Hamilton Amateur Astronomers

May 2000 Volume 7 Issue 7 Last Night April 12, 2000

Last night I stepped from my real world into one infinitely greater.

The next meeting of the With the opening of a door Hamilton Amateur Junior I left all that experience had provided me Astronomers (HAJA) will be and stepped into a world on Tuesday, May 16, at 7pm at unstoppable in its magnitude. McMaster University in the Burke Science building, room Leaning back into the truckbed B148. HAJA is a group of I gazed heavenward young people, roughly between Dwarfed by the fullness the ages of 4 and 12, who are Of what nature had given me. interested in astronomy. There is a meeting once a month There in the silence where the members learn about And serenity of night astronomy, and participate in a I saw perfection..... related craft project. We The moon and each encircling star occasionally visit the Enrobed in clarity planetarium and on clear nights An ocean of infinity go outside for observing. If Encompassing them you know any children who might be interested contact Rosa at 540-8793 for more And for one brief moment information. The only sounds to split the stillness Came from Inside my head.

Barbara Bentham

Chair’s Report page 2 Links of the Month page 7 inside... Canadian Solar Eclipses page 3 June Star Chart page 9 of the Month page 4 Calendar of Events page 10 Page 2 Chair’s Report

t is with great sadness and early 1980's, a dedicated difficulty that I write this member of the NYAA (North Chair’s report. It’s a black day York Astronomical Association) vent Horizon is a Ifor the HAA and for amateur since the mid to late 1980's and Epublication of the Hamilton Amateur astronomy that Otmar Eigler of course a member of HAA in Astronomers (HAA). has passed away. I considered the 1990's. He was a tireless Otmar a very close friend, and The HAA is an amateur astronomy individual behind the scenes at club dedicated to the promotion and although I have shed many tears Starfest setting up and tearing enjoyment of astronomy for people of over his passing, I find it very down to help make it a success. all ages and experience levels difficult to put my feelings on Most people knew Otmar, if not paper. by name, then by his The cost of the subscription is recognizable face. He was a included in the $15 individual or $20 Otmar had many friends, and his relentless ambassador to the family membership fee for the . memorial service was well Event Horizon is published a hobby of astronomy. Rarely minimum of 10 times a year. attended. Since his passing, I would you catch him without an have received correspondence astronomy T-shirt or hat HAA Council from a number of people, and displaying hat pins denoting the Hon. Chair Jim Winger would like to share the following various astronomy events he had Chair Grant Dixon message from Dave attended over the . He had Second Chair Stewart Attlesey MacDonald, a close friend of his own dress code standard that Secretary Marg Walton Otmar’s from the North York would not allow him to stop Treasurer Barbara Wight Astronomical Association. Obs. Dir Bret Culver wearing shorts until the first Editor Rosa Assalone snowfall. Membership Dir. Ann Tekatch “Otmar had a lot of friends. HAJA Coord Rosa Assalone Most were, if not all, astronomy Otmar loved to be under the related. He had a keen and stars. He enjoyed being with Councillors genuine love for the hobby. His others at Star Parties sharing his Doug Black creative and analytic mind experiences, his photographs and John McCloy helped him design and build Doug Welch most of all his love for the many great accessories for his heavens. I met Otmar over 10 telescope and mount that just years ago and have shared some Web Site deepened his enjoyment of incredible times with him. I will http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/HAA/ astronomy. Some of which were deeply miss my friend. I count Mailing Address an award winning power supply myself fortunate to have had the PO Box 65578 Dundas, ON L9H 6Y6 box for his scope, a tangent arm opportunity to travel, observe, for his guide scope or camera, photograph and reminisce with a Messier marathon finder charts, man that I could truly call my stainless steel counter weights best friend!” and many more miscellaneous related parts. He was always Dave has said what I felt, and I willing to share his thank him for his tribute to accomplishments and plans with Otmar. anyone who asked. Grant Dixon, Chair Otmar was a member of the [email protected] RASC (Royal Astronomical (Please note my new e-mail Society of Canada) from the address – if you send a message Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers to my old NetAccess address, I Page 3 Upcoming Events: 21st Century Canadian Solar Eclipses - Ray Badgerow land of the midnight Sun, but then curves northeastward I think China is cheaper to go through Texas and the central to. United States before entering ast month, I showed Southern Ontario in mid- L future eclipses that will March 20, 2015 -Total afternoon. It continues occur globally in the next 20 This eclipse ends at the North through southern Quebec, years. Now it is time to Pole right at Sunset for northern Maine, New preview upcoming eclipses in approximately 2 minutes. It Brunswick, northern PEI, and the 21st Century that will be will lifted above the horizon, central Newfoundland before visible from Canada. No but will not likely be seen by heading out into the North doubt, some of those reading anyone. Atlantic ocean. This is the this article may be able to Triple Saros eclipse (54 yrs view a number of these June 10, 2021 - Annular and 34 days) for the eclipse of events. There will be some This remarkable 3.5 minute March 7, 1970 that traversed 15 eclipses next century: 7 eclipse will be visible from the eastern Seaboard. annular and 8 total. Here is western Ontario, as the Sun the list. rises as a ring with only 12% June 21, 2039 -Annular of its disk visible. Due to the The path of annularity starts August 1, 2008 - Total Sun’s low altitude and the fact in the Northern Pacific, The umbra touches down in that the Moon is near apogee crosses Alaska, NE Yukon, the northernmost part of the the path is some 531 km wide. then through the Arctic NWT in the early morning, The path covers western Archipelago, northern and narrowly misses the Ontario, Hudson’s Bay, Greenland, then northern towns of Cambridge Bay, on Baffin Island, western Norway & Sweden before Victoria Island and Resolute, Greenland, the North Pole and leaving the Earth in the on Cornwallis Island. The ends in eastern Siberia. Russian Federation. This town of Alert will experience eclipse occurs 5 hrs after the 40 seconds of totality with the April 8, 2024 - Total Summer Solstice, and would Sun low in the sky. This The path of this eclipse starts be visible as a midnight Sun “nighttime” eclipse may make off in the Pacific Ocean, eclipse for these north of the an wonderful sojourn to the comes ashore at Mazatlan (Continued on page 6)

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 4 Constellations of the Month - and Serpens

- Margaret Walton best known and most studied remarkable object. binary stars. The magnitudes are 4.2 and 5.9 and the stars M14 (NGC6402): Globular phiuchus is identified are of contrasting colours – Cluster. Very bright, large, Owith Aesculapius, the yellow and red/violet. round, rich cluster of son of the god Apollo and the magnitude 7.6. As per the nymph Coronis. His mother RS Ophiuchi: This is one of NGC, this is a ! remarkable was killed before he was born seven known recurrent , object. and he was raised by the and is visible to the naked eye centaur Chiron, who taught him at its maximum. The last M19 (NGC6273): Globular all the arts of medicine. He known outburst was in 1985, Cluster. Bright, large, rich became the ship’s surgeon of previous to that they occurred cluster of magnitude 7.2. the Argo. A serpent revealed to in 1898, 1933, 1958, and him the secrets of healing the 1967. Its magnitude is 11.1 M62 (NGC6266): Globular dead and was his symbol of normally, rising to 4.0 – 5.0 at Cluster. Very bright, large healing. Hades, god of the its maximum. cluster of magnitude 6.6 with a underworld, was fearful of high central concentration of Aesculapius’ power and Barnard’s Star: This is a stars. As per the NGC, this is protested to Zeus. Zeus killed faint, red dwarf, and is a ! remarkable object. Aesculapius with a thunderbolt notable as it has the greatest and placed him in the heavens. known apparent motion of M107 (NGC6171): Globular In the sky, Ophiuchus is shown any known star. Magnitude is Cluster: Large, very rich cluster holding the serpent, thus the 9.5 – this is the second closest of magnitude 6.6. of Serpens is cut star to us. Its space velocity is in two, with the head of about 103 miles/second. Pipe Nebula: This is an area of Serpens on one side of the Milky Way containing a Ophiuchus (Serpens Cauda) Objects in Ophiuchus large, black cloud. This is and the tail on the other side M9 (NGC6333): Globular visible to the naked eye and (Serpens Caput). This same Cluster. This is a small, starts 2 degrees to the east of snake is found on the symbol of bright, rich cluster of and just below . medicine all over the world – magnitude 7.9. It is the This is very large and extends a the caduceus. brightest of a trio of clusters. distance of 7 degrees. Dark skies are needed to view this The midnight culmination of M10 (NGC6254): Globular object. Serpens Cauda is late May, Cluster. Bright, very large, Ophiuchus is early June, and round, rich cluster of NGC 6287/6284/6232: Serpens Caput is late June. magnitude 6.6. A chain of Globular Clusters. This is a Ophiuchus contains at least 20 stars starts north of the cluster trio of bright globular clusters globular star clusters, the and cuts through it, seeming ranging in magnitude from 9.0 greatest number of any to bisect the cluster. to 10.2. constellation. M12 (NGC6218): Globular NGC6293: Globular Cluster. Stars Cluster. Very bright, very Very bright, large, round : This is one of the large cluster of magnitude 6.6. cluster with a high central As per the NGC, this is a !! (Continued on page 5)

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 5

Ophiuchus and Serpens (Continued from page 4) cluster of magnitude 9.6. concentration of stars. NGC6633: Open Cluster. This Magnitude is 8.2. NGC6356: Globular Cluster. is a large, rich cluster of This is a very bright, large, magnitude 4.6. It is visible NGC6304: Globular Cluster. well resolved cluster of with binoculars. IC4756 is in One of a pair of clusters. This magnitude 8.4. the same field. is bright, large and round with a magnitude of 8.4. NGC6384: Galaxy. Bright, IC4604: Nebula. This is a small, slightly elongated large area of rich nebulosity NGC6309: Box Nebula. This galaxy with four filamentary including dark nebula, emission is a bright, small nebula with arms. Magnitude is 10.6. nebula and reflection nebula traces of ring structure. illuminated by light from Rho Magnitude is 11.5. NGC6401: Globular Cluster. Ophiuchi. This is on the edge Bright, large round cluster of of one of the largest dark NGC6316: Globular Cluster. magnitude 9.5. nebula called by Hershel ‘A This is a bright, round, small Dark Hole in the Heavens’. cluster with a high central NGC6517: Globular Cluster. concentration of stars. Bright, large cluster with a Objects in Serpens Magnitude is 9.0. high central concentration of M5 (NGC5904): Globular stars. Magnitude is 10.3. Cluster. This is a bright, very NGC6342: Globular Cluster. large, very condensed, rich This is a bright, small, rich NGC6572: Planetary Nebula. cluster of magnitude 5.8. It is cluster of magnitude 9.9. Bright, small, round nebula visible with binoculars and is with a very green colour. considered one of the finest NGC6355: Globular Cluster. This is best with an OIII filter. globulars. This is a faint, large, round Magnitude is 8.1. M16 (NGC6611): Eagle or Star Queen Nebula. This is an area of nebulosity containing an open cluster. It has a magnitude of 6.0 and the nebulosity shows up best with a UHC filter.

NGC5921: Galaxy. This is a bright, large, irregular galaxy with filamentary arms. The nucleus has dark lanes and the galaxy has a magnitude of 10.8.

IC4756: Open Cluster. This is rich, very large cluster visible with the naked eye. Magnitude is

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 6

21st Century Canadian Solar Eclipses

(Continued from page 3) Saros eclipse for May 10, May 1, 2079 - Total Arctic Circle. 1994 that passed through This total eclipse begins in the Southern Ontario. morning in NE Pennsylvania, August 23, 2044 -Total through New Jersey, This total eclipse starts on the July 1, 2057 - Annular Connecticut, Rhode Island, west coast of Greenland, This annular eclipse starts in Massachusets then covers all arches across southern Northern China, goes through of Scotia, western Ellesmere Island, the central Mongolia, Russia, across the Newfoundland, central NWT, then through Alberta Bering Sea, then northern Greenland then ends in the covering both Calgary & Alaska. Curving through high Arctic. Edmonton for just over 2 Canada to the southeast, the minutes with the Sun only 9 antumbral shadow passes July 3, 2084 - Annular degrees off the horizon. The through Yukon, NWT, This eclipse begins in umbra then curves northern Saskatchewan, Western Russia, passes over southeastward into northern Manitoba, and ends in the Arctic Ocean, through Montana and Nebraska. This Southern Ontario at sunset in central Alaska down the eclipse begins and ends at our area. This will be a Panhandle, the BC Coast, the sunset and is the last total spectacular “ring of fire” western United States, and eclipse in Saros 126. eclipse for the Hamilton- ends in NW Colorado at Toronto area on Canada Day. sunset. June 11, 2048 - Annular This annular eclipse starts in June 21, 2066 - Annular September 23, 2090 - Total Kansas at sunrise then curves The path of annularity starts This total eclipse begins in the to the northeast diagonally off the Katmatcka Pennisula, high Arctic off Ellesmere through Central Ontario & goes through northern Alaska, Island, continues across Quebec before crossing then eastward through the southern Greenland then southern Greenland, Iceland, Arctic Islands then curves into crosses the North Atlantic to Scandanavia, Russia, and the Atlantic Ocean, ending in the SW coast of the UK, and ending in northern Pakistan at the Azores at sunset. ends in northern France at sunset. This is the Triple (Continued on page 7)

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 7

(Continued from page 6) in a diagonal fashion across sunset. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba July 23, 2093 - Annular before crossing the United Links of the The path of annularity starts at States and heading out into sunrise in eastern Illinois, then the Atlantic Ocean and exiting Month Indiana, Ohio, through the Earth near the Equator. The first link to check out is the Can Can. Can. Canada-wide Astronomy Buy Date(M/D/Y) TypeDur(m:s) Width(km)Altitude(deg) Saros Rel# Gamma & Sell at http://home.ica.net/ 8/01/2008 T 1:58 220 17 126 18 0.8304 ~pmarkov/buysell.htm. Of 3/20/2015 T 2:06 409 0 120 + 0.9452 course the best way to get to 6/10/2021 A 3:50 531 21 147 -17 0.9151 this page is through the HAA's 4/24/2024 T 3:52 180 48 139 -3 0.3430 web pages at http://www. 6/22/2039 A 4:04 227 32 147 -16 0.8312 science.mcmaster.ca/HAA/ 8/23/2044 T 2:04 451 15 126 20 0.9609 index.html via Links. Paul 6/11/2048 A 4:04 375 38 128 17 0.6465 Markov who is a member of 7/01/2057 A 4:17 313 36 147 -15 0.7455 the Toronto Centre of the 6/21/2066 A 4:40 308 42 128 18 0.7327 RASC created this page. He 5/01/2079 T 2:48 435 21 149 -17 0.9080 has been running the buy & 7/03/2084 A 4:17 428 26 128 19 0.8204 sell for the Toronto Centre 9/23/2090 T 3:12 419 14 155 -27 0.9158 since 1984. In January 1998 7/23/2093 A 4:41 276 32 147 -13 0.5717 he put the whole thing on-line. 5/11/2097 T 3:08 331 30 149 -16 0.8515 He recently broadened its 9/14/2099 T 3:50 208 28 136 6 0.3938 scope to cover all of Canada Southern Ontario early in the and is now run independently morning. The path continues This table contains numerical of the Toronto Centre. The across S. Quebec, New data relevant to the above "Canada-wide Astronomy Buy Brunswick, PEI, northern eclipses. All values of greatest & Sell" is free of charge to NFLD, across the Atlantic to duration, altitude, and width whoever wants to buy or sell astronomy related equipment. northern England, Eastern have been adjusted to

Europe, the Black Sea, eastern Canadian values. The second page is about the Turkey, Iraq, then ending in most complete high resolution Pakistan. The eclipse diagrams were database of Earth's made up by Worachate topography. This was obtained May 11, 2097 - Total Boonplad of The Eclipse by the Shuttle Radar The path of this eclipse starts Zone, at http://www.geocities. Topography Mission in in the Northern Pacific, passes com/CapeCanaveral/7137/ez. February of this year. The through central Alaska, then htm. Let him know what you page is located at http://www. continues on into the Arctic think of them as jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/ Ocean north of Greenland and they will be ends at sunset in northernmost Stewart Attlesey Russia.

September 14, 2099 - Total appearing The path of totality starts off there in the near future. the BC coast, where it moves

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SKY & TELESCOPE DISCOUNTS TO HAA MEMBERS

The Hamilton Amateur Astronomers are registered with Sky & Did you Telescope’s Club Plan. This means that HAA members are entitled to a discounted subscription to Sky & Tel. know that...

The regular subscription rate to Sky & Tel is $47.95 (U.S. our week of seven days funds) to Canadian addresses. Our members enjoy $10 (U.S.) off originated in honour that rate: $37.95 (U.S. funds). of the seven visible wanderers amongst If you wish to take advantage of this offer, contact Ann the stars - the Sun, Tekatch - (905) 575-5433 or [email protected]. Moon and 5 planets. HAA members who subscribe to Sky & Telescope through our Sunday (Sun), Club Plan are also entitled to 10% off all Sky Publishing books Monday (Moon), and products. An online catalogue can be seen at www.skypub. Tuesday (Mars), com, or check out the ads in every issue of Sky & Tel. Wednesday (Mercury), Thursday (Jupiter), Friday (Venus) and Saturday (Saturn).

Rob Roy

Where were we? ASTRONOMY MAGAZINE DISCOUNT TO HAA MEMBERS Okay you super sleuths, you spiers, you Hamilton Amateur Astronomers are entitled to a galaxy goons, you comet discounted rate for subscriptions to Astronomy magazine. caperers, you double star Instead of the regular annual rate of $50.00 U.S., HAA dippers, we could not members pay only $40 U.S.! make it to the last meeting, because we got (Astronomy magazine recently hiked its newsstand price lost. Where are we? N 18 per copy to $6.50. If you buy it off the rack, it'll cost you deg 24.644' W 77 deg 08.367' Help! Help! almost $84 Canadian annually!)

Oksana and Lou Darcie If you're interested in subscribing to Astronomy, contact Astronomaires Extraordinaire Ann Tekatch @ (905) 575-5433 or [email protected].

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Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 10

Star Cruise 2000 regional universities and the he HAA Spring Star AAAP; special activities; a Party, originally swap table; and vendors are Journey through the T scheduled for June 2 - 4, will planned. This is a tremendous Galaxy not be held this year. Instead, dark-sky site. Dark sky we invite our members to photos are available on our Saturday, June 17, 2000 attend the following star website for your perusal. Journey through the galaxy at party, which sounds very There's a CHANCE to see Stonechurch Vineyards, interesting. The web site is Omega Centauri and Niagara-on-the-lake. Stargaze excellent. Centaurus A from this site. thorough large telescopes and travel millions of miles in our Star Cruise 2000 There are a lot of area Star Theatre. Come, attractions for the non- experience the excitement The more than 530 members astronomer (detailed on our 7:30pm to 11pm. Feel free to of the Amateur Astronomy web site), so bring the whole bring your binoculars and Association of Pittsburgh family. telescope. http://www.nemy. (Pennsylvania) invite you to com Stargazing, Winetasting. attend the second annual If you visit our website you'll "Laurel Highlands Star see arrangements are still

Cruise", June 1 - 4, 2000. being finalized. But there's a Carol Legate & John Nemy ton of info there already. The Pacific Observatory Star Cruise 2000, as it's being http://www.nemy.com called, will be held at the Tall Laurel Highlands Star Cruise

905-892-4531 Oaks Campground, in the Website: http://members.aol. Allegheny Mountains about com/lhstarcruise Uniontown, PA. Guest speakers from NASA, AAAP Website http://trfn.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

· Tuesday, May 16, 2000 7pm HAJA - We will meet at McMaster University, in the Burke Science Building, room B148. For more information contact Rosa Assalone 540-8793 · June 1 - 4, 2000 Laurel Highlands Star Cruise - See article page 10. · June 2, 3, 23, 24, 30, 2000 ~ 8pm BINBROOK OBSERVING NIGHTS - For confirmation or directions call Bret Culver 575-9492, Marg Walton 627-7361, Rob Roy 692-3245 · Friday, June 9, 2000 7:30pm HAA GENERAL MEETING - At the Spectator Building auditorium. · Saturday, June 17, 2000 7:30 pm JOURNEY THROUGH THE GALAXY - At Stonechurch Vineyards, Niagara -on-the-lake. Contact Carol Legate & John Nemy at 905-892-4531. See article on page 10. · Tuesday, June 20, 2000 7pm HAJA - We will meet at McMaster University, in the Burke Science

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers