Please join us for the ON-LINE Recreational Astronomy Night meeting on Wednesday, June 2 at 7:30 pm.

The speakers for the evening are:

• Chris Vaughan - The sky this month
• Stuart Heggie - Astrophotography: Deep sky & skyscapes
• Arushi and Artash Nath - Simulating hypothetical asteroid impact scenario: Learnings from the 2021 Planetary Defense Conference

The presentations will be broadcast live at: https://www.youtube.com/rasctoronto/live

Paul Markov
RAN Meeting Coordinator

https://rascto.ca/content/recreational-astronomy-night-online-4

What's Up Over Edmonton: June 2021 Edition

RASC Edmonton Centre 

A look at what one can see in the night sky of Edmonton during the month of June, with some space history thrown in.

Join What's up over Edmonton on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, @ 7:30 - 9:30 pm MDT (9:30 - 11:30 pm EDT) HERE!

The Moon at Noon: Q5 and Q6

Next week there will be a partial solar eclipse! In some places it'll even be an annular eclipse. We'll be spending this session talking about eclipses. How come they don't happen every new Moon? How come only some places can see them? Why are Earth's solar eclipses so special? And finally, how can we observe the eclipse next week?

Register here! Sessions will also be livestreamed to YouTube and can be watched at any time.

Monthly Virtual Meeting: June

RASC Ottawa Centre

RASC Ottawa's June virtual meeting will take place Friday, June 4th, 2021 @ 7:30 pm EDT.

They are looking for observation images. Please send these images to Dave (meetingchair@ottawa.rasc.ca) or Chris (chris@teron.ca) by the end of Monday, May 31st, 2021 for inclusion in the slides. 

NOTE:  To allow more people to share, and keep our meeting from going on too long, they are now limiting observation reports to a maximum of 5 slides per presenter at 1 minute per slide.

If you would like to share more observations/content please contact Dave (meetingchair@ottawa.rasc.ca) so he can schedule you for a specific time at an upcoming meeting. 

They are looking for additional content and talks for our July and August meetings right now.

The agenda for this meeting is as follows:

- Ottawa Skies - Dave Chisholm
- Dr. Josh Speagle - Mapping the Milky Way
- M&M Challenge (over the 5-minute break)
- Paul Klauninger - Safely observing and imaging the June 10 solar eclipse
- Observations
- Observing Challenges

If you are NOT presenting a talk or observation you will need to register in advance for this Zoom webinar by clicking on the link below:

Register in advance for this webinar HERE!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you are presenting a talk or observation Chris Teron will send you your own private "Panellist" link. You do not need to register.

REMINDER:  All are welcome at the meetings.  Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues who might be interested.
 

Astronomy Speakers Night: "How Ancients Predicted Eclipses" with Ron MacNaughton

RASC Toronto Centre

This event will take place Saturday, June 5th, 2021 @ 7 pm - 8:30 pm EDT.

"Join us, from the comfort of your home! Explore breaking news from space and current research into what lies beyond our home planet! This speaker night will explain why eclipses happen, accurate patterns observed especially by Babylonians, the mathematical model by the Greeks for the motion of bodies around the Earth, and later developments by Kepler, Newton and others which now allow the location of total solar eclipses to be established with great accuracy. We’ll also take a virtual tour of the DDO, and have opportunities to ask them questions. Only one registration per household is required. Deadline to register for this program is Friday June 4, 2021 at 3pm EDT. Prior to the start of the program you will be emailed information on the virtual program links and any specific information relating to your program."

Register for the program HERE!

Encouraging Girls into STEM Fields by Fusing Art and Astrobiology 

Presented by Bettina Forget

RASC Montreal Centre

On Saturday, June 5th at 7 pm EDT, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Montreal Centre hosts former Centre President, current SETI Institute Artist-In-Residence Program Director and Educational Researcher Bettina Forget for a presentation and discussion on Encouraging Girls into STEM fields of study. Bettina will present her current PhD research where she explains how a fusion of art, astrobiology and sci-fi can create an access ramp for girls into the sciences. 

Register in advance HERE! 

