Mississauga Centre RASC

64th Meeting

    Members’ Night

 

 

 

Day:                Friday, May 26, 2006

 

 

Speakers:         Randy Attwood

                         Roy Swanson

                         Chris Malicki

                         Terry Hardman 

                          Phil Mozel

 

                    

                              

Mississauga Centre RASC

 

Randy announced that the Mississauga Astronomical Society is no more, but it is now the Mississauga Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.  The new centre was approved unanimously at the General Assembly of the RASC held in Ottawa during the Victoria long weekend.   Randy described the general assembly,. The first one was held in the late 1950’s or early 60’s. The society got its “Royal” term in 1903. For the 4 day event this month, Friday was the day for the National Council meeting. Paper sessions and special talks were held on Saturday and Sunday, with tours in the afternoon, and evening banquet.  Randy gave one of the talks – on the history of Canada in space. Rick Feinberg from Sky and Telescope spoke about international astronomy year in 2009.

 

Our own centre will transition from the MAS to the Mississauga Centre RASC. The transition is not instantaneous. The website will need to be updated and a new logo produced, but we are already linked from the national website. One will be able to join the Mississauga Centre online. Randy also described affiliate membership.  The national centre insurance covers us; donations can be tax-deductable.

 

The Sky Next Month

 

Roy Swanson described the sky and what is going on, the location of the planets. He pointed out the constellations Ophiuchus and Hercules.

 

 

39 comets in 38 years

 

Chris Malicki described his comet observing adventures since 1970.  He saw his first comet, Bennett in 1970. It was first of the great comets that he has seen, the others being West, Hyakutake, Hale-Bopp. A great comet is at least 1st magnitude, has a naked eye tail and gathers much publicity in the medium.  Chris also described Comet Halley in 1986, IRAS-Araki-Alcock which made a close approach to Earth in 1983, Temple 1, and Schwassmann-Wachmann.

 

Astronomical backgrounds for name tags

 

Terry Hardman has produced new name tags for the Mississauga Centre members with backgrounds showing different astronomical objects. Members can choose the background of their choice.

 

Variable Star Adventures

 

Phil Mozel described his “non-comet discovery” in the form of galaxy NGC 6207 near the globular cluster M13.

He described his variable star observations. The AAVSO (American Association of Variable star Observers) maintains an extensive website in which observers can submit their magnitude estimates. Phil showed how one can type in the particular variable and obtain a light curve made up of numerous observations. He showed the curves for V Boo, R Leo, R CrB.  In order to follow stars fainter than these or go closer to their minima,  Phil obtained a new 4” portable GoTo telescope with a 3degree field of view. He encouraged others to observe variable stars.

 

Submitted by Chris Malicki, Secretary  Chris Malicki, Secretary                               back to Miss Centre. meeting reports page
Mississauga Centre RASC