829600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Stars of Orion’s Belt (evening)
DESCRIPTION:Orion’s three belt stars are bright enough to tolerate tonight’s moonlight. They may look similar\, but they are quite different\, under closer inspection. The left-most (easterly) of the three\, magnitude 1.85 Alnitak (Zeta Orionis) is bluer. In a telescope\, Alnitak (Arabic for “the Girdle”) is revealed to be a very tight magnitude 1.85 double star. At 1\,976 light-years from our sun\, the middle star\, Alnilam (Epsilon Orionis) is more than twice as far away as the other two. At the right-hand (western) end of the row\, magnitude 2.4 Mintaka (Delta Orionis) is a more widely spaced double star. Using binoculars (orange circle) look for a large\, upright\, S-shaped asterism of dim stars in the space between Alnilam and Mintaka. The medium-bright star sitting less than a finger’s width below (or 0.8 degrees southwest of) Alnitak is Sigma Orionis\, a beautiful little grouping of ten or more stars.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-stars-of-orions-belt-evening-2/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb17-2025-at-8-pm-The-Stars-of-Orions-Belt.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250218T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250219T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010614Z
UID:19324-1739908800-1739941200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Spectacular Orion Nebula (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:The bright stars of mighty Orion\, the Hunter\, shine in the southern sky on mid-February evenings. The sword of Orion\, which covers an area of 1.5 by 1 degrees (about the end of your thumb held up at arm’s length)\, descends from Orion’s three-starred belt. The patch of light in the middle of the sword is the spectacular and bright nebula known as the Orion Nebula or Messier 42 and NGC 1976. While simple binoculars will reveal the fuzzy nature of this object\, medium-to-large aperture telescopes (green circle) will show a complex pattern of veil-like gas and dark dust lanes and the Trapezium Cluster\, a tight clump of young stars that formed inside the nebula. Adding an Oxygen-III or broadband nebula filter will reveal even more details. The nebula and the stars forming within it are approximately 1\,350 light-years from the sun\, in the Orion arm of our Milky Way galaxy.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-spectacular-orion-nebula-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb18-2025-at-8-pm-The-Spectacular-Orion-Nebula.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250220T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250220T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010643Z
UID:19325-1740078000-1740088800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Third Quarter Moon (at 17:32 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete three quarters of its orbit around Earth\, measured from the previous new moon\, on Thursday\, February 20 at 12:32 p.m. EST or 9:32 a.m. PST\, or 17:32 GMT. At the third (or last) quarter phase the moon appears 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 in 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 evening skies that follow this phase are ideal for observing fainter deep sky targets.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/third-quarter-moon-at-1732-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb20-2025-at-1732-GMT-Third-Quarter-Moon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250221T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250221T000000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T010722Z
UID:19326-1740096000-1740096000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon nears Antares (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:Early risers on Friday morning\, February 21 can look in the southeastern sky to see the pretty sight of the waning crescent moon shining close to Antares. The duo will be cozy enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). That luminous reddish star located 550 light-years from our sun marks the heart of Scorpius.  Observers located on Easter Island and southern South America can watch the moon occult Antares with unaided eyes\, binoculars\, and telescopes. Use an app like Starry Night to look up the timings where you live.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-nears-antares-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb21-2025-at-6-am-Crescent-Moon-nears-Antares.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250223T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250224T050000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T011704Z
UID:19327-1740340800-1740373200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mars Reverses Course (all night)
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday night\, February 23\, the bright reddish planet Mars will cease its westward motion through the stars of northern Gemini\, ending a retrograde loop (red path with labeled dates:time) that began in early December. From this point on\, Mars will ramp up its regular easterly prograde motion below the bright stars Castor and Pollux. The red planet will be shining brightly high in the southeastern sky each evening.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mars-reverses-course-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb23-2025-at-7-pm-Mars-Reverses-Course.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250224T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250224T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T011730Z
UID:19328-1740418200-1740425400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mercury Climbs past Saturn (after sunset)
DESCRIPTION:On the evenings surrounding Monday\, February 24\, the swift orbital motion of the planet Mercury  (dotted red path) will carry it upwards past Saturn\, and close enough for the two planets to share the view in a low magnification telescope. After the sun has completely set from Sunday through Wednesday\, use binoculars (orange circle) to look for the two planets shining just above the western horizon. Mercury\, which will be about 8 times brighter than Saturn\, will be closest to Saturn on Monday and Tuesday.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mercury-climbs-past-saturn-after-sunset/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb24-2025-at-615-pm-Mercury-Climbs-past-Saturn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250227T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250227T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T011830Z
UID:19329-1740677400-1740684600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:New Moon (at 7:45 PM EST)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its new phase on Thursday\, February 27 at 7:45 p.m. EST or 4:45 p.m. PST\, which converts to 00:45 GMT on Friday. At that time our natural satellite will be located in Aquarius and only 1.9 degrees south 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. This new moon will mark the lunar new year in China\, who will celebrate the Year of the Snake.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/new-moon-at-745-pm-est/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb27-2025-at-745-PM-EST-New-Moon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250228T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250228T193000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250203T004709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250203T011845Z
UID:19330-1740763800-1740771000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Young Moon between Mercury and Saturn (after sunset)
DESCRIPTION:Mercury will continue to climb higher above Saturn in the western sky after sunset each evening (red dotted path). For observers in the Americas on Friday\, February 28\, the very young crescent moon will pose between the two planets. All three objects will fit within the field of view of certain models of binoculars (orange circle).
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/young-moon-between-mercury-and-saturn-after-sunset/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Feb28-2025-at-615-pm-Young-Moon-between-Mercury-and-Saturn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250301T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250301T230000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250303T010520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250303T010520Z
UID:19447-1740852000-1740870000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earthshine Moon with Mercury and Venus
DESCRIPTION:The western sky after sunset on Saturday\, March 1 will provide us with a spectacular sight and a lovely photo opportunity. The sliver of a crescent moon will shine below Venus and above Mercury. Venus and the moon will linger for about an hour longer after Mercury sinks below the rooftops around 6:30 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 also has a crescent phase while Mercury will show a gibbous shape.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/earthshine-moon-with-mercury-and-venus/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Venus-Mar2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250401T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250401T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250329T002217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T002553Z
UID:19561-1743534000-1743544800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Crosses the Pleiades (evening)
DESCRIPTION:Once the has sky darkened on Tuesday evening\, April 1\, look in the lower part of the western sky\, where the bright little Pleiades Star Cluster (aka The Seven Sisters\, Subaru\, and Messier 45) will be close enough to the 17%-illuminated waxing crescent moon for them all to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Skywatchers in Europe and Africa will see the moon below or passing through the cluster\, while those in the Americas and the Pacific Ocean region will see the moon above its stars.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-crosses-the-pleiades-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr01-2025-at-830-pm-Crescent-Moon-Crosses-the-Pleiades.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250402T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250402T220000
DTSTAMP:20260418T195908
CREATED:20250329T002217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T002639Z
UID:19562-1743620400-1743631200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Pretty Moon Joins Jupiter (evening)
DESCRIPTION:Another 24 hours of eastward orbital motion will place the slightly fuller crescent moon less than a palm’s width to the upper right (or 5 degrees to the celestial north) of the brilliant planet Jupiter between the horns of Taurus\, the Bull on Wednesday evening\, April  2. The duo will share the view in binoculars (orange circle) and make a nice photo opportunity until they set in the west towards midnight local time.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/pretty-moon-joins-jupiter-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr02-2025-at-9-pm-Pretty-Moon-Joins-Jupiter.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR