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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:20260430T000915
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:20250425T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250425T233000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250401T234217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250401T234217Z
UID:19659-1745611200-1745623800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Friday Night Sights
DESCRIPTION:Join us (weather permitting) at our Observatory! \nSee Friday Night Sights: Explore the Night Sky – RASC Hamilton for the latest updates on the upcoming date.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/friday-night-sights/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250425T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250425T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003944Z
UID:19577-1745539200-1745539200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Meets Planets (before sunrise)
DESCRIPTION:After 24 hours of additional eastward orbital motion\, the very slim crescent of the old moon will shine within a triangle composed of three planets before sunrise on Friday morning\, April 25. Locate brilliant Venus and then look for the moon about a binoculars’ field of view (orange circle) to its lower left. Less bright Saturn will appear below Venus and to the right of the moon\, while Mercury will be positioned about a fist’s diameter to the lower left of the two planets. You’ll need an unobstructed\, cloud-view view to the east to see them from moonrise around 4:40 a.m. local time until the sky brightens enough to hide all but Venus. Observers closer to tropical latitudes will see the grouping\, which will be oriented up-down\, more easily.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-meets-planets-before-sunrise/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr25-2025-at-530-am-Crescent-Moon-Meets-Planets.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250424T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250424T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002236Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003859Z
UID:19576-1745452800-1745452800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Old Moon Shines with Venus and Saturn (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday morning\, April 24\, early risers can look low in the eastern sky for the pretty sight of the waning crescent moon shining a fist’s diameter to the right (or 10 degrees to the celestial west) of brilliant Venus. Much fainter Saturn will also shine a few degrees below Venus. Just before sunrise\, Mercury will appear just above the horizon to Venus’ lower left. The moon and Venus\, which will clear the rooftops around 5:15 a.m. local time\, will make a lovely photo opportunity. Faint Neptune will not be visible.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/old-moon-shines-with-venus-and-saturn-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr24-2025-at-530-am-Old-Moon-Shines-with-Venus-and-Saturn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250422T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250423T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003823Z
UID:19575-1745352000-1745384400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Lyrids Meteor Shower Peak (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:The annual Lyrids meteor shower\, derived from particles dropped by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)\, runs from April 16 to 29. It will peak in intensity at approximately 9 am EDT on Tuesday\, April 22\, but some meteors should be seen while the shower’s radiant point near the bright star Vega in Lyra climbs the eastern sky starting late on Monday night\, April 21. The Lyrids can produce up to 15-20 meteors per hour at the peak\, with occasional fireballs. The waning crescent moon rising in the wee hours shouldn’t hinder the shower this year. For best results\, try to view the meteors from a safe location that has a wide open sky free of light pollution. Don’t focus your attention on the radiant because the meteors near it will be travelling towards you and have extremely short trails.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/lyrids-meteor-shower-peak-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr22-2025-after-midnight-Lyrids-Meteor-Shower-Peak.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250421T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250421T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003744Z
UID:19573-1745262000-1745272800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Third Quarter Moon (at 01:35 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its third quarter phase on Monday\, April 21 at 01:35 GMT\, which converts to 9:35 p.m. EDT or 6:35 p.m. PDT on Sunday\, April 20. Third quarter moons rise around midnight in your local time zone\, and then linger in the southern sky after sunrise. At third\, or last\, quarter the moon is illuminated on its western side\, towards the pre-dawn sun. 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-0135-gmt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr21-2025-at-0135-GMT-Third-Quarter-Moon.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250421T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250421T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003709Z
