At Smiley’s Provincial Park
August 26-28, Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning.
Astronomy Talks, Workshops, Observing, Telescope displays, Astronomer’s breakfast
For Registration and Details see http://halifax.rasc.ca/ne
(Huggins is the second building on the right as one goes up University Avenue (opposite the gymnasium). Enter by the corner door to the right of the main entrance. Once inside, enter the stairwell on your immediate right and go up one floor. Then keep right!)
Doug Pitcairn is an excellent speaker, with a passion for astronomy. He teaches “Architecture 1200, Science of the Built Environment”, a course that he developed for the School of Architecture at Dalhousie University. Doug also teaches introductory astronomy classes at Saint Mary’s University. He and Dave Lane are often guests on CBC’s Maritime Noon Phone-in on the topic of astronomy. Doug’s other interests include cycling in the Annapolis Valley, photography, music, writing, acoustics, gardening, and cooking.
This will be Doug’s second presentation to MAG. Two years ago this month his topic was “Ordinary Extraordinary Stars of the Milky Way”.
Abstract:
A dictionary describes the word “Edge” as a noun meaning “the outside limit of an object, area or surface.”
Human beings have a tendency to compartmentalize their physical surroundings. We draw lines between regions of everything from the surface of this planet, to the skin on our bodies. These boundaries create edges, which upon closer examination may be more in our minds than in physical reality.
This talk will examine a few of the edges of well known objects in the universe. We will see that where one thing stops, and the next starts, is often a matter of opinion…
There is a close, seldom-mentioned connection between the stars and the problems occurring at the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactors in Japan. The connection involves the properties of the isotopes of the elements, the curve of nuclear binding energy, and the life cycles of stars. The energy contained in fossil fuels arrived on Earth on a beam of starlight, but the energy contained in reactor fuel and the energy responsible for earthquakes arrived on our planet with the ashes of the most violent events in the universe, supernova explosions.
(Huggins is the second building on the right as one goes up University Avenue (opposite the gymnasium). Enter by the corner door to the right of the main entrance. Once inside, enter the stairwell on your immediate right and go up one floor.)
“Explore the Moon with your Binoculars and Small Telescope”
Abstract:
The Moon is an ideal object of study for the beginning astronomer, as it is easy to find, can be conveniently viewed from home, does not require a large, expensive telescope, and yields interesting and detailed views at low magnification. Even a modