Hamilton Amateur Astronomers

April 1999 Volume 6 Issue 6 The Continuing Saga of the Winter Star Party Oksana and Lou Darcie Elm Street where we visited the two Knoxville, Tennessee, where we amateur astronomers, Dave and Neil had our first touch of clear sky. whom we had previously met at the There they are, Venus, Jupiter, Winter Star Party last year and the Saturn, all hanging around the y now, everyone is aware year before. After a good but brief moon. Quite a pretty sight. Bthat the annual Winter Star visit we beamed up, left that orbit Party normally held at Big Pine and set our course for Wopakenata. Stardate 990219.0930 Key, Key West, Florida, has been On arrival, we found an eating spot, N 38° 29.557' cancelled. Last year, hurricane nourished ourselves, then W 84° 19.990' "Mitch" tore through the area and accommodated ourselves in a local Temperature 9°C completely wiped out the campsite. motel. An aside: (each time we Raining. Having already won a trip to stay cross a state border into a new state, As we travel along, we can see three nights at a hotel in Daytona we find these Welcome Stations. changes in the agricultural growth. Beach, and four nights at a Resort in Not only do they have nice rest Along the highways and byways, Orlando, we were going to Florida, rooms, but they have road maps and we now spy pansies, dandelions and regardless. books of coupons which point out other bright and colourful plants and many places to stay at reasonable flowers. The weather has cleared, so The voyage of the STARSHIP rates, and also all the events in the after stopping for the night and VOYAGER: state areas. We took advantage of refreshing ourselves, we are able to these facilities all the way down to walk around the area and take in the CAPTAIN Lou C Darcie Florida, as well as all the way back sights. The sky is clear, and even FIRST OFFICER Oksana O Darcie to Canada. As our trip started in with my less than perfect eyesight, Stardate 990217.1019 February, and ended in March, the the planets are very plainly visible. Origin N 43° 36.628' March books were all new updated.) It has been a beautiful day. The W 80° 08.078' Overcast, no stars in sight. transport has been uneventful, and we like it like that, and we are just At 53500 kilometres, we left Stardate 990218.0940 awed by all the things that pass the Rockwood. Outside temperature 2° N 42° 57.809' eyes. C, gray overcast, trying to snow, yet W 81° 02.175' the sun is trying to shine. We had an Temperature 5°C Stardate 990220.0830 excellent breakfast at our favourite Cold and gray morning. Roads dry, N 35° 41.641' eatery and are well fortified for the very light traffic. Beamed down to W 84° 25.837' trip to come. Passing Woodstock, one of our favourite eating places, Temperature 10°C we notice that the snow has receded, the Cracker Barrel. Had a quick Bright and sunny morning. We which makes our progress quite refresh, beamed up and continued. arrive in the state of Florida, where admirable. We were hoping that soon we might we visit a Welcome Center. Here we be able to doff our winter clothes, are treated to Orange and Grapefruit Stardate 990217.1600 our boots at least, but I am afraid, juices. No, not freshly squeezed. We Orbited around the town of Findlay, not yet. There is no snow here, but it were surprised at this also. The Ohio, where we beamed down to 24 is still quite cold. Ended our day In (Continued on page 3)

Chair’s Report page 2 Constellation of the Month page 6 inside... Rob’serving Report page 3 May Star Chart page 9 Eternal Ice page 5 Calendar of Events page 10 Page 2 Chair's Report

