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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;VALUE=DATE:20250331
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250401
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20260430T055013
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:20250227T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250227T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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:20250224T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250224T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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:20250223T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250224T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250221T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250221T000000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250220T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250220T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250218T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250219T050000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250217T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250217T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250216T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250214T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250214T220000
DTSTAMP:20260430T055013
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
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