UID:19574-1745193600-1745193600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation (before sunrise)
DESCRIPTION:On Monday\, April 21\, Mercury (orbit shown in red) will reach its greatest angle of 27.4 degrees from the morning sun and maximum visibility for its current morning apparition. With Mercury positioned low in the eastern sky and well below the tilted morning ecliptic (green line)\, this appearance of the innermost planet will be a poor one for Northern Hemisphere observers\, but an excellent one for those viewing Mercury from the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. The optimal viewing times at mid-northern latitudes will start around 5:45 a.m. local time. Viewed in a telescope (inset) the planet will exhibit a waxing\, almost half-illuminated phase.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mercury-at-greatest-western-elongation-before-sunrise/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr21b-2025-at-6-am-Mercury-at-Greatest-Western-Elongation.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250419T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250420T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003559Z
UID:19572-1745092800-1745125200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Ursa Major Galaxies (all night)
DESCRIPTION:The Big Dipper asterism and its home constellation of Ursa Major are very high in the northern sky in late evening during mid-April – ideal for observing the spectacular galaxies they host in strong binoculars or backyard telescopes on the dark nights this weekend. Draw a line connecting the dipper stars Phecda to Dubhe\, and extend it by an amount equal to their separation to arrive at the galaxy named Bode’s Nebula\, otherwise known as Messier 81. It’s a magnitude 6.9 spiral galaxy oriented not quite face-on to Earth\, making it appear relatively large and bright. A smaller\, magnitude 8.4 galaxy named the Cigar or Messier 82 is located less than a finger’s width below (or half a degree to the celestial north of) it. That allows both galaxies to be viewed together in the eyepiece of a telescope at low magnification (inset). Several other fainter galaxies can be found within a few degrees of Bode’s Nebula.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/ursa-major-galaxies-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr19-2025-at-10-pm-Ursa-Major-Galaxies.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250418T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250419T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003510Z
UID:19571-1745006400-1745038800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Whirlpool and Pinwheel Galaxies (all night)
DESCRIPTION:On evenings during mid-April\, the Big Dipper is positioned nearly overhead with its handle pointed down to the east. On this week’s moonless nights\, two impressive galaxies can be seen in binoculars (orange circle) and backyard telescopes by using the bright star Alkaid at the tip of the dipper’s handle to find them. The Pinwheel Galaxy\, or Messier 101\, is a spectacular\, large\, face-on spiral galaxy positioned a slim palm’s width to the lower left (or 5.5 degrees north) of Alkaid\, forming an equilateral triangle with Mizar\, the double star at the bend of the dipper’s handle. This relatively close galaxy (21 million light-years away) is nearly as large as the full moon in the sky. Since the galaxy’s light is spread over such a large area\, its overall brightness is lowered. Aim your binoculars several finger widths to the upper right (or 3.7 degrees to the southwest) of Alkaid to discover the iconic Whirlpool Galaxy\, aka Messier 51. This spiral galaxy’s angular size is smaller\, but it will look somewhat brighter in your binoculars and telescope. A secondary galaxy core designated NGC 5195 close beside M51 is linked by a bridge of material.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-whirlpool-and-pinwheel-galaxies-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr18-2025-at-10-pm-The-Whirlpool-and-Pinwheel-Galaxies.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250416T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250417T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003411Z
UID:19570-1744833600-1744866000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Covers Antares (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday evening\, April 16\, observers in a zone extending from the southern Atlantic Ocean\, the southern part of Africa\, the Kerguelen Islands\, and eastern Antarctica can watch the motion (green line) of the bright\, waning gibbous moon cross in front of (or occult) the very bright\, reddish star Antares\, which marks the heart of Scorpius. 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/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr16-2025-at-930-pm-SAST-Bright-Moon-Covers-Antares.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250415T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250416T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003319Z
