Topham Letter #1

On 15 Aug, 2013 By walter.macdonal...

Undated letter, found in a 1937 variable star logbook from Toronto.

 

Dear Miss Northcott

I expect you will be just returning from your vacation. I think you had them July last year. I get, last in Aug + first two weeks left and as I see to have my weed sneezes about then I guess I will either sneeze here or go north past the dust of it.

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The Perseid meteor shower is set to light up the sky tonight!

On 12 Aug, 2013 By Anonymous (not verified)

Each year between late July and early August, the Earth passes through comet Swift-Tuttle’s debris. The debris (mostly bits of dust) burn up in the atmosphere and the result can be a spectacular meteor shower. One of the best opportunities for viewing will be across the northern hemisphere between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. tonight (August 12). Look toward the northeast (Perseus), but expect to see the meteors in any part of the sky.

 

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Asteroid (2710) Veverka

On 28 Jul, 2013 By ebriggs733@gmail.com

Named in honour of Joseph Veverka, planetary astronomer at Cornell University. One of the first to study the polarimetric and photometric properties of asteroids, Veverka has made substantial contributions to our knowledge of other small objects in the solar system, notably in his detailed work on Phobos and Deimos. He has also studied the morphology and motions of wind streaks on the Martian surface and has been a strong advocate of space missions to comets.


 


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Asteroid (294600) Abedinabedin

On 24 Jul, 2013 By ebriggs733@gmail.com
Abedin Y. Abedin (b. 1982) is a good friend of the first discoverer. He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Western Ontario.
Orbit type: Main Belt
 
Reference: MPC 84384
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Asteroid (340891) Londoncommorch

On 24 Jul, 2013 By ebriggs733@gmail.com
The London Community Orchestra, founded in 1974, is a community orchestra in London, Ontario. The minor planet is named in recognition of the orchestra’s 40th anniversary.
Orbit type: Main Belt
 
Reference: MPC 84384
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Asteroid (261930) Moorhead

On 24 Jul, 2013 By ebriggs733@gmail.com
James Marshall Moorhead (b. 1940) is an American-Canadian astronomer with expertise in the infrared spectroscopy of stars and nebulae, and the properties of variable stars.
Orbit type: Main Belt
 
Reference: MPC 84383
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Asteroid (144769) Zachariassen

On 24 Jul, 2013 By ebriggs733@gmail.com

Rayan Zachariassen (b. 1963) is a Canadian computer scientist who helped build and manage Canada’s first national educational Internet backbone (CA*net).

Orbit type: Main Belt

Reference: MPC 84381

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Elvins AutoBiography

On 22 Jul, 2013 By walter.macdonal...

Autobiography of Andrew Elvins.  There are three sections in this document:

  1. Autobio dictated by Mr. Elvins to L.H. Graham in 1904.
  2. Autobio dictated by Mr. Elvins to C.A. Chant in 1913 (transcription of #3).
  3. Original Shorthand version of #2.

The text of these autobiographies appear on the two pages following this one.

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The Poor Man's Telescope

On 21 Jul, 2013 By walter.macdonal...

THE POOR MAN'S TELESCOPE
by
F.W. Henshaw and F.T. Matthews

A series of articles first appearing in THE MONITOR under the feature column of the Montreal Centre — "Observatory Activities."

Note: The actual year of publication is not known.

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JRASC 2013 August

On 13 Jul, 2013 By james-deleted-5...

Inside this issue:

  • Planetary Science Congress
  • Oz Odyssey
  • Light-Pollution Mapping Device
  • Eclipse Crossword Answers
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