Mississauga Centre RASC

119th Meeting

                                                      Members’ Night  

           

 

Day:                Friday January 9, 2009

 

Chair:     Terry Hardman

 

Speakers:          Phil Mozel

                          Randy Atwood

                          Bob Anderson 

`                        Roy Swanson 

                     

 

Visiting the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

 

Phil Mozel is an educator at the Ontario Science Centre and visited the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) last summer.  Sudbury, located in an ancient impact crater, is home to the centre “Science North” which contains many displays of rocks, mines and a simulated mine.  The SNO is located 6800 feet below the surface in a working mine.  Phil described the descent in a large elevator with 30 people descending at 30 mph.  After walking through long tunnels, one gets to the neutrino observatory where clothing must be changed and a water and air shower taken so as not to contaminate the clean environment.  SNO is located far underground because neutrinos can penetrate anything but other spurious radiation and cosmic rays cannot.  Phil then briefly described how the observatory detects neutrinos and the newest experiment using argon surrounded by water to detect theoretical weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP’s).  

 

International Year of Astronomy 2009

 

Randy Attwood spoke about the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) established by the United Nations.  This is an opportunity to take astronomy to the people in an organized world-wide fashion.  International and Canadian goals of the IYA are listed on the RASC website and include increasing scientific awareness among people.   

The RASC is planning sidewalk astronomy, brochures, astronomy trading cards, a book for young people, starfinder, handouts including a light pollution reduction booklet.  The RASC is linked with CASCA and with the Federation des Astronomes Amateurs du Quebec.  In addition, there is a goal to give people an engaging astronomical experience (Galileo moment).  People with astronomy cards can go to a website for more information.  Speakers for clubs and ads on the TTC are other plans.  The kickoff to the GTA for the IYA is January 10 with the Toronto Astronomy Festival at the OSS with exhibitions of local and national astronomy organizations, speakers, photos etc.  The Mississauga Centre will have a table.  Randy asked for volunteers.  The goal of the IYA is that 1 million people will experience a Galileo moment.  He wants us to go to the people with sidewalk astronomy.  There is a need for volunteers to participate in community events and schools.  

He spoke about the upcoming U of T astronomy and space exploration evening symposium about “Expanding Canada’s Frontiers”

 

Constellation of the Month - Perseus

 

Bob Anderson spoke about Perseus. He showed its location in the sky.  Perseus is one of the original 48 constellations and he discussed its mythology.  It is known for the Perseid meteor shower.  Algol, the demon star, is a famous eclipsing variable and is actually a 3 star system.  The double cluster NGC869/884, California nebula, NGC 1334, M34, planetary M76, NGC1245 and NGC1491 were described. 

 

 

The Sky This Month

 

Roy Swanson discussed the full Moon near perigee this month, Venus at greatest elongation and lunar conjunctions with bright stars.  He described winter constellations.  The 13th is on a Friday and the statistical significance of this was discussed.

 

 

Chris Malicki, Secretary