UID:19569-1744747200-1744779600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Moves Through the Scorpion’s Claws (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:When the bright\, waning gibbous moon clears the trees to the southeast in late evening on Tuesday\, April 15\, it will be shining close to the line of medium-bright stars that form the claws of Scorpius\, the Scorpion. From upper left to lower right\, their names are Graffias (or Beta Scorpii)\, Dschubba (or Delta Scorpii)\, Pi Scorpii\, and Rho Scorpii. Skywatchers viewing later that night\, or in more westerly time zones\, can see the moon approach (green line) and then cross in front of Pi Scorpii around 5 a.m. EDT or 09:00 GMT. 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/moon-moves-through-the-scorpions-claws-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr15-2025-at-midnight-Moon-Moves-Through-the-Scorpions-Claws.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250412T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250412T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003218Z
UID:19568-1744416000-1744416000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mini Full Pink Paschal Moon Occults Spica (at 5:22 pm EDT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will officially reach its full phase on Saturday\, April 12 at 8:22 p.m. EDT or 5:22 p.m. PDT\, which converts to 00:22 GMT on Sunday. Around that time\, the full moon will also pass in front of the bright star Spica for observers within a zone from Panama southeast across northern South America\, and ending near the southern tip of Africa. Surrounding regions will see Spica near the moon. April’s full moon\, commonly called the Pink Moon\, Sprouting Grass Moon\, Egg Moon\, or Fish Moon\, always shines in or near the stars of Virgo or Libra. The moon won’t look pink\, though – the name arises from the forest wildflowers blooming in April. The indigenous Ojibwe groups of the Great Lakes region call the April full moon Iskigamizige-giizis “the Maple Sap Boiling Moon” or Namebine-giizis\, “the Sucker Moon”. For them it signifies a time to learn cleansing and healing ways. The Cree of North America call it Niskipisim\, “the Goose Moon” – the time when the geese return with spring. For the Mi’kmaw people of Eastern Canada\, this is Penatmuiku’s\, “the Birds Laying Eggs Time Moon”. The Cherokee call it Kawonuhi\, “the Flower Moon”\, when the plants bloom. This full moon will occur less than 23 hours before its monthly perigee\, making it the smallest full moon in 2025. It’s also the Paschal Moon that controls the timing of Easter and Passover.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mini-full-pink-paschal-moon-occults-spica-at-522-pm-edt/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr12-2025-at-822-pm-EDT-Mini-Full-Pink-Paschal-Moon-Occults-Spica.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250411T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250411T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003138Z
UID:19567-1744329600-1744329600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Venus Gleams above Mercury and Saturn (before sunrise)
DESCRIPTION:During the early part of April\, the planets Venus\, Mercury\, Neptune\, and Saturn will all be gathered above the eastern horizon before sunrise. Neptune is far too faint to compete against the morning twilight\, but the other three planets will be visible\, especially from tropical latitudes where the ecliptic (green line) will be closer to vertical. On the mornings surrounding Friday\, April 11\, find brilliant Venus and then search a bit more than a binoculars’ field of view below it (orange circle) for the side-by-side pair of Mercury and Saturn. Mercury will be the slightly brighter planet to Saturn’s left. On the prior few days\, Saturn will be lower than Mercury. Then it will climb while Mercury descends.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/venus-gleams-above-mercury-and-saturn-before-sunrise/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr11-2025-at-6-am-Venus-Gleams-above-Mercury-and-Saturn.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250409T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250410T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003103Z
UID:19566-1744228800-1744261200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Aristarchus Plateau (all night)
DESCRIPTION:Three prominent craters break up the expanse of Oceanus Procellarum\, the widespread dark region on the moon’s left-hand side. Large Copernicus is the easternmost of the craters. Its extensive\, ragged ray system intermingles with that of the smaller crater Kepler to its southwest. The small\, but very bright crater Aristarchus positioned northwest of them will fall just to the sunny side of the terminator on Wednesday\, April 9. Aristarchus occupies the southeastern corner of a spectacular\, diamond-shaped plateau. A backyard telescope under high magnification will show features like the large\, sinuous rille named Vallis Schröteri. Its snake-like form begins between Aristarchus and the next-door crater Herodotus and meanders across the plateau. One of the most colorful regions on the moon\, NASA orbiters have detected high levels of radioactive radon there.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-aristarchus-plateau-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr09-2025-at-9-pm-The-Aristarchus-Plateau.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250406T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250406T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T003025Z
