Mississauga Astronomical Society
Thirtyfifth Meeting
Members’ Night and General Meeting
Day: Friday, February 25, 2005
Chair: Phil Mozel
Speakers: Roy Swanson
Phil Mozel
Iphegenia Occultation
Phil Mozel polled the members as to who had observed the occultation of a 10.3 mag star by the asteroid 112 Iphegenia on Feb. 24. David Gilbank successfully timed the reappearance. Phil was able to time the occultation. Chris Malicki observed the star’s disappearance but was unable to obtain timings.
Astrology and Astronomy
Roy Swanson discussed the relation between astrology and astronomy. Every day of the year has a specific astrology sign in the zodiac. Roy then defined the astronomy sign as the constellation in which the sun is located on any given date. A comparison of the two shows that the two types of sign are the same only 11% of the time both because Ophiuchus was dropped a long time ago (because 13 was considered an unlucky number), and because of the 26,000 year cycle of precession of the Earth’s axis. A long time ago when it was important to know the time of the year for agricultural reasons, the vernal equinox was in Ares. In the ancient Mithraic religion, the god Mithras kills the bull because the equinox has moved from Taurus to Ares. Now in the current epoch, the equinox is located in Pisces.
Stargazers historically knew about precession but Aristotle declared the heavens to be unchanging. Judeo-Christian theology stated that God’s handiwork is perfect. As a result, astrologers left the astrological signs as is despite precession. Today, astrology is still 2,000 years, or 1 ˝ “houses”, behind the astronomical reference point. Not even the planets are truly located where astrology states. Roy recommended the use of Starry Night program to show where the sun and planets are located and to refute astrological claims.
Historical Vignette – Woodstock College Observatory
Phil Mozel described his historical research into Woodstock College Observatory. A plaque now stands at the site of the college. Originally the Canadian Literary Institute, the name was changed to Woodstock College in 1883 and remained as such until 1926. The institute moved to Moulton College in Toronto at Bloor and Avenue Road. Another offshoot of the Woodstock College is McMaster Hall which is now the Royal Conservatory of Music near the R.O.M. and McMaster University in Hamilton.
In 1874, prior to the transit of Venus, Jabez Montgomery, a teacher at the college wrote in the Woodstock Weekly Review that “Canada has no Astronomical Observatory of any importance” and suggested that Woodstock College build such an observatory. An 8” Fitz refractor was finally purchased after a difficult funding campaign which gained impetus after Montgomery wrote a passionate article bemoaning the sorry state of astronomy in Canada. Phil showed slides of the Woodstock College Observatory and its shutters for stellar transit observations, and the Fitz refractor.
After Montgomery left Woodstock College, Newton Wolverton, a former soldier in the Union Army during the US Civil War, became professor of math, principal of the college and observatory director. For the 1882 transit of Venus he was able to get donations of piers, an astronomical clock and other equipment. Woodstock College was part of a network of Canadian observatories observing the transit but unfortunately could not get timings due to clouds.
In the early 20th century, the observatory building was run down and astronomy ceased. The last known observation was that of Halley’s Comet in 1910. Phil was not able to say where the instruments have disappeared but suggested that the Fitz refractor could be laying in someone’s attic or might somehow appear at an antique sale. He asked that we keep our eyes open.
General Meeting
The remaining time was devoted to the 1st annual general meeting of the society (see members' stuff on the M.A.S. website).
Submitted by Chris Malicki, Secretary
Chris
Malicki, Secretary
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