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X-WR-CALNAME:RASC Hamilton
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for RASC Hamilton
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TZID:America/Toronto
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241221T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241221T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18752-1734739200-1734739200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Ursids Meteor Shower Peak
DESCRIPTION:The Ursids meteor shower\, which is produced by particles of debris dropped by the periodic comet 8P/Tuttle\, runs from December 17 to 26 every year. The weak\, short-duration shower will peak (usually with only 5 to 10 meteors visible in an hour) while Earth is traversing the densest part of the debris field on Sunday morning in the Americas\, but the best time to watch for Ursids meteors will be Saturday evening\, December 21 before the bright\, waning gibbous moon rises around midnight local time. True Ursids will streak away from a location near the North Star Polaris\, but the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/ursids-meteor-shower-peak/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241220T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241220T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18750-1734652800-1734652800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Hyades Cluster
DESCRIPTION:Located only about 150 light years away from the sun\, Taurus\, the Bull’s triangular face is actually one of the nearest open star clusters to our solar system. Its stars are commonly called The Hyades\, named for the five daughters of Atlas in Greek mythology. It also has the designations Melotte 25 and Caldwell 41. The cluster contains several hundred stars\, with a half-dozen or so readily seen under moonless suburban skies\, many as close-together pairs. It’s a superb target to view in binoculars. The five brightest members\, all naked-eye stars\, are within a few light years of one another. The cluster’s stars likely formed together about 625 million years ago. The bright orange star Aldebaran\, at the lower (or southeastern) vertex of the Hyades triangle\, is actually not part of the cluster. It is less than half as far away! In mid-December\, the Hyades climbs the eastern sky in early evening and reaches its highest point due south around 10:30 p.m. local time. This winter\, Jupiter will be gleaming just a palm’s width to the left (or 6 degrees to the celestial northeast) of the bull’s face.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-hyades-cluster/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241219T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241219T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18749-1734566400-1734566400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Stellar Halo around Mirfak
DESCRIPTION:On mid-December evenings the constellation of Perseus is climbing the northeastern sky. Just for 2024\, bright Jupiter will also be gleaming to the lower right of Perseus. The outer rim of our Milky Way galaxy runs through Perseus’ stars\, filling its territory with rich star clusters. The largest of those surrounds his brightest star\, Mirfak\, or Alpha Persei. That elderly yellow supergiant star has evolved out of its blue phase and is now fusing helium into carbon and oxygen in its core. Melotte 20\, also known as the Alpha Persei Moving Group and the Perseus OB3 Association\, is a collection of 100 or so young\, massive\, hot B- and A-class stars sprinkled over several finger widths (or 3 degrees) of the sky around Mirfak. The cluster can be seen with unaided eyes\, but it’s especially dazzling in binoculars (orange circle). Its stars are approximately 600 light years from the sun and are moving as a group – Mirfak along with them.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/stellar-halo-around-mirfak/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241218T234700
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241218T234700
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18748-1734565620-1734565620@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Watch Algol Brighten
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 Wednesday evening\, December 18 at 6:47 p.m. EST or 23:47 GMT\, Algol will be at its minimum brightness while it shines about two thirds of the way up the eastern sky\, above and between the bright star Capella and Jupiter. Five hours later Algol will return to full intensity while it shines high in the western sky below Capella and Jupiter.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/watch-algol-brighten/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241217T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241217T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18747-1734393600-1734393600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Moves toward Mars
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday evening\, December 17\, the bright\, 90%-illuminated moon will shine a short distance above (or celestial WNW of) the prominent reddish dot of Mars. The moon and the reddish planet will be close enough to share the view in binoculars\, which will also show the widely scattered stars of the Beehive Cluster below Mars. As they cross the sky together all night long\, the moon will move closer to Mars\, and will actually occult the planet for observers located at far northern latitudes. In the Americas\, the moon will be positioned very closely above the planet as they sink into the west around sunrise on Wednesday morning.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-moves-toward-mars/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241216T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241216T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172130Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172130Z