UID:19565-1743966000-1743976800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Winter Triangle (evening)
DESCRIPTION:The lower part of the southwestern sky on early April evenings is dominated by the three bright stars of the Winter Triangle. The prominent asterism\, which is visible even while the bright\, waxing gibbous moon is shining nearby this weekend\, is anchored on the bottom by the magnitude -1.45 star Sirius or Alpha Canis Majoris\, the brightest star in the entire night sky. Above Sirius (to the celestial NNE) shines the white\, magnitude 0.34 star Procyon or Alpha Canis Minoris. The third\, northwestern vertex is occupied by the reddish\, magnitude 0.50 star Betelgeuse or Alpha Orionis. The Winter Triangle first appears in late evening during November. By the end of April it will be disappearing into the western post-sunset twilight. This spring\, the even brighter planet Jupiter will gleam off to the triangle’s right side.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-winter-triangle-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr06-2025-at-915-pm-The-Winter-Triangle.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250404T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250405T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T002847Z
UID:19564-1743796800-1743829200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon Approaches Mars (overnight)
DESCRIPTION:On Friday night\, April 4 in the western evening sky\, the half-full moon will shine a fist’s diameter below (or 10 degrees to the celestial west of) the red planet Mars and Gemini’s two brightest stars\, Pollux and Castor. Observers in more westerly time zones will see the moon closer to the line formed by the trio. The moon will officially complete the first quarter of its orbit around Earth at 10:15 p.m. EDT or 7:15 p.m. PDT\, which converts to 02:15 GMT on Saturday\, April 5. At first quarter\, the relative positions of the Earth\, sun\, and moon cause us to see our natural satellite half-illuminated – on its eastern side. First quarter moons always rise around noon and set around midnight\, allowing them to be seen in the afternoon daytime sky\, too. The evenings surrounding first quarter 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-approaches-mars-overnight/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr04-2025-at-9-pm-First-Quarter-Moon-Approaches-Mars.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250403T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250403T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250401T233932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250401T233932Z
UID:19656-1743710400-1743717600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Club Monthly Meeting - Malcolm Park
DESCRIPTION:Join us Thursday April 3 for our monthly meeting.  For more information\, see April 3 Meeting – The Atacama Backyard Observatory by Malcom Park – RASC Hamilton
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/club-monthly-meeting-malcolm-park/
LOCATION:St. Matthews Anglican Church – 126 Plains Road East Burlington\, ON\, 126 Plains Road East\, Burlington\, Ontario\, Canada
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250403T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250403T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250329T002217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T002734Z
UID:19563-1743706800-1743717600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Lunar Craters Theophilus\, Cyrillus\, and Catharina (evening)
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday evening\, April 3\, the terminator boundary that separtes the moon’s lit and dark hemispheres will fall just to the left of a trio of large craters named Theophilus\, Cyrillus\, and Catharina that curve along the western edge of gray Mare Nectaris. You can tell what order the craters were formed in by observing how sharp and fresh Theophilus’ rim appears\, and by the way it has partially overprinted neighboring Cyrillus to its lower left (or lunar southwest). Under magnification\, Theophilus’ terraced rim and craggy central mountain peak are evident. Cyrillus hosts a trio of degraded central peaks inside a hexagonal rim\, while much older Catharina’s peak has been submerged\, her edges blurred and her floor overprinted by smaller\, more recent craters.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/lunar-craters-theophilus-cyrillus-and-catharina-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Apr03-2025-at-9-pm-Lunar-Craters-Theophilus-Cyrillus-and-Catharina.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250402T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250402T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
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
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250401T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250401T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
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;VALUE=DATE:20250331
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250401
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T192159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T192248Z
UID:19499-1743379200-1743465599@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earthshine Moon Below Jupiter (after sunset)
DESCRIPTION:In the western sky after sunset on Monday\, March 31\, the very slender crescent of the young moon will resemble the Cheshire Cat’s smile when it shines below bright Jupiter and the Pleiades Star Cluster – setting up a wonderful widefield photo opportunity. Uranus will be positioned between them\, but not easily seen without a telescope. Watch 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.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/monday-march-31-earthshine-moon-below-jupiter-after-sunset/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250329
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250330
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T192138Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T192328Z
UID:19497-1743206400-1743292799@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse (at 10:58 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The March new moon will occur on Saturday\, March 29 at 6:58 a.m. EDT\, 3:58 a.m. PDT\, and 10:58 GMT. This new moon will also produce a very deep partial solar eclipse visible across the northeastern USA and Canada\, Greenland\, most of Europe\, northwestern Africa\, and northern Russia. After the moon’s penumbral shadow first contacts Earth at 08:50:43 GMT in the Atlantic Ocean north of Belem\, Brazil\, it will sweep northwestward through the New England states and the Canadian Maritimes\, across Quebec and Nunavut\, then over the pole and southward through northern Russia until it lifts off Earth north of Krasnoyarsk at 12:43:45 GMT. The instant of greatest eclipse\, with the moon blocking 94% of the sun’s diameter\, will occur on the northeastern coast of Hudson Bay\, Canada just after sunrise at 6:47 a.m. EDT or 10:47:27 GMT. This new moon will also generate large tides worldwide.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/saturday-march-29-new-moon-partial-solar-eclipse-at-1058-gmt/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250323
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250324
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T192058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T192347Z
UID:19495-1742688000-1742774399@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earth Crosses Saturn’s Ring Plane (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:On Sunday\, March 23\, Earth’s orbit will carry us from the north side to the south side of the plane defined by Saturn’s rings\, an event that happens every fourteen to seventeen Earth years. On that date\, the planet’s very thin rings will effectively vanish for a number of hours\, leaving the planet as a simple\, unadorned globe. During the days and weeks surrounding the crossing\, the rings appear through backyard telescopes as a thin line drawn through Saturn. Unfortunately\, this crossing will occur while Saturn is only 10 degrees from the pre-dawn sun and well below the slanted morning ecliptic for observers at mid-northern latitudes. Those viewing Saturn from mid-southern latitudes will have the best chance to see Saturn without rings\, but the view will be hampered by morning twilight and atmospheric turbulence and haze over the eastern horizon. The next ring plane crossing will be in October\, 2038\, when Saturn will be 28 degrees from the morning sun.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/sunday-march-23-earth-crosses-saturns-ring-plane-pre-dawn/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250322T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250322T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191823Z
UID:19494-1742670000-1742680800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Third Quarter Moon (at 11:29 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its third quarter phase on Saturday\, March 22 at 6:29 a.m. EST\, 3:29 a.m. PST or 11:29 GMT. Third quarter moons rise around midnight in your local time zone\, and then remain visible in the morning daytime sky. At third\, or last\, quarter the moon is 50%-illuminated\, on its western side\, towards the pre-dawn Sun. The week of dark\, moonless evening skies that follow this phase are ideal for observing deep sky targets in binoculars and telescopes\, especially springtime galaxies.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/third-quarter-moon-at-1129-gmt/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250320T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250320T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191823Z
UID:19492-1742428800-1742428800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:March Equinox (at 4:01 a.m. EDT)
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, March 20 at 4:01 a.m. EDT or 1:01 a.m. PDT and 09:01 GMT\, the sun will cross the celestial equator traveling north\, marking the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of northern spring. Days and nights will be of equal length on that day\, and the sun will rise due east and set due west. At mid-northern latitudes on the March equinox\, the amount of daylight added to each day peaks at 3 minutes.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/march-equinox-at-401-a-m-edt/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250320T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250320T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191823Z
