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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for RASC Hamilton
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250415T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250416T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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:20260430T030201
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
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250311T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250312T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191809Z
UID:19482-1741723200-1741755600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon near Regulus (all night)
DESCRIPTION:Once the sky begins to darken on Tuesday\, March 11\, the bright\, white star Regulus\, which marks the heart of Leo\, the Lion will appear several finger widths below the bright\, waxing gibbous moon – close enough for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Early risers on Wednesday morning can look above the western horizon to see the moon shining much closer to the star. Also designated Alpha Leonis\, Regulus’ position less than one degree north of the ecliptic (green line) causes it to be occasionally occulted by the moon and planets. The white\, B-class star is located 79 light-years away from our sun.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-near-regulus-all-night/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250309T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250309T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191809Z
UID:19481-1741546800-1741557600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Daylight Saving Time Begins (at 2 a.m.)
DESCRIPTION:For jurisdictions that adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST)\, clocks should be set forward by one hour at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday\, March 9. For stargazers\, the time change\, and the fact that sunsets occur 1 minute later each day near the March equinox\, will mean that dark-sky observing cannot commence until much later in the evening – possibly after the bedtime of junior astronomers. The difference from local time to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the astronomers’ Universal Time (UT) decreases by one hour when DST is in effect. Daylight Saving Time will end on November 2\, 2025.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/daylight-saving-time-begins-at-2-a-m/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250308T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250309T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191809Z
UID:19480-1741464000-1741496400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Joins Mars in Gemini (all night)
DESCRIPTION:Once the sky darkens on Saturday evening\, March 8\, bright reddish Mars and Gemini’s two brightest stars Castor and Pollux will appear around the bright gibbous moon. Mars and the moon will be close enough together to share the view in a backyard telescope or binoculars (orange circle). The “twin” stars will shine off to their left (or celestial northeast). As the night wears on the moon’s eastward orbital motion will carry it between Mars and Pollux and the diurnal rotation of the sky will rotate the twins above the moon and Mars.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-joins-mars-in-gemini-all-night/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250308T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250308T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191807Z
UID:19479-1741455000-1741462200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation near Venus (after sunset)
DESCRIPTION:After sunset on the evenings surrounding Saturday\, March 8\, Mercury (orbit shown in red) stretch to its widest separation of 18.1 degrees east of the sun\, and also its maximum visibility for its current apparition. With Mercury positioned in the western sky above the nearly upright evening ecliptic (green line)\, this appearance of the planet will be an excellent one for Northern Hemisphere observers\, but a poor showing for observers located in the Southern Hemisphere. The optimal viewing times at mid-northern latitudes will be around 6:30 p.m. local time. Viewed in a telescope (inset) the planet will exhibit a waning\, half-illuminated phase. Much brighter Venus\, itself showing a slim crescent phase\, will be positioned a generous palm’s width to Mercury’s upper right (or 7 degrees to the celestial north).
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mercury-at-greatest-eastern-elongation-near-venus-after-sunset/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250306T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250306T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191807Z
UID:19478-1741287600-1741298400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon meets Elnath (at 16:32 GMT)
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete the first quarter of its orbit around Earth\, measuring from the previous new moon\, on Thursday\, March 6 at 11:32 a.m. EST or 8:32 a.m. PST or 16:32 GMT. At first quarter\, the 90 degree angle formed by the Earth\, sun\, and moon will cause us to see our natural satellite as a half-moon with its eastern hemisphere illuminated. At this part of the lunar cycle\, the moon always rises around noon and sets around midnight\, allowing it 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. After dusk on Thursday evening\, the bright star Elnath\, which marks the northern horn-tip of Taurus\, the Bull\, will shine just to the moon’s upper left.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/first-quarter-moon-meets-elnath-at-1632-gmt/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250305T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250305T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191807Z
UID:19477-1741201200-1741212000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Half-Moon with Jupiter and the Pleiades (evening)
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday evening\, March 5 after dusk\, the nearly half-illuminated moon will shine to the lower right (or celestial northwest) of the brilliant planet Jupiter. The bright little Pleiades Star Cluster\, which is best viewed in binoculars (orange circle)\, will be positioned about a palm’s width below the moon. Those viewing the trio later\, or in more westerly time zones\, will see the moon shifted closer to Jupiter and farther from the cluster. Look early\, as they will set in the west around midnight local time.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/half-moon-with-jupiter-and-the-pleiades-evening/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250303T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250303T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191807Z
UID:19476-1741028400-1741039200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mare Crisium (evening)
DESCRIPTION:On Monday evening\, March 3\, the pretty crescent of the young moon will host the dark oval of Mare Crisium. This 345 mile (556 km) diameter basin is easy to see using your unaided eyes\, binoculars\, and any telescope. It is located near the eastern edge of the moon\, just north of the moon’s equator (the up-down red curve). The wobble of the moon\, known as lunar libration\, shifts Mare Crisium higher and lower\, and closer and farther from the moon’s edge at various times.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mare-crisium-evening/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250301T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250301T230000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
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:20250301T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250301T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
CREATED:20250309T191807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250309T191807Z
UID:19475-1740850200-1740857400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Earthshine Moon with Mercury and Venus (after sunset)
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-after-sunset/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250228T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250228T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T030201
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
END:VCALENDAR