n March 27th Grant Dixon In appreciation of all those efforts, O got quite a surprise when he the HAA and the RASC, Hamilton showed up at the planetarium at Centre both presented Grant with McMaster University. He had lifetime memberships and the intended to host a ‘final’ show and biggest slide rule you have ever teach interested people how to give a seen. You may wonder what a slide planetarium show. Instead he found rule has to do with astronomy. He vent Horizon is a himself being honored for all the doesn’t use one to calculate asteroid Epublication of the Hamilton Amateur work he has done over the past 20+ orbits but Grant is a collector of Astronomers (HAA). years of giving planetarium shows. In slide rules. After the presentations the audience were many of his friends and some refreshments Grant The HAA is an amateur astronomy from the HAA and RASC plus his treated us to one of his famous club dedicated to the promotion and wife Doreen, his son Christopher, his planetarium shows. Special thanks enjoyment of astronomy for people of daughter-in -law Krista, Doreen’s go to Ann Tekatch for all the all ages and experience levels parents Gord & Evelyn Gent and his organizational work that she put mother June Merlin. into Grant’s presentation. The cost of the subscription is included in the $15 individual or $20 Grant is one of the founding members I have a couple of web sites for you family membership fee for the year. of the Hamilton Amateur to check out this month. A really Event Horizon is published a Astronomers. He has held many nice compilation of deep sky objects minimum of 10 times a year. positions since the HAA was formed can be found at the site “Adventures HAA Council in 1993. At various times he has been in Deep Space” located at http:// Chair, Second Chair, Councillor-at- www.angelfire.com/id/jsredshift/. Jere Chair Stewart Attlesey Large and Web Page Coordinator. Kahanpaa has a web site with Second Chair Doug Welch Most importantly, he has also held the hundreds of great sketches of deep Secretary Marg Walton position of Public Education Director sky objects appropriately titled Treasurer Barbara Wight during most of those years. “Deep Sky Sketches”. The URL is Obs. Dir Rob Roy http://www.helsinki.fi/~jkahanpa/. Editor Rosa Assalone For over 20 years he has given Membership Dir. Ev Rilett countless Planetarium shows and has Don’t forget, it’s time to start HAJA Coord Rosa Assalone given the proceeds from these shows making plans to attend the HAA star directly to the HAA or the RASC, party on the weekend of June 11/12 Councillors Hamilton Centre. Over this time he at Silent Lake. Ann Tekatch has introduced thousands of people to Ray Badgerow the night sky. By giving these shows, Stewart Attlesey Steve Barnes people who have never been to the [email protected] John McCloy planetarium also benefit through the Gary Sutton low dues that the HAA offers. Grant is solely responsible for the healthy Web Site financial condition of the HAA. http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/HAA/

Editor’s Report

he deadline to submit articles for the next issue of Event THorizon is Friday, May 7th. Thank you to everyone who submitted articles this month. Feel free to send pictures for the newsletter as well.

Rosa Assalone [email protected]

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 3 Rob'serving Report nights are scheduled for April 9, elongation on April 16. pring for Mars 10 & 17. Call Rob Roy (692- 3245), Bret Culver (575-9492), Venus dominates the western or John McCloy (523-4359) at evening sky at magnitude -4 and S April-May provide the best opportunity to observe Mars. It's 8pm for local weather conditions is still increasing nightly in visible pretty well all night long, and to confirm. The gate will be elevation. though the best viewing occurs opened at 9pm. when it is near the meridian, high Mars rises in the east during the in the sky at around 1am. Mars Monthly In-Sights evening twilight and is visible all is moving westward and will night long. reach opposition to the Earth on April April 24, when it will be its 22 am - Lyrid meteors peak with Jupiter and Saturn are too close brightest since 1990 10-15/hour. Best after midnight to the Sun for any observing. (magnitude -1.6). On May 1 it and Moonset. will have an apparent diameter 24- Mars at opposition Neptune & Uranus are rising in of 16.2", the largest it has Capricornus at dawn. appeared in nine years. Red May Rob Roy, and orange filters are good for 01- Mars nearest Earth. Observing Director observing surface markings, 05- eta-Aquarid meteors peak, [email protected] whereas blue and green are best though active through May 10. for clouds and the north polar cap. Use relatively pale filters The Planets for small scopes. Mercury not visible for northern This month's Binbrook observing observers despite its greatest W

Winter Star Party...... (continued)