UID:19493-1742428800-1742428800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Shines near Antares (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:In the southern sky on Thursday morning\, March 20\, early morning sky-watchers can see the bright\, waning gibbous moon shining several fingers widths to the right of Antares\, the bright\, reddish star that marks the heart of the Scorpion. The duo will be cozy enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Observers located in most of Australia\, southern New Zealand\, and westernmost Antarctica 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/moon-shines-near-antares-pre-dawn/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250316T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250316T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191823Z
UID:19491-1742151600-1742162400@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 March 29. Starting on Sunday\, March 16\, 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 Jupiter. 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 horizon in evening at this time of year.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/evening-zodiacal-light-after-dusk-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250315T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250316T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191823Z
UID:19490-1742068800-1742101200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Approaches Spica (all night)
DESCRIPTION:After the bright\, waning gibbous moon clears the rooftops in the southeast during mid-evening on Saturday\, March 15\, Virgo’s brightest star Spica will be twinkling to its lower left (or celestial east). As the night wears on\, the moon will drift closer to the star while Earth’s rotation carries them west. Before sunrise on Sunday morning\, the star will have shifted to the moon’s upper left. On Sunday evening\, skywatchers in a zone stretching from eastern Africa and south across the Indian Ocean to southeastern Australia can watch the moon occult Spica. 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/bright-moon-approaches-spica-all-night/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250314T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250314T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191809Z
UID:19484-1741910400-1741910400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Full Crow Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse (at 06:55 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its full phase on Friday\, March 14 at 2:55 a.m. EDT or 06:55 GMT\, which converts to 11:55 p.m. PDT on Thursday\, March 13. To a casual glance\, the moon will appear full on both Thursday and Friday night. The March full moon\, known as the Worm Moon\, Crow Moon\, Sap Moon or Lenten Moon\, always shines in or near the stars of Leo or Virgo. The indigenous Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region call this full moon Ziissbaakdoke-giizis “Sugar Moon” or Onaabani-giizis\, the “Hard Crust on the Snow Moon”. For them it signifies a time to balance their lives and to celebrate the new year. The Cree of North America call it Mikisiwipisim\, the “the Eagle Moon” – the month when the eagle returns. The Cherokee call it Anvyi\, the “Windy Moon”\, when the planting cycle begins anew. This full moon will pass directly through the Earth’s umbral shadow\, producing a total lunar eclipse visible across the Americas and a partial eclipse in the Pacific and western Europe and Africa regions. The lower left (southwestern) rim of the full moon will start its trip through the weaker penumbral shadow at 11:57 p.m. EDT on Thursday (03:57 GMT)\, very slightly darkening it. The first “bite” out the moon will appear when it contacts the central umbra at 1:09 a.m. EDT (05:09 GMT). It will be fully darkened into a reddened\, so-called “Blood Moon” from 2:26 to 3:32 a.m. EDT (06:26 to 07:32 GMT). The moon will finally move clear of the Earth’s umbral shadow at the final “bite” time of 4:48 a.m. EDT (8:48 GMT) on Friday morning. Lunar eclipses are completely safe to view and photograph without filters. This lunar eclipse will be followed two weeks later by a partial solar eclipse on March 29.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/full-crow-moon-and-total-lunar-eclipse-at-0655-gmt/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250312T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250312T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T000915
CREATED:20250309T191808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191809Z
UID:19483-1741800600-1741807800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Venus Dances with Mercury (after sunset)
DESCRIPTION:In the western sky after sunset on the evenings surrounding Wednesday\, March 12\, the inner planets Mercury and Venus will dance with one another. Both planets will be swinging sunward in their orbits and dropping lower night over night. Mercury and much brighter Venus to its right will be cozy enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle) from March 8 onward. At closest approach on Wednesday\, they will be 5.5 degrees apart. Good binoculars or a backyard telescope will show that Venus has a very slim\, 5%-illuminated crescent phase (inset)\, while Mercury will be smaller and 26%-illuminated.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/venus-dances-with-mercury-after-sunset/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR