R I Z Vol. 18 Issue 4 O O LA SOCIÉTÉ ROYALE D’ASTRONOMIE DU CANADA New Brunswick Centre du Nouveau-Brunswick Eclipse 2017 THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA H N EXTRA! EXTRA! MOON ATTACKS SUN — LOSES AGAIN! This special edition of HORIZON is brought to you by the many RASC NB members, their fami- lies and associates who shared views of the par- tial solar eclipse at home or who travelled to wit- ness totality in the USA. We submitted eight outreach events, with a total of 1670 public participants, to the RASC website pertaining to the August 21 eclipse in the prov- ince, including events in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Riverview, Keswick and Hanwell. Oth- er non-RASC events were held at Science East in Fredericton and at Mount Allison University in Sackville. The image at left was taken by Paul Owen at Rockwood Park in Saint John. Notice the stretch of sunspots. The leading active region appeared one week before eclipse day, and the second one rotated into view just two days before. Rockwood Park, Saint John Photos by Paul Owen SRAC NB RASC — Volume 18, Issue 4 — Page 2 Horizon: instruire, informer et inspirer Capital City Eclipse Events few days leading in to the weekend . It by Chris Weadick ended up being at the baseball field above the Aitken Centre - far away from residential areas and away from Fredericton area hosted four eclipse local businesses. James was at the events. Leading up to the event we parking garage downtown, and Detlef had only committed to assisting the helped me out in Hanwell while I was University of New Brunswick Physics at UNB with Chris LeMesurier. Department. Science East and the ru- ral community of Hanwell had not In an attempt to estimate the number shown any interest in the event as it of participants, UNB chose to use a was not a total eclipse. Because of the free ticket tracking site (EventBrite.ca - lack of news coverage and lack of which we have used in the past to help hype there did not seem to be much estimate the number of volunteers interest until 2-3 weeks before the needed and handouts required). UNB event. Then interest started to grow... estimated that out of the 150 Event- exponentially. Brite tickets dispensed (online for free), approximately 75% of the people We were challenged to find volunteers would show up. to assist in Fredericton but not from lack of interest; just that the eclipse Chris LeMesurier contacted me to ask Photo by Chris Weadick timing was in prime vacation week and if any assistance was needed for Mon- many of our usual volunteers were day. I had thought that it may be quiet Being my first day back from 2 weeks away eclipse hunting in the States. at UNB and he could host that event vacation it was a busy day at work. I James Ayles offered to host a group and then I would relocate to Science ended up getting a text from Alex Adair from the downtown core, Science East East to assist. Around the same time (UNB Physics) as I was late and rush- was requesting assistance but we did Science East emailed and asked for ing to the event with road construction not have enough volunteers, and I had more glasses and for assistance as in the way as well as slow drivers... committed my time to UNB since they expected 400+ people to show up and of course I had the telescopes March. for the event, as well as CTV and CBC and solar glasses. I could see a look news services. This added more sub- of relief from the Physics Department We did not know how many people stance to the plan to help Chris LeM as I pulled up at the event location, would travel to the university as the lo- get started at UNB and then head to dropping off Tasha with the glasses to cation was not finalized until the last Science East; which never happened. bring to the welcome desk while we SRAC NB RASC — Volume 18, Issue 4— Page 3 Horizon: to educate, inform, and inspire (Brooklynne and I) parked. Chris LeM the Sky News magazines we had for the event without my daughters re- sent one of his friends down to the the Fredericton area. My daughters minding me to have a look at the parking lot, and Alex was pacing - and two representatives from the Moon's progress across the Sun. I waiting for my arrival. Thankful for the Physics Department kept circling the never took the opportunity to look in help as I have had significant issues field sharing our glasses with those the solar scope as I wanted others to with my back and was not certain in the line-ups for the telescope. see the difference of the filtered tele- about carrying the gear for two tele- Chris LeM helped by managing scope and the glasses vs a Hα tele- scope set-ups and supplies across the Brooklynne's telescope and one of scope. Through the Baader filter I field. Many thanks Chris LeM and the Physics staff assisted with the could see various sunspots while friend for all the assistance! solar scope, after some initial training Chris LeM was doing a great job at with Chris LeM in close proximity for trivia information about the eclipse for The field was 1/4 full and people were any questions or issues. those waiting in line. I did make sure arriving from all directions - they kept to observe the initial max and exit arriving even during and after the points of the event and various in- event. We had around 400 participants stances during the event. One of the but it was challenging to get an accu- benefits of a manual telescope is that rate number as there were many sta- you "have to" keep adjusting the view tions available and many people were so it gives you an opportunity to have in the lines multiple times. UNB had a look. crafted about a dozen versions of pin- hole cameras for the public to try out Last year Paul Owen was showing as well as their 6"scope with Baader how well you can observe using a filter. Hanwell Club (i.e. Brooklynne camera's "live view" feature of a DSLR Weadick) donated her scope; a 90 mm Photo by Chris LeMesurier before taking your picture. It is a neat refractor with Baader filter. I brought way to offer public observing; they do the RASC NB solar scope as no one not need to look in the eyepiece, they in Fredericton has an Hα solar scope. I am grateful for the assistance of my could look at the camera screen. I saw I should have bought one for the Ve- daughters; not only for helping every- the CBC cameraman using his full size nus transit as per my original plans! one out with the event but also for a camera focussed on the Sun and it al- reminder to keep looking up at the so had a "live view" screen on the We ran out of solar glasses, handing Sun. I was distracted trying to ensure body. They would film about 10 sec- them out to groups of 4-6 people and everyone else was having a positive onds of the Sun every couple of even utilized the solar glasses from experience and I would have missed minutes and while the cover was off SRAC NB RASC — Volume 18, Issue 4— Page 4 Horizon: instruire, informer et inspirer the lens you could see a nice view of The day before the eclipse Detlef Ru- ORBIT the eclipse on the view screen. I al- dolf contacted me as there were indi- Around the Centre ways wonder if the public cares about viduals in Hanwell also wanting to par- looking through the eyepiece vs look- ticipate, which is unexpected as there ing at a live view screen, and just look- are limited businesses in the area and What was your favourite part of the ing at a picture on a monitor. When the eclipse was mid-afternoon of a eclipse event? does observing and searching out im- workday so many parents would be at ages online cross the line? It would work. Paul Owen: My favorite part of the certainly be easier to show the public eclipse was seeing all the people gath- the event on an LCD screen, either Overall it was an overwhelming suc- ered together in harmony to witness from a camera feed or streamed cess with 4-5 times the number of ex- one of our most amazing astronomical online, rather than explaining how to pected participants. Based on the re- events...everyone excited like kids on look in an eyepiece as well as what to sponse in the States and the over- Christmas morning....way better than look for. Perhaps both a live view and whelming response here with poor ad- CNN. an eyepiece provide the best oppor- vertising, limited planning, and limited tunity. Use the LCD to show what they resources, I would anticipate 2024 will Curt Nason: Seeing a two-year old will see in the eyepiece and point out require more effort on the planning cutie sitting on the ground looking up features of interest, then let them ob- and preparation both from National as at the Sun though my wrap-around serve through the eyepiece. This well as Centre / local considerations. eclipse glasses. would also provide something to enter- An informal poll of the public con- tain those waiting in line for the eye- firmed everyone was blown away and Mandy Bregg: My granddaughter (4 piece perspective.