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BULLETIN Du Canada Supplement to Volume 90/3 of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

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BULLETIN Du Canada Supplement to Volume 90/3 of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada June juin 1996 Volume 6 Number 3 The Royal La Société Astronomical Society Royale d'Astronomie of Canada BULLETIN du Canada Supplement to Volume 90/3 of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada now converse instantly with one another. An that simplest of instruments—the human eye! Reflections: amateur complains about the weather in Aus- During my first year the most amazing experi- tralia; a person who claims to be an extraterres- ence was watching the constellations rise and Has Astronomy Lost trial insists that Hale-Bopp is actually an explod- set. Unlike some other aspects of my life, these Its Innocence? ing star, not a comet. Apparently, he was born patterns were dependable. They beat the same not far from that stellar neighbourhood. path through the sky day after day. I came to rely Charles Shahar Astronomers now talk in code. EDF, CCD, on them as old friends. Montreal Centre NGT, and OTA have become routine parts of the It did not discourage me that for two weeks I reprinted from Skyward astronomical lexicon. Fads still come and go, mistook Vega for Venus, or that because of my but keeping up can cost thousands of dollars. There are few hobbies as gadget-happy as slight myopia and poor city skies, I could only The economically-challenged can now only astronomy. The technology has progressed at a make out stars to fourth magnitude. These were watch and drool as their richer counterparts train frantic rate. Flip through Sky & Telescope, and times for simple pleasures. I could not wait for there seem to be more pages of ads than increasingly more sophisticated equipment at Aldebaran to pass its point of culmination so that articles. A new product appears with each issue the sky. The ads in the magazines rub it in. I could spot it from my bedroom window. I as manufacturers try to outdo one another and thought Corona Borealis was the most beautiful satisfy demanding enthusiasts. The hobby itself “Perhaps what is missing thing I had ever seen. has turned glossy and fast-paced. in astronomy is awe and My first scope was a two-inch Tasco refractor, with a wobbly tripod. The first object I saw The trend simply mirrors what is going on in mystery... Now we look the rest of society. Technology is not only meet- through it was Betelgeuse. The image was ing many of our needs, it is defining new ones. at the pictures in the uneven and certainly not colour-corrected, but It is pushing the bounds of the possible. What magazines and expect the sight just blew me off my feet. At last I could was considered frontier astronomy three dec- reach out and touch other worlds. Alcor and ades ago is now routine for the average back- much more.” Mizar were stunning. Saturn excited me for yard astronomer. weeks. Now, as I try to decide whether to get an Consider the fact that a device which costs It has all been quite dizzying. Recently, I ST-4 autoguider or a Lumicon hypering kit, I less than most used cars can now image galax- dragged out some old diaries I kept when I first think about the times when astronomy was ies fainter than twentieth magnitude in less than started to pursue astronomy at the age of thir- viewed through the eyes of a child. Maybe three minutes. These images can then be stored teen. It was a refreshing change of pace. Per- astronomy has not really lost its innocence. and manipulated at the whim of the user. Brighter, haps what is missing in astronomy is awe and Maybe I am the one who has. flatter, more colourful—no problem. The image mystery. We felt this as children whenever we can be sent across the world in seconds. What stared with wonder at something new. Now we Shun no toil to make yourself remarkable by a hobby! The vast expanse of the heavens can look at the pictures in the magazines and expect some talent or other; yet do not devote yourself now be stored in a computer chip that sits nicely much more. to one branch exclusively. Strive to get clear on the tip of your pinky. There were two revelations I had when read- notions about all. Give up no science entirely; Astronomical news travels quickly. On the ing my old diaries. The first was that I was for science is but one. Internet, the latest coordinates for a new comet always a bad speller! The more important in- Lucius Annaeus Seneca (the Younger) are flashed in a “newsgroup”. Amateurs can sight was that one can do amazing things with Roman philosopher/statesman (4 BC?-65 AD) R.A.S.C. BULLETIN S.R.A.C. - June/juin 1996 - Page 1 Editor: Patrick M. Kelly, RR#2 Falmouth, A LA BULLETIN Nova Scotia, Canada B0P 1L0 AD S N OC A IÉ is a publication of the Royal Astronomical Society of E-mail Address: [email protected] C C I T T F D V V R É Canada and is distributed together with the society’s O A R FAX: (902) 423-6672 Y O N O T I V A Y Journal. It contains articles on current activities of the Phone: (902) 420-7604(w), (902) 798-3329(h) E A I Q C L R.A.S.C. and its centres across Canada, as well as E O Editorial Staff: Diane Brooks S D articles from members and non-members which are ’ L Rédacteur pour les Centres francais: A A S of general interest to members of the Society. Inquir- C T I Marc Gélinas, 11 Pierre-Ricard, N-D-lle-Perrôt, R M O ies about the Society should be directed to its national O N Québec, Canada J7V 8M6 N O office at 136 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada O M Printing: University of Toronto Press R I T E M5R 1V2 (416) 924-7973. S D A U L Printed on paper containing 50% pre-consumer C A A Y N O R A Cover Picture: recycled paper and at least 5% post-consumer de- D E History comes to life at historic Fort A H T Edmonton Park. inked fibre. August issue deadline is July 31st. Letters to the Editor Annual Report Update Galileo On Stage What About Setting Circles? 1. In the section for the Windsor Centre coun- There is an exciting event touring across cil for 1996 the correct electronic mail address Canada that your readers will be very interested [Editor’s Note: The following letter was re- for John Hurley is: [email protected], not in. Theatrefolk will be presenting “Galileo: The ceived in response to the article “Should CAT [email protected]. Also, his correct mailing Starry Messenger,” a play about the late, great Owners Receive Certificates” which appeared address is 429 County Road, not 427. astronomer at Fringe Festivals across Canada in the December issue. In this article, it was 2. Due to an oversight in checking the min- this summer. Galileo was the first person to use noted that, under the current rules, computer- utes of the national council meeting from No- a telescope to explore the heavens. What he aided telescopes could not be used to obtain the vember 25th, 1995, three additional award win- found there changed the face of science forever. society’s Messier Certificate or Finest NGC ners should have been listed. Messier Certifi- Do not miss Galileo’s incredible story. It is a Certificate.] cates: Donald Dunn (Ottawa) and Kevin Black journey you will never forget. The issue of setting circles needs to be ad- (Winnipeg); Finest NGC Certificate: Fr. Lucian The play was written by Lindsay Price who dressed too. Using my permanently mounted J. Kemble (Calgary). recently won first prize in the Ottawa Little Thea- telescope that has old fashioned setting circles, 3. In the centre financial statements, while the tre’s National One-Act Play Competition. She I could observe all of the Messier objects in a few Ottawa probably wishes that their membership was also honoured this year by Nipissing Uni- hours spread over two seasons of the year revenue was $66,961, it was actually $6,691. versity, placing first in the one-act category. without needing to know anything about the sky Also the notations at the bottom of the table on The tour itinerary, for the rest of the summer to do it. page 31 should read, “Balance from 1994” and season is: We should specifically require that star hop- “Balance to 1995”. µ Winnipeg Fringe Festival ping be used for the observations that lead to July 19th-28th these certificates. Hopefully some certificate will More Planets Found! Call (204) 956-1340 evolve in the future for those that show major skills in the use of automated telescopes, and The San Francisco State University planet Saskatoon International Fringe Festival perform a non-trivial task with an automated search team has announced the discovery of August 2nd- 11th telescope. two more extrasolar planets. The first planet is Call (306) 664-2239 Paul Boltwood orbiting the star t Boötis. It has an minimum 1655 Main Street, Stittsville, Ontario K2S 1N6 µmass of 3.86 times that of Jupiter and orbits in a Edmonton’s Fringe Theatre Event circular orbit with a semi-major axis of 0.05 AU August 16th- 25th Astro Ads and a period of 3.3 days. t Boötis has a spectral Call (403) 448-9000 class of F7 V, making it slightly hotter than the Theatrefolk: Sun, and is only 19 parsecs from our star.
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