(Continued from page 1) myself included, bike week is an but we did notice that if you did not juices were made from a frozen annual event which brings up to set up the scopes early, viewing was concentrate. Aah such a disillusion, 200,000 that's two hundred quite limited. I suppose it could and all this time we were all led to thousand people, most of whom have been as a result of all the light believe that all that liquid we were own and ride the BIG Harley pollution, because there is certainly having was fresh. Ah well, so we Davidson motorcycles. These folks a lot of that here. learn. Leaving I-75, we branch over take over Daytona Beach and to I-10, which will take us to surrounds. From morning till night, Stardate 990223.1821 Daytona Beach by way of Saint all one hears is the ROAR of N 29° 40.676' Augustine. Finally the weather has hundreds of these big 74 cubic inch W 82° 20.356' taken a positive turn for the warmer. machines. They come in all colours Temperature 26°C. Not hot mind you, warmer. The and trim. In most cases, the rider Orlando, home of the Animal surroundings are now taking on a matches the bike, or is it the other Kingdom, Epcot center and the like. much different look: short pants, way round. None-the-less, it is a Did the typical touristy things here halter tops, sun tans, sun burns, sight to behold. The next four days for the next four earth days. The motor cycles, bicycles, roller blades. we will be spending here. accommodations here are quite We are now in FLORIDA, splendid, and the scenery very DAYTONA BEACH. N 30° 05.700' spectacular, but the night sky was W 81° 29.930' disappointing. It was good, though, Unknown to us, this is the start of Temperature 22°C. to be out of doors wearing short Bike Week in Daytona. Last week Surprisingly, the sky is clear, and as sleeves and short pants as well as a was the Daytona 500, next week is dusk rolls on, the planets are quite hat to shield one from the very hot officially Bike Week, and the time visible, but by the time darkness has sun. Amenities such as a pool and we are here, like right now, is arrived, the mist or dust or pollution preliminary week. Now for the or whatever, has blanketed them (Continued on page 4) uninitiated, my first officer and from sight. Strange phenomenon, Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 4

(Continued from page 3) by one of the many beautiful Findlay, Ohio. This is the spot we other outdoor pleasantries, made up brochures about bass fishing, we beamed down to on our southern leg for the poor viewing nights. headed to a place called Gadsen. of our journey. The weather channel Right on the Coosa river. After is forecasting dire weather, so we Stardate 990228.1645 acquiring a fishing license for $11, deemed it sensible to be on our way, N 30° 05.638' we baited our hooks and tried our as our journey would take us just to W 83° 34.668' luck. Zilch. We questioned the the east of Detroit, Michigan where Temperature 25°C. shopkeeper at the water-front about the major snow storm is to take Perry, Florida. A nice town like so the pictures in the brochures. He place. Looking at the sky, we could many other nice small towns that laughed. Those pictures were taken discern that the storm was not yet make up a lot of the southland of the at a big fishout a year ago. So, we imminent, so a detour to Maumee, USA. Very friendly folk, good food, find we cannot rent a boat, we Ohio could be done with little or no good scenery. cannot hire a boat, we cannot even difficulty. This plan was get on the water. There was some implemented, with positive results. Stardate 990301.0920 disappointment, but a good nights Crossing from Ohio in to Michigan N 29° 49.715' sleep got us in our normal happy saw no change in the weather, and W 84° 41.582' frame of mind once again. all the way to Canada from there, Temperature 22°C. we sailed through wispy but not We are now heading back in a Stardate 990303.0834 threatening skies. Approximately northerly direction with a deviation N 34° 00.099' 100 kilometres west of London saw on occasion to the west.One of these W 86° 00.095' a definite change in the scenery. deviations brought us to a very nice Temperature 10°C. There was snow on the sides of the little hamlet called Carabelle Beach. Nashville, Tennessee. Home of highway, and the closer we got to We found this through an inn keeper Grand Ole Opry. Spent very little London, the more snow we where we sojourned the previous time here, in fact the only reason we encountered. At London, flurry night. His suggestion was to follow stopped was to buy a Harley activity started, and continued until route 98 which ran parallel to the Davidson Nashville Tee shirt for we reached our home base in Gulf. It was a worth while one of our Canadian fans. Rockwood. Stardate 990306 was suggestion, for at one point, day of the big snow, so we just got approximately 60 milea east of Stardate 990304.0804 home in time. With the exception of Panama City, there was this N 37° 40.545' a burned out bulb in the right front beautiful rest area and white sand W 85° 50.753' turn signal, our Starship Voyager beach. My first officer, being a sun Temperature 0°C performed flawlessly. We do not worshipper, once again, donned the Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The know what the skies were like in the appropriate apparel and basked in home of the Kentucky Derby. As Florida Keys, but most of the spots the sun on the beach for a cold as it was, one could still see the we stopped during our journey, the considerable length of time. lush green grass for which the state nights were not that good. We is famous. Many fine looking enjoyed ourselves immensely. Stardate 990302.0926 horses, horse farms, paddocks. The N 31° 13.037' place exudes wealth. We saw our Final Kilometres 59387 W 85° 25.881' first vestiges of snow on the ground Starting Kilometres 53500 Temperature 14°C. here. A portent of things to come? Total Kilometres 5887 Visited a horse farm of one of our Total time away 18 days Dothan, Alabama. Never heard of friends, to view the new colt the place before now, but again a supposedly named after her. Oksana and Lou Darcie very friendly populace, really laid Reasonably nice farm, obviously on Astronomaires Extraordinaire. back. My first officer is an avid the other side of the tracks, as fisherperson, so after being taken in wealth was definitely not exuded. They did have some nice horses, nevertheless. A really good viewing night. Very clear skies, transparent. Glad we took the 6 incher and binoculars.

