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June 5 - Transit of Venus across the Sun

5/30/2012

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Cautionary note: Do not stare at the sun! Venus covers too little of the solar disk to block the blinding glare. Instead, use some type of projection technique or a solar filter. So, with that warning out of the way...

From NASA Science News:
On June 5th, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the sun, producing a silhouette that no one alive today will likely see again. Transits of Venus are very rare, coming in pairs separated by more than a hundred years. This June's transit, the bookend of a 2004-2012 pair, won't be repeated until the year 2117. Fortunately, the event is widely visible. Observers on seven continents, even a sliver of Antarctica, will be in position to see it.

The nearly 7-hour transit begins at 3:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time (22:09 UT) on June 5th
 

Closer to home, here in Kamloops the Observatory at TRU will be open for public viewing of the transit. The main telescope will be fitted with a solar filter for direct observation, and the observing deck (just outside the dome) will be open for viewing. KAS members are welcome to come and set up your telescopes, power is available on the observing deck. As well, a room with a multimedia projector will be located nearby so that webcasts can be viewed.

For those of you that have not visited the TRU Observatory before, it is located on top of the International Building on the north side of campus.
The building is open all day and closes at 9:20 in the evening.
The dome will be open for viewing from 3:30 to 5:30 and then 6:30 to 8:30.
Parking is free after 5:00.
Picture
The June 8, 2004, transit of Venus photographed by Frans Snik at the Dutch Open Telescope in La Palma, Canary Islands
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June 4 - Partial Lunar Eclipse

5/30/2012

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From NASA's Science News:

On June 4th, 2012, there's going to be a full Moon. According to Native American folklore it’s the Strawberry Moon, so-called because the short season for harvesting strawberries comes during the month of June. This Strawberry’s going to have a bite taken out of it.

At 3:00 am Pacific Daylight Time, not long before sunrise on Monday, June 4th, the Moon passes directly behind our planet. A broad stretch of lunar terrain around the southern crater Tycho will fall under the shadow of Earth, producing the first lunar eclipse of 2012. At maximum eclipse, around 4:04 am PDT, 37% of the Moon's surface will be in the dark.


Read the full article here.
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Annular Solar Eclipse (May 20) and Public Observing at the DRAO Penticton

5/10/2012

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The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) in Penticton will be holding an Open House and observing event on Sunday May 20th to coincide with the annular (partial) eclipse of the sun.
The last tour of the DRAO facilities will be at 2:30pm, so be sure to get there earlier if you want to see the operations.
The partial solar eclipse begins at approximately 4:30, and KAS members are encouraged to attend with their telescopes (and proper solar filtering) to share views of the eclipse with the public.

Driving directions:
By Road, from PENTICTON
  1. Drive approximately 12 km SOUTH on HIGHWAY 97
  2. Go past HIGHWAY 3, turn off to VANCOUVER, continue 500 m
  3. Turn RIGHT onto WHITE LAKE RD
  4. Continue along WHITE LAKE RD for approximately 8 km
  5. Pass St. ANDREW’S golf course on your RIGHT, continue for 1 km to the entrance of DRAO. (9 km from HIGHWAY 97)
By Road, from OKANAGAN FALLS
  1. Drive NORTH from OKANAGAN FALLS approximately 8 km
  2. Turn LEFT onto WHITE LAKE RD
  3. Continue along WHITE LAKE RD for 8 km
  4. Pass St. ANDREW’S golf course on your RIGHT, continue for 1 km to the entrance of DRAO. (9 km from HIGHWAY 97)
Visitors are asked to LEAVE their cars at the ROAD and walk to the Observatory grounds (approximately 600 m). Automobile ignition systems can emit radio waves that interfere with the astronomers’ observations.
Picture
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Largest Full Moon Of 2012 on Saturday May 5... A 'Super Moon'?

5/4/2012

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There's been a lot of talk in the media about this next full moon being a 'Super Moon'.
Sounds exciting, but here's some facts from an article from Sky and Telescope:

May is the month this year when full Moon occurs closest to perigee, the point where the Moon is closest to Earth in its monthly orbit. But the Moon will be only 8% closer and larger than average. That's not enough to notice unless you're an awfully careful moonwatcher. Or use measuring tools.
And, this full Moon will shine only 0.16 magnitude brighter than average. That's only slightly more of a brightness difference than a skilled variable-star observer can just detect.

You can see the difference in a side-by-side comparison like the one above. But looking at the Moon by itself? Not likely."

So, while unfortunately this 'super moon' may not be quite as dramatic as some media or internet rumours would have you believe, it's still a wonderful sight to observe. If it's a clear night, head outside with your binoculars and enjoy the full moon... it's always super!
Picture
The full Moon of May 5, 2012, appears just 8% larger than the average full Moon.
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