UID:18746-1734307200-1734307200@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon between the Twins
DESCRIPTION:Look low in the eastern sky after dusk on Monday\, December 16 to see the bright\, waning gibbous moon gleaming just to the right (or celestial southwest) of Gemini’s brightest stars. Golden Pollux and the brighter\, whiter double star Castor above it should still be visible against the moon’s glare. Binoculars (orange circle) will reveal a handful of smaller stars immediately to the left of the moon\, marking where the brothers are grasping hands. Bright\, reddish Mars will shine off to their lower left. As the night wears on\, the moon’s orbital motion will carry it closer to Pollux while the diurnal rotation of the sky shifts the constellation to the moon’s right (or celestial northwest) and puts Mars above them all.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-between-the-twins/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241215T090200
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241215T090200
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18745-1734253320-1734253320@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Full Oak Moon
DESCRIPTION:The December full moon will occur at 4:02 a.m. EST\, 1:02 a.m. PST\, or 09:02 GMT on Sunday\, December 15. Traditionally known as the Oak Moon\, Cold Moon\, and Long Nights Moon\, it always shines in or near the stars of Taurus and Gemini. The Ojibwe of the Great Lakes region call the December full moon Manidoo Giizisoons\, the “Little Spirit Moon”. For them it is a time of purification and of healing of all Creation. Since it’s opposite the sun on this day of the lunar month\, the moon is fully illuminated and rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. Full moons during the winter months reach as high in the sky at midnight as the summer noonday sun\, and cast similar shadows.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/full-oak-moon/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241214T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241214T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18744-1734134400-1734134400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Joins Jupiter
DESCRIPTION:Shortly after the very bright moon clears the rooftops in the east after dusk on Saturday\, December 14\, the brilliant planet Jupiter will rise to join it. The duo will make a lovely photo opportunity when composed with some nice foreground scenery. As the moon and Jupiter climb the eastern sky\, the bright winter stars will surround them\, including yellowish Capella on their upper left and reddish Aldebaran to their right\, both part of the huge winter hexagon asterism. The bright pair will culminate due south towards midnight and set in the west before dawn. By then the diurnal rotation of the sky will lift the moon\, now full\, above Jupiter.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-joins-jupiter/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18742-1734048000-1734048000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Crosses the Pleiades
DESCRIPTION:On Friday evening\, December 13\, the orbital motion of the bright\, nearly full moon will carry it through the Pleiades star cluster (aka Messier 45\, Subaru\, and the Seven Sisters) for some parts of the world. While bright moonlight overwhelms fainter objects\, viewing the encounter during evening twilight\, especially through binoculars\, will make a pretty\, and fascinating\, sight. Skywatchers in Europe and Africa will see the moon among the Pleiades’ scattered stars. Observers in Asia and the Americas will have to settle for seeing the moon shining to their upper right (or celestial west) and lower left (or celestial east)\, respectively.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-crosses-the-pleiades/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241213T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18743-1734048000-1734048000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Geminids Meteor Shower Peak
DESCRIPTION:The Geminids\, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year\, is active from November 19 to December 24 annually while Earth passes through the cloud of sand-sized grains dropped by the asteroid designated 3200 Phaethon. The number of Geminids meteors will gradually ramp up to a peak in the wee hours of Saturday morning\, December 15\, and then decline rapidly on the following nights. Geminids meteors are often bright\, intensely colored\, and slower-moving than average. In the Americas\, expect to see a good number of Geminids meteors beginning after dark on Friday evening and upwards of 120 meteors per hour around 2 a.m. local time on Saturday – the time when the sky overhead will be pointing toward the densest part of the debris field. True Geminids will appear to streak away from a position near Gemini’s bright stars Castor and Pollux\, but the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky\, so just keep looking up and around. Unfortunately\, this year’s shower will be hampered by bright moonlight. Stand where the moon is blocked from view or head outside around 4 a.m. local time\, when the moon will be sinking out of sight.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/geminids-meteor-shower-peak/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241212T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241212T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18741-1733961600-1733961600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Bright Moon Points to Uranus
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday night\, December 12\, the bright\, nearly full moon will shine near the planet Uranus. Use binoculars (orange circle) to look for the medium-bright star Botein (Delta Arietis) shining below the moon. If you place Botein just at the upper edge of the binoculars’ field of view\, Uranus will appear as a dull\, blue-green “star” near the bottom of the field of view. Uranus is far easier to see without a bright moon nearby\, so take note of Botein’s location with respect to the nearby bright Pleiades star cluster and return to Uranus on another night. In a dark sky\, you can see the magnitude 5.7 planet without optical aid. A backyard telescope will reveal its tiny disk.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/bright-moon-points-to-uranus/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241210T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241210T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18740-1733788800-1733788800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mare Imbrium’s Golden Handle
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday night\, December 10\, the terminator on the waxing gibbous moon will cross Sinus Iridum\, the Bay of Rainbows. The circular 155 mile (249 km) diameter feature is a large impact crater that was flooded by the same basalts that filled the much larger Mare Imbrium to its east – forming a round bay encircled on the north and west by the prominent Montes Jura mountain range. The “Golden Handle” effect\, produced when sunlight strikes the mountain peaks while the floor of the bay remains dark\, will appear for observers in the Americas. With each passing hour\, more of the mountains will become illuminated\, brightening the handle.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mare-imbriums-golden-handle/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241208T152700
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241208T152700
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18739-1733671620-1733671620@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:First Quarter Moon
DESCRIPTION:The moon will complete the first quarter of its 29.53-day trip around Earth on Sunday\, December 8 at 10:27 a.m. EST\, 7:27 a.m. PST\, and 15:27 GMT. At first quarter\, the moon’s 90-degree angle from the sun causes us to see it half-illuminated on its eastern side. First quarter moons always rise around mid-day and set around midnight\, so they are also visible in the afternoon daytime sky. The evenings surrounding first quarter are the best ones for seeing the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight\, especially along the terminator\, the pole-to-pole boundary that separates the moon’s lit and dark hemispheres.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/first-quarter-moon/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18736-1733529600-1733529600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mars Enters Retrograde
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, December 7\, Mars’ easterly orbital motion through the stars of Cancer will slow to a stop in order for it to begin a westerly retrograde loop that will last through its mid-January opposition and into late February. Tonight the bright\, reddish dot of Mars will be positioned in the eastern evening sky in Cancer\, just above the large Beehive Cluster and below the bright “twin” stars of Gemini\, Castor and Pollux. Over the coming weeks\, you can watch Mars travel upwards (celestial west) towards those stars. Retrograde loops occur when Earth\, on a faster orbit closer to the sun\, passes more distant solar system objects “on the inside track”\, making them appear to move backwards across the stars for a while. Mars’ loop will cover almost two fist widths\, or 19 degrees of the celestial sphere.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mars-enters-retrograde/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18737-1733529600-1733529600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Jupiter at Opposition
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday\, December 7\, Jupiter will reach opposition while it gleams brightly between the horns of Taurus and a palm’s width to the left (or 7.5 degrees to the celestial northeast) of the bright star Aldebaran. At opposition\, planets rise in the east at sunset and cross the sky all night long before setting in the west at sunrise. Jupiter will be at its minimum distance from Earth for this year of 380.1 million miles (611.8 million km) or 34 light-minutes\, boosting its brilliance to magnitude -2.8. Viewed in a telescope\, the planet will display a generous\, 48.2 arc-seconds-wide disk striped with brown equatorial bands. Around opposition\, Jupiter and its four large Galilean satellites frequently eclipse and occult one another\, and cast their round\, black shadows on the planet – singly and in pairs. The Great Red Spot will cross the planet’s disk for a few hours on every second or third night.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/jupiter-at-opposition/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241207T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172213Z
UID:18738-1733529600-1733529600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moon Moves Past Saturn
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday evening\, December 7 in the Americas\, the waxing crescent moon will shine a palm’s width to the lower right (or celestial west) of Saturn. The pair will be due south after dusk and then set in the west around 11 p.m. local time. On Sunday night\, the half-illuminated first quarter moon will hop east to shine to Saturn’s upper left. In the interim\, observers located in a zone extending from eastern Indonesia and the Philippines\, and northeast across most of Japan to the Aleutian Islands can see the moon occult Saturn on Sunday evening. Use an app like Starry Night or Sky Safari to look up the occultation timings for a specific location.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moon-moves-past-saturn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241205T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241205T220000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241204T184756Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241204T190106Z
UID:18679-1733428800-1733436000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Hamilton Center Social
DESCRIPTION:Hamilton RASC will be hosting an open-to-all in-person meeting at the Waterdown Legion.\n\nThe highlight of the evening is typically a guest speaker\, sometimes a professor or grad student and other times a Centre member. Topics range from serious science to fun and quirky topics\, along with DIY demos. \nMost meetings also include other presentations such as: \n\n– What’s Up (in the sky) This Month – Highlights of the best objects to observe during the coming month.– Equipment Tips and Tricks – Equipment recommendations\, do-it-yourself projects\, show & tell.– Loan Library – borrow books and equipment from the club for up to a month!– Constellation of the Month.. history\, interesting facts\, objects that can be seen in that part of the sky with a telescope or binoculars.\n\n\n\nYou can also join via Zoom:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83472980505\n\nIf you are coming in person – some members also head to one of the restaurants close by to socialize afterwards. Come join us!
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/hamilton-center-social-2/
CATEGORIES:Monthly Social (Public),Regular Club Activity
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Attilla-Danko.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241205T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241205T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172214Z
UID:18735-1733356800-1733356800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Lunar Crater Piccolomini
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday evening\, December 5\, the curved terminator on the moon will fall just to the left (or lunar west) of ancient Mare Nectaris\, the dark and roughly circular patch located just south of the moon’s equator. A prominent crater named Piccolomini is located in the lunar highlands a small distance to the lower left of Nectaris. The 55 miles (88 km) wide crater has a sharp rim and a tall central mountain peak. A backyard telescope will show that the central peak is complex and that the crater’s inner walls have collapsed to form terraces. Watch for the curved escarpment named Rupes Altai extending to the upper left (or lunar northwest) from Piccolomini. Piccolomini and Nectaris are highlighted every lunar month when the waxing moon is about 5 days past new and again when the waning moon is approaching third quarter.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/lunar-crater-piccolomini/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241204T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241204T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172214Z
UID:18734-1733270400-1733270400@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Shines near Venus
DESCRIPTION:As the sky is darkening after sunset on Wednesday\, December 4\, look low in the western sky to see the pretty\, waxing crescent moon shining several finger widths below (or several degrees to the celestial south of) the brilliant planet Venus. The pair will share the view in binoculars and will make a pretty photo until they drop into the trees around 6:30 p.m. local time.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-shines-near-venus/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241203T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241203T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172214Z
UID:18733-1733184000-1733184000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Double Cluster
DESCRIPTION:The northeastern sky on December evenings hosts the bright constellations of Perseus and W-shaped Cassiopeia\, with the very bright yellowish star Capella gleaming below them. The sky between Perseus and Cassiopeia hosts the Double Cluster\, a pair of bright open star clusters that together cover a finger’s width of the sky. They make a spectacular sight in binoculars or through a telescope at low magnification. The higher (more westerly) cluster\, designated NGC 869\, is dense and contains more than 200 white and blue-white stars. The lower (easterly) cluster NGC 884 is looser and includes a handful of 8th magnitude golden stars surrounded by many fainter ones. The clusters\, which formed in the same part of the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy\, are about 7\,300 light-years away from us. They would be even brighter if they weren’t being dimmed by opaque dust in the galactic plane.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-double-cluster/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241202T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241202T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172214Z
UID:18732-1733097600-1733097600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Mars Buzzes the Beehive
DESCRIPTION:As December begins\, the bright reddish planet Mars will be shining just above (or celestial north of) the large open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive\, Praesepe\, and Messier 44. Mars and the stellar “bees”\, which will be scattered across an area more than twice the size of a full moon\, will fit into the field of view in binoculars for several weeks. The planet will be closest to the cluster from Sunday to Friday and then increasingly farther above the cluster on the subsequent nights.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/mars-buzzes-the-beehive/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241201T062100
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241201T062100
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241209T172214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T172214Z
UID:18731-1733034060-1733034060@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:New Moon
DESCRIPTION:The moon will reach its new phase on Sunday\, December 1 at 1:21 a.m. EST or 06:21 GMT\, which converts to 10:21 p.m. PST on Saturday. At that time our natural satellite will be located within Scorpius and 4.5 degrees south of the sun. While it’s new\, the moon is travelling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only reach the far side of the moon\, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun\, the moon becomes unobservable from anywhere on Earth for about a day (except during a solar eclipse). On the evenings following the new moon phase\, Earth’s planetary partner will return to shine in the western sky after sunset.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/new-moon/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241127T050000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241127T070000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241126T000308Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241126T000534Z
UID:18624-1732683600-1732690800@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Crescent Moon Covers Spica (pre-dawn)
DESCRIPTION:For observers located in a zone covering most of the eastern continental USA and Canada\, the old\, waning crescent moon will pass in front of (or occult) Virgo’s brightest star\, Spica shortly after it has cleared the trees in the east on Wednesday morning\, November 27 before sunrise. Use an app like Starry Night to look up the times for the occultation. In New York City\, Spica will disappear behind the moon’s lit crescent at about 5:35 a.m. EST. The star will pop into view from behind the dark limb of the moon in a brightening sky around 6:50 a.m. EST. Lunar occultations are safe to view you’re your unaided eyes. Binoculars or any size of telescope will show it best. Start watching a few minutes before each stage of the event.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/crescent-moon-covers-spica-pre-dawn/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241122T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241123T050000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241126T000152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241126T000555Z
UID:18622-1732298400-1732338000@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:The Double Cluster (all night)
DESCRIPTION:The northeastern sky on November evenings hosts the bright constellations of Perseus and W-shaped Cassiopeia\, with the very bright star Capella positioned well below them. The sky between Perseus and Cassiopeia hosts the Double Cluster\, a pair of bright open star clusters that together cover a finger’s width of the sky. They make a spectacular sight in binoculars (orange circle) or a telescope at low magnification. The higher (more westerly) cluster\, designated NGC 869\, is dense and contains more than 200 white and blue-white stars. The lower (easterly) cluster NGC 884 is looser and includes a handful of 8th magnitude golden stars. The clusters\, which both formed in the same part of the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy\, are about 7\,300 light-years away from us. The clusters would be even brighter if they weren’t being dimmed by opaque dust in the galactic plane.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/the-double-cluster-all-night/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20241121T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20241122T000000
DTSTAMP:20260501T043411
CREATED:20241126T000035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241126T000616Z
UID:18620-1732212000-1732233600@www.hamiltonrasc.ca
SUMMARY:Moonlight Tolerant Stars (evening)
DESCRIPTION:Only the brightest stars are visible to our unaided eyes on moonlight-flooded nights. Early on Thursday evening\, November 21\, the very bright star Vega in the constellation of Lyra the Harp will be descending the western sky. At magnitude 0.0\, it’s the 5th brightest star in the entire sky (not counting our sun). The star Altair in Aquila the Eagle shining several fist diameters to Vega’s left has a magnitude value of 0.75\, making it the 13th brightest star. Deneb in Cygnus the Swan will be located above and between the other two\, rounding out the trio of hot white stars that form the Summer Triangle asterism. At magnitude 1.25\, Deneb ranks 20th in brightness. Observers with a very low southwestern horizon might be able to see Fomalhaut\, ranked 18th\, in Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish. Over in the east\, very bright yellowish Capella (ranked 6th) in Auriga will be shining to the upper left of reddish Aldebaran (ranked 14th)\, marking the eye of Taurus the Bull.
URL:https://www.hamiltonrasc.ca/event/moonlight-tolerant-stars-evening/
CATEGORIES:Astronomical Events
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