Stardate 990405.0750 N 41° 02.440' W 83° 40.446' Temperature -2°C

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 5 Hans Hoerbiger and The Doctrine of Eternal Ice

Joachim Brouwer strong amidst ice and snow; this floods, ice ages and is why a belief in a world of ice earthquakes. Most interestingly is the natural heritage of Nordic the lesser gravitational force of a he Nazi court astronomer/ Man." (quoted in Pauwels and `low' lying moon provided for the T cosmologist Hans Bergier pg. 154) existence of `giants', of which Hoerbiger and his English there is a voluminous record in minions Edward Bellamy and The Hyperboreans, the second myth and legend around the Dennis Suarat are virtually `root' race of the human species world. unknown in modern astronomy. resided in Thule. They were However their collective ideas claimed to have semi-corporeal The solar system according to spurned a whole generation of bodies and possess highly Hoerbiger is the result of a people in Europe to question the developed clairvoyant and collision between two huge positivistic basis of modern psychic abilities. When the bodies made respectively of ice science. golden age of the Hyperboreans and fire. The later of course was ended with the sudden our sun. For thousands of years According to Hoerbiger's inclination of the earth's axis it after the collision the proper doctrine of eternal ice or world destroyed the relatively chemical reactions were slowly ice theory (WEL) there is a beneficent climate they were set in motion. Then there was a continual battle between ice and accustomed to. A 90 degree axis great explosion and the planets, fire in the universe, a theme also meant that the north and south all made of ice, except the earth present in the Icelandic saga poles had the same weather were ejected into space. The Edda, one of the Nazi year round that it only does on According to Hoerbiger the Milky sacred texts. In his 772 page the equinoxes now. At the time Way is an immense band of ice epic Glazialkosmogonie of a upright axis flora and fauna that was thrown beyond the solar Hoerbiger related how this could prosper that couldn't system. elegant yet simple idea came to possibly survive in the long him. One day he witnessed winters of total dark ness the Sunspots are the result of huge molten steel falling onto snow. poles have today. blocks of ice falling from unto the After a few minutes of simmering sun from Jupiter. The 11 year and sizzling the steel and snow The Hyperboreans lost their half sunspot cycle and Jupiter's exploded into a dozen or so astral bodies and magical 11.88 year journey around the pieces. faculties as they migrated south sun too much for Hoerbiger to and mixed with the darker leave alone. (Pauwels and Coupled with fire and ice are the Semitic races, becoming fleshier Bergier pg. 158). two fundamental forces in the humbler beings. The hallowed universe, attraction and third eye where their psychic Space is not empty, but filled repulsion. These forces cause powers was said to reside with rarefied hydrogen (ice the destruction and formation of became the humble pineal crystals), a notion which has celestial worlds, an idea which gland. been supported by modern Hoerbiger and the Nazi scien- science. However Hoerbiger's tists/magicians derived in part Much of the above is not strickly rarefied hydrogen comprises from Hindu sources. This cycle Hoerbiger. The French writer many millions more atoms per of birth and rebirth was reflected Rene Guenon as well as cubic metre than the two or three in the human realm where great Madame Blavatsky of the that physics allows. The civilization were toppled by Theosophical Society discussed `thickness' of space offers natural catastrophes and many of the same notions. What considerable resistance to stellar replaced by epochs of ignorance was unique was Hoerbiger's idea bodies thereby offsetting the and barbarity. of various icy moons being repulsive effect of the initial ice/ captured by the earth, spirally fire explosion and allowing Nazi ethnography held that the inward and eventually breaking attraction (gravity) to pull the icy Aryan people originally came up and falling into the planet. bodies inward. from Ultima Thule, a nebulous This sequence of events mystic place near the north pole. explained natural catastrophes When the planets all fall into the From a WEL tract: such as extinctions of whole "Our Nordic ancestors grew animal species, world wide (Continued on page 8)

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 6 Constellation of the Month - Coma Berenices

Margaret Walton Objects to see M64 (NGC4826). The Black Eye Galaxy. A very bright, large This constellation is named after Coma Berenices contains elongated galaxy with a bright Queen Berenice II of Egypt, the numerous galaxies and a few nucleus and a dark dust lane, wife of King Ptolemy III. star clusters. Listed below are from which it gets its name. Its Berenice was famous for her some of the best and brightest. magnitude is 8.5 and as per the beauty and had long, amber hair. To explore further, consult a star NGC this is a (!) remarkable During a war between the chart and spend an evening object. Egyptians and the Assyrians, exploring this area. Berenice was concerned for her M85 (NCT4382). Bright, large husband's safety as leader of the M53 (NGC5024). This is a large, round galaxy of magnitude 9.2. troops. Berenice cut her hair bright globular cluster of This is in pair with NGC4394 and and offered it to the goddess magnitude 7.7 and can be seen is a member of the Virgo Galaxy Aphrodite for her husband's safe through binoculars. It forms a Cluster. return. pair of 1degree separation with NGC5053. As per the NGC this M88 (NGC4501). A bright, large King Ptolomy returned home is a (!) remarkable object. (Note: elongated galaxy of magnitude safely the next day, but the on a recent clear night at 9.5. This is a member of the offering had disappeared from Binbrook we tried to find Virgo Galaxy Cluster. the altar. The court astronomer, NGC5053. Sky Atlas 2000 gives Conon, pointed to the sky and it a magnitude of 9.8, although it M91 (NGC4548). Another showed them the constellation says it is very faint. Using the member of the Virgo Galaxy now known as Coma Berenices, 20" Obsession, we could not find Cluster, this is a bright, large, saying that Zeus and Aphrodite it. We turned to the computer slightly elongated galaxy of were so touched by her sacrifice guidance of an 8"LX200. magnitude 10.2. that they placed her hair in the Although the computer said it heavens for everyone to admire. was in the field of view, no one M98 (NGC4192). Bright, large, very elongated galaxy, another could see it. Maybe some of you Midnight culmination is April 2. could take up the challenge.) member of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster. Magnitude is 10.2.

M99 (NGC4254). Bright, large, round, face on galaxy with 3 branching spiral arms. As per the NGC this is a (!) remarkable object and is a member of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster. Magnitude is 9.8.

M100 (NGC4321). Faint, large round face on galaxy with a magnitude of

(Continued on page 7)

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 7 HAA Star Party (Continued from page 6) 9.4. This is a member of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster and as per the NGC is a (!!) remarkable AA will hold its annual star object. H party this year at Silent Lake Provincial Park, located on NGC4147. Globular cluster. Highway 28, north of Peterborough. This is a bright, large, round, well-resolved cluster with a If you want to reserve your campsite magnitude of 10.3. you can by calling (613) 339-2807. Last year, we all chose campsites in NGC4274/4278/4283. This is a the same loop, it’s close enough to nice grouping of galaxies. 4274 the showers so you can easily walk is a bright, large elongated to the nice washrooms and showers. galaxy with faint arms and a bright nucleus, magnitude is Information on the specific loop 10.4. 4278 is a bright, large will follow in a future newsletter. round galaxy of magnitude 10.2. 4283 is the faintest of the three at magnitude 12.0. It is a small, bright round galaxy.

NGC4414. This is a bright, large elongated galaxy of magnitude “One, two, ... many big bangs” 10.3.

NGC4565. This is a wonderful he current cosmology Saturday, May 1st, 8pm. object to look at. It is an revolution. extremely elongated, large, T McMaster’s Burke Science Building edge-on spiral galaxy with a dark We will discuss recent trends, room B148. lane and a central bulge. It is ideas, and discoveries on the the largest of the edgewise spiral cosmological constant, anti-gravity, Reading material could be any or all galaxies. Magnitude is 10.2. white dwarfs, neutron stars, black recent literature on the subject. A holes, missing energy and matter, good starting point could be the accelerating expansion, la super Scientific American, January 1999, novae, dark matter, empty space, Special Report on the subject virtual particles, the age crisis, available at your local library or on bubble universes, particle limited loan from us. appearance and disappearance. Informal Discussion, everyone welcome.

For further information or material call Larry at 529-1037.

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 8

(Continued from page 5) towards the earth, the tertiary sun there will be another explosion moon started to revolve more The crux of Hoerbiger, Bellamy and the cycle will start again. In quickly. This and the lesser and Saurat's theories is that as a the meantime smaller planetary gravity caused the tides of the satellite gradually approached bodies can be captured by larger world's oceans to be concen- the earth, it would lessen the ones. Hoerbiger and his English trated into a narrow band around gravitational pull, thereby disciples Bellamy and Saurat the equator. The evidence of a decreasing the normal wear and believe that much of the earth's tidal bulge around the tear on all living things. Not only history has been shaped by the circumference of the earth can could men and beasts grow to capture and falling of as many as be found in the Peruvian Andes gigantic proportions, but they four different satellites or moons near Lake Titicaca which is still would live longer and be more known in successive order as the partially salty. Fossilized algae intelligent. primary, secondary tertiary and has been found 12,800 feet Luna terrestrial satellites . The above sea level in this area. A When the first primary moon capture, decaying orbit, inward line of marine deposits can also hung low in the sky, huge fern- spiral and eventual breakup of be traced for 375 miles starting like trees and insects were these four moons have resulted in at Lake Umayo in Peru (Saurat common. At the time of the fall of four distinct geological epochs. pg 46). the secondary moon the dinosaurs ruled. The intense There are stories of moon catas- Five distinct landing sites at the cosmic rays from the infalling trophes in many cultures at ruins of Tiahuanaco near Lake secondary moon may also have various junctures in antiquity. The Titicaca have also been found. created mutations resulting in Greek myth of Phaeton driving the The immensity of the statues the first mammals about 60 horses of the sun too close to and stone work here leads million years ago. Helios and then falling to the earth Saurat to his thesis that they after being struck by one of Zeus's were built by giants. The local When the tertiary moon loomed thunderbolts is maybe the most natives legends speak of a time low in the sky, it was often famous of these moon myths. when the moon loomed large in looked at as a second sun. (Saurat 108) the sky. Stone images of an Furthermore when this moon ancient beast known as a approached the earth within a Luna, like the other three todoxon being lead about like a certain distance, it seemed to satellites, formerly enjoyed an dog on leash have been found move from west to east, the independent orbit around the sun. here. German archaeologists same way the sun moves across It was captured about the time of also supposedly found a the sky. It is recorded in the the last ice age around 12,000 BC. calendar in thr late 1920's which Bible that Joshua stopped the With its capture and the marked the movements of the sun while fighting the establishment of an, at first very tertiary moon in the sky. Canaanites. This may be a erratic orbit around the earth, collective human memory great upheavals took place which Other areas that show evidence stemming from an earlier time are recounted in many cross of salinity and former marine life when the tertiary moon stopped cultural myths of the period. are the Mexican highlands, in its zenith above Abyssinia. At However the best proof of great Tibet, Abyssinia (in present day this time the earth and moon catastrophes at this time lies in the Ethiopia) and New Guinea, all of were a mere 20,000 miles away fossils and in some cases which fall within the same from each other and revolved complete frozen carcasses of equilateral band around the around their respective axis at huge now extinct mammals like earth. the same pace. The seismic wholly mammoths that have been upheavals which were found. Fossils are usually created Suarat believes the 7-8 foot experienced at this time may when there is a sudden change in giants of Ruanda, west of Lake have been the cause of Jericho's the earth's environment. An Victoria who live amidst the local tumbling walls.(Saurat 79-80) organism normally rots away Bantu tribes are a remnant of the before it fossilizes. (Saurat 18-19). giants that used to inhabit the The closest the tertiary moon earth. Immense stone remains came to earth before breaking However it is the tertiary moon, have been found on islands east up was only a few thousand the one before Luna that of Samoa and at Tonga, miles. This must have been one Hoerbiger, Bellamy and Saurat are Micronesia and Melanesia. Then of the most awe inspiring sights most interested in. With its spiral of course there are the stone in all of man's history on this heads of Easter Island. planet, the moon and its heavily

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 9

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Page 10 A Discussion of Dates Submitted by John McCloy Gregorian calendar was calendar until 1927. The later proclaimed by the Vatican, the date of adoption, naturally, the 1. B.C. versus negative year numbers replacing the less-accurate Julian greater the number of days of Julian calendar. At the same time, 10 days calendar error skipped. Historians refer to the first year of the were skipped to correct the Christian era as "1 A.D." with the inaccuracy in the date of the year that preceded it called "1 B.C.". equinoxes and solstices which had This is consistent with usage at the accumulated over the almost six time, since zero did not come into centuries the Julian calendar had use until much later, but creates a been used. Thus Thursday, messy discontinuity in the numbering October 4, 1582 (Julian calendar) of years which complicates any was followed by Friday, October algorithm which attempts to calculate 15, 1582 (Gregorian calendar). across that boundary. Astronomers These functions assume, therefore, have adopted the convention that the that dates on or before October 4, Did you know year which preceded 1 A.D. is 1582 are in the Julian calendar and that... denoted "year 0", the year before that dates thereafter in the Gregorian. If "year -1" and so on. Thus any year you're working with dates from less than 1 can be converted to the history, you must be extremely "ear witness" reports nomenclature used by historians by careful to verify which calendar abound where many discarding the sign and adding one to they are specified in, as not all get the B.C. year number. These countries adopted the Gregorian claim to have heard functions follow the astronomical calendar immediately. Britain and the swishing of convention for years prior to 1 A.D. its colonies, for example, remained the draperies of and hence the year in which Julius on the Julian calendar until an aurora. Caesar established the Julian Wednesday, September 2, 1752, at calendar in the Roman Empire, 46 B. which time 11 days had to be C. in the history books, is specified as dropped to align with the Rob Roy "-45" when using these functions. Gregorian calendar on Thursday, September 14, 1752. Russia 2. Julian versus Gregorian calendar remained on the Julian calendar until after the 1917 revolution, and In October of 1582, the modern Turkey did not adopt the Gregorian

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

· April 9, 10, 16, 17 8:00pm BINBROOK OBSERVING NIGHTS - For confirmation or directions call Rob Roy at 692-3245 or Bret Culver 575-9492 or John McCloy 523- 4359. · Tuesday, April 20, 7:00pm HAJA MEETING - McMaster Burke Science Building, room B148. For more information contact Rosa Assalone at 540-8793. · May 7, 8, 14, 15 8:00pm BINBROOK OBSERVING NIGHTS - For confirmation or directions call Rob Roy at 692-3245 or Bret Culver 575-9492 or John McCloy 523- 4359. · Saturday, May 1, 8pm COSMOLOGY DISCUSSION GROUP- McMaster Burke Science Building, room B148. Topic is “One, two,...many Big Bangs.” · Thursday, May 13 RASC GENERAL MEETING -Laura Gagne. Topic is “Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.” · Friday, May 14, 7:30pm HAA GENERAL MEETING - At the Spectator Building auditorium.

Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers