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Meeting Notices and Summaries
- 2004 (13th - 32nd Meetings)
- 2005 (33rd - 54th Meetings)
- 2006 (55th - 75th Meetings)
- 2007 (76th - 96th Meetings)
- 2008 (97th - 118th Meetings)
- 2009 (119th - 139th Meetings)
- 2010 (140th - 160th Meetings)
- 2011 (161st - 181st Meetings)
2012 Meetings and Events
201st Meeting
November 23 Speaker Meeting
Ian McGregor Mayan Cosmology
Ian McGregor's carreer spanned 35 years at the ROM, where he was the head science teacher. Ian has been a member of the RASC for for 48 years. He was also the founding vice-president of the Mississauga Astronomical Society and the RASC Mississauga Centre.
200th Meeting
November 9 Member Night
199th Meeting
October 26 Speaker Meeting
Phil Stooke, UWO: Mapping Mars—A Visual History of Mars Exploration
Phil Stooke did his PhD at the University of Victoria, with a dissertation on mapping asteroids, which involved inventing shape-modelling methods and new map projections for non-spherical worlds. Since then he has worked at the University of Western Ontario, continuing that work and more recently compiling historical atlases of lunar and martian exploration. He teaches cartography and planetary science courses, including a course in planetary image interpretation and geological mapping of planetary surfaces. His maps of asteroids, small moons and comet nuclei are available online from NASA's Planetary Data System. His interests in mapping and space history are combined in his atlases, and his latest book, the International Atlas of Mars Exploration, will be the subject of this talk.
198th Meeting
October 12 Member Night
Host: Randy Attwood
Tom AllowayThe Malincam Xtreme and his experience with it so far
As part of the presentation, screen shots from the software used to control the Malincam and some very short exposures will be shown
Leslie StrikeA Demonstration of her new Vixen Polarie astrophotography mount
–––Break–––
Jo VandeDoolMy First Year of Astronomy
Many of our members started studying astronomy many moons ago, but one of our newest members started only a year ago. This begs the question; what is someone capable of in one year of astronomy in 2012? Jo VandeDool shows us just what exactly the new generation of astronomers can expect, and accomplish, in their first year of astronomy.
Randy AttwoodThe Sky this Month
plus potential bright comets and several upcoming eclipses of note.
After the meeting, join us at Crabby Joe's at the South Common Mall for more fun.
197th Meeting
September 21 Speaker Meeting
Paul Delaney: Exoplanets Update: The Search for Earth 2
In this presentation, Paul will review some of the history of the exciting field of exoplanet research and set the stage for the release of Kepler data.
York�U's lead SkyGuide, Paul Delaney, is a member of York University's Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Coordinator of York's campus observatory, and Director of the university's Division of Natural Science. He holds both a Bachelors and a Masters Degree of Science, has worked as a nuclear physicist for Atomic Energy of Canada, served as a support astronomer at Arizona's McGraw-Hill Observatory, and was a Master of Bethune College. Paul is also passionately involved in public outreach and is the recipient of several teaching, lecturing, and outreach awards.
And don't forget to tune into the weekly York Universe internet broadcast on Astronomy.FM, Mondays at 9:00 pm with host Paul Delaney.
John Hicks, our previously scheduled speaker, has had to cancel his presentation due to illness. We wish him a speedy recovery.
196th Meeting
September 7 Member Night
Host: Randy Attwood
Keith JarvieHistory of the Determination of the Speed of Light
Andrew OpalaBeginner Astrophotography: Equipment, techniques and results you should expect
–––Break–––
TBDThe Sky This Month
Allan Connery & Gerard ForaieMississauga Centre Telescope Loan Program
195th Meeting Summary
August 10 Member Night
Host: Terry Hardman
Leslie Strike & Allan ConneryAsteroid Attwood and see below
–––Break–––
James BeckwithAstronomy in the News
John MarcheseVideo presentation of Astronaut Mike Good's July 2012 talk during Space Day at the University of Guelph.
Attending the meeting will be Paul and Karen Mortfield from the David Dunlap Observatory, RASC Toronto Centre, and Tom Glinos, the discoverer of Asteroids Attwood and Mississauga.
For more information see Meetings page.
194th Meeting
July 13 Member Night
Host:Terry Hardman
Leslie & John:Starfest Preview
If you're going, thinking of going or even just curious about Starfest, you should attend this meeting. We will discuss where to camp / meet and who's going on which days. If you're never been, we'll answer your questions. You can even meet somebody to go with, whether just for the day or to camp.
Ian McGregor of Royal Ontario Museum:Higgs Boson
An intro to the Higgs Boson and what happened at CERN last week.
--- Break ---
John Marchese:University of Guelph Space Day Recap, including video of astronaut Mike Good's talk.
193rd Meeting Summary
June 22 Speaker Meeting
Title: Astronomical Connections - Weaving the Stories of Discovery and the Universe
Speaker: Mubdi Rahman, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto
If there's one thing that today's science teaches us, it's that the stories of the Universe are dramatically interconnected in unexpected ways. From the most powerful explosions in the galaxy to following the stars across the Atlantic, join us for a journey across space and time, exploring the connections throughout the Universe.
Mubdi Rahman is a Ph. D. candidate in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto who will be starting as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University in September 2012. His primary research interests include understanding the effects of star formation on the environment of the galaxy as a whole. His work on the discovery of the most massive young stellar association, The Dragonfish Association, has recently been featured in New Scientist, Science, Popular Science and MSNBC. An avid astronomer from even his earliest of years, Mubdi is active not only in research but also in the promotion and outreach of Astronomy and Science as a whole.
192nd Meeting Summary
Friday June 8 Member Night
Host: Randy Attwood
Theme: Blocking the Sun: The solar eclipse and Venus Transit.
We had (estimated) 1,000 people at UTM for the event, the same estimated attendance as at the Ontario Science Centre! Members will show their pictures, videos, or just talk about the event.
Observe the Transit of Venus with members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Event is a GO
Special Event: Transit of Venus
Tuesday June 5, 2012
Time:6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Location:Outside of the William G. Davis Building (South Building) of the University of Toronto at Mississauga
Join members of the RASC Mississauga Centre for our last chance to see a transit of Venus before 2117 (another 105 years!). Safely view the planet as it travels across the face of the sun. In addition to an exhibit detailing the history of Venus Transit observations over the past three centuries, we will set up properly equipped solar telescopes on the hill beside the walkway between parking lot 4 and the main entrance to the William G. Davis (old South) Building.
While not viewing the transit through a telescope, you will be able to safely observe the sun through special filtered glasses we will have available.
Viewing of the transit ends for us when the suns at around 8:45. Stick around for some general, nighttime observing. See the planets Mars and Saturn and deep sky objects through large telescopes, weather permitting of course.
Parking is free for this free event. Park in lots 4 or 8, which are immediately south of our observing location.
We thank the University of Toronto at Mississauga for providing the venue for this rare astronomical event and the support they have given to ensure its success.
191st Meeting
May 25 Speaker Meeting
Title: Inflation: The Universe's Growth Spurt
Speaker: Adrienne Erickcek,
Postdoctoral Fellow, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics and Postdoctoral Researcher, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
The Universe used to be hot! The amount of helium in the cosmos tells us that minutes after the Big Bang, the Universe was filled with plasma hotter than the core of the Sun. However, observations of the cosmic microwave background indicate that the Universe was not born as a fireball. Instead, it seems that the Universe started its life devoid of any matter or radiation; in the beginning, there was only a mysterious energy source that caused the Universe to expand exponentially. This cosmic growth spurt is called inflation, and it provided the seeds that grew into galaxies. I will present a brief history of the Universe, focusing on how inflation solves the problems of the old "hot Big Bang" model. I will also describe how we hope to answer the big lingering questions of inflationary cosmology: what drove inflation, and is there a connection between inflation and the current acceleration of the cosmic expansion?
Dr. Adrienne Erickcek received her Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 2009 and now holds a joint postdoctoral fellowship at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. She is also a junior fellow in Cosmology and Gravity program in the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Her research spans several areas in theoretical cosmology including the growth of structure in the early universe, inflationary origins of statistical anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background, modified gravity theories, and gravitational lensing by dark matter subhalos.
Special Event: Saturday May 12, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Event: Science Rendezvous at University of Toronto, Mississauga
Visit our booth in the Meeting Place to learn about the upcoming June 5th Transit ofspans several areas in theoretical cosmology including the growth of structure in the early universe, inflationary origins of statistical anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background, modified gravity theories, and gravitational lensing by dark matter subhalos.
190th Meeting Summary
Friday May 11 Member Night
Host: Randy Attwood
Short video:Kepler update
James Beckwith:Astronomy in the News
Randy Attwood:Observing the Sun and Moon
** break **
Randy Attwood:The 28th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.
Andrew Opala:Making a Telescope Mirror Out of Fibregass
Randy Attwood:The Sky This Month
189th Meeting Summary
April 27 Speaker Meeting
Title: Observing the Apollo Landing Sites on the Moon - from the Earth and From Lunar Orbit
Speaker: Randy Attwood, Past President, RASC Mississauga Centre
The general areas where the six Apollo lunar missions landed can easily be spotted with backyard telescopes. However, it is impossible to spot evidence of the landings. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been orbing the Moon for over 2 years. It has taken pictures of all the Apollo landing sites as well other unmanned craft on the surface. Interest in these sites is increasing as we get closer to visiting them with unmanned craft and potentially manned visits in the future. What will visitors to these sites find? What has happened on the Moon in the past 40 years?
188th Meeting Summary
April 13 Member Night
Host: John Marchese
Vic Cooper: The Transit of Venus—Some Science and History
Leslie Strike: Upcoming Public Outreach Events
Andrew Opala: The Importance of the Venus Transit to Measuring Distances in Space
Tom Alloway: Astronomy in the News
187th Meeting Summary
March 23 Speaker Meeting
Speaker: Dr. Suresh Sivanandam, Dunlow Institute Postdoctoral Fellow
Title: Seeing Beyond Red with Cool Technology
Humans often don't realize that they can sense more than visible light. They feel infrared radiation as heat, which is also another form of light. Over the past few decades, there has been an explosion of technological innovation in the detection of infrared light. This has opened up huge discovery spaces in astronomy. It has enabled us to peer into the centre of our Milky Way and see the effects of the supermassive black hole. We are now able to take pictures of planets in nearby solar systems. Stardust in galaxies also lights up in the infrared, allowing us to track the evolution of galaxies from very early times. The technology required to detect infrared light is quite unique and presents difficult engineering challenges. I will present an overview of the great new discoveries in infrared astronomy and the associated technological breakthroughs that have ushered in this new and exciting era of astronomy.
186th Meeting Summary
Friday March 9, 2012 Member Night
Host: Terry Hardman
James Beckwith: Astronomy in the News
Leslie Strike: A Thank You to Randy Attwood
Andrew Opala: Blue Stragglers and Star Clusters—A Look at "Blue Stragglers" and Star Cluster Evolution
Randy Attwood: The Sky This Month
185th Meeting
Friday February 24, 2012 Speaker Meeting
Karen Mortfield: Promoting Space Science: Bring On The Aliens!
Karen Mortfield of RASC Toronto Centre is helping to lead the revitalization effort at the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill. After successfully taking on stewardship of the 77-year old facility, members are preparing for a new challenge: creating a facility that will encourage kids to pursue careers in the sciences. From building rovers that could explore new planets to examining alternative life forms, the folks at the DDO are planning great new ways to make astronomy and space science cool.
184th Meeting Summary
Friday February 10, 2012 Member Night
Annual General Meeting
Host: Randy Attwood
Chris Malicki: Constellation of the Month—Canis Major
Tom Alloway: Astronomy in the News
Mississauga Centre 2011 Annual General Meeting
Log into the Members' section to download AGM Materials: Agenda, 2011 Financial Statements, and Minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting
183rd Meeting Summary
Friday January 20, 2012 Speaker Meeting
Speaker: Paul Delaney, York University
Title: Things That Go Bump in the Night: The Study of Variable Stars
It is widely regarded that Omicron Ceti (Mira) was the first variable star to be identified and thus observed and studied for its variability. Such observations date back to 1638 (from Johannes Holwarda) indicating the long and arguably rich history that is associated with variable stars. The plethora of stars that now are recognized to be variable in some way at some level is often a surprise to people as there is something comforting about the ‘steadiness’ of starlight. The observations of these stars however, are key to our improving understanding of stellar evolution. Further, as the past 100 years of the AAVSO have shown, the ability for amateur and professional astronomers to support each other in the endeavor of variable star observations is all but immeasurable.
This talk will outline some of the highlights of the history of this research, as well as some of the exciting frontiers that are being explored today. The variable star research contributions by amateur astronomers can lead to not only immensely satisfying observing experiences but can advance significantly (and quickly) the science of Astronomy.
Paul Delaney was born in South Australia and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia in 1978 and his Master of Science from the University of Victoria, British Columbia in 1981. Since that time, he has worked as a nuclear physicist for Atomic Energy of Canada and a support astronomer at McGraw Hill Observatory near Tucson, Arizona.
He has been a member of the Physics and Astronomy at York University since 1986. He is the Professor and Coordinator of the campus Astronomical Observatory and since 2002 has been the Director of the Division of Natural Science. He was the Master of Bethune College from 1994 until 2005 and from 1995 to 2001.
He is a passionate educator and delights in discussing the wonders of the universe with people of all ages. Along with his undergraduate Observing Team, he coordinates an extensive Public Outreach program in astronomy including hosting a 1 hour internet radio program ‘The YorkUniverse” every Monday evening. He considers himself an amateur as well as professional astronomer and has been interested in astronomy and space science for as long as he can remember. He has been the recipient of York University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering Teaching Award (1991), a ‘top 10’ finalist in TV Ontario’s Best Lecturer competition (2005), a recipient of the University Wide Teaching Award (2006) and was the winner of the Royal Canadian Institute’s 2010 Sanford Flemming Medal for outstanding contributions to the public understanding of science amongst Canadians.
182nd Meeting Summary
Friday January 6, 2012 Member Night
Host: John Marchese
Tom Alloway: Sputnik and Its Impact
Terry Hardman: Members Night Presentations—It's Really Quite Simple
James Beckwith: Astronomy in the News
Randy Attwood: The Sky This/Next Month plus 2012 Observing Highlights