Sunday Sungazing

RASC Toronto Centre

This event will take place Sunday, June 6th, 2021 @ 12:30 pm to 1 pm EDT.

Register for this event HERE!

"Safely observe the sun with us, from the comfort of your home! During these family-friendly sessions, a DDO Astronomer will answer your questions about our closest star: the sun! Learn how the sun works and how it affects our home planet. Live-streamed views of the sun through small telescopes will be included, weather permitting. Only one registration per household is required. Deadline to register for this program is June 4, 2021 at 3p.m. Prior to the start of the program, you will be emailed information on the virtual program links and any specific information relating to your program"

The Moon at Noon: Q-2

It's Apollo day! Finally, we get the chance to find both the first and last Apollo landing sites. Bring your questions about the Moon landings! We encourage you to share any annular eclipse photos you may have gotten from this morning as well.

Register here! Sessions will also be livestreamed to YouTube and can be watched at any time.

Introduction to Photometry

Presented by Ian Doktor

RASC Vancouver

Abstract:

This talk will provide an introduction to amateur photometry and describe the skills, tools and techniques to make a basic photometry project successful. It will also include the description of a successful high school photometry project by former students. The students will share their impressions of photometry as an astronomical and educational experience. Finally, Ian will share his experiences and past photometry projects as well as provide useful resources for anyone else interested in observing eclipsing binary stars, pulsating stars or transiting exoplanets.

About our Events:

All RASC lectures and observing events are open to the public, family-friendly, and there is no charge for admission. Our organization is run entirely by volunteers who love astronomy and astrophysics. Whether you're a complete beginner, a seasoned astronomer, or you hope to work for NASA some day, anyone fascinated by space exploration is welcome and will enjoy our events

This talk will take place on Thursday June 10, 2021 @ 7:30 pm PDT (10:30 pm EDT)

Join the talk via Zoom HERE!

Explore the Universe Challenge

RASC Sunshine Coast Centre

On Friday, June 11, 2021, @ 7:00 pm PDT (10:00 pm EDT), online on Zoom, the Sunshine Coast Centre of the RASC presents the Explore the Universe Challenge.

Sunshine Coast Member Charles Ennis will introduce the RASC’s Explore the Universe Program and teach viewers how to find the objects in the Summer viewing portion of the program. Later this year Charles will come back on Zoom to teach the Fall and Winter segments.

The RASC Explore the Universe program (awarded since 2002) is aimed at novice visual astronomers. Those who complete the program may apply for a certificate and pin—this is open to all, RASC members and non-members alike.

This program will:

• Stimulate an interest in observational astronomy.
• Introduce good observing practices and techniques.
• Provide an introduction to all aspects of visual astronomy including stars and constellations, lunar, Solar System, deep sky, double stars, and some optional activities, including variable stars.
• One of the special features of this program is that it can be completed entirely using binoculars and the unaided eye. 

NOTE: If you choose to use a telescope, automatic (GoTo) functions are not to be used.

A choice of objects is provided so that you can start the program at any time of the year and easily complete the requirements in three to six months time.

Want to get started? Download the Explore the Universe program requirements and start your observing program today! All you need to do is find half of the 110 objects on the program list.

If you are looking for a guide to getting started, consider purchasing the Explore the Universe Guide (2nd Edition) in the RASC store.

Go to our website for a link to the Zoom meeting: www.coastastronomy.ca 

Regular Meeting

RASC Edmonton

Regular Meeting, June 14, 2021 @ 7:00 pm CDT (9:00 pm EDT)

Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting. RASC members will be making short presentations on their recent projects.

Join the meeting using this Zoom link.

7:00 PM Pre-meeting mix and mingle.
7:30 PM Member Presentations

Presentations:

Black Nugget Lake Observatory: Warren Finlay
News from Space: Geoff Robertson
How to catch the waves of night-shining clouds, NLC: Alister Ling
Observer’s Certificates:  Jon Stolte
Astroimaging Greatest Hits: Abdur Anwar

RASC Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The RASC Annual General Meeting will take place June 27, 2021, 6 pm - 8 pm EDT. Stay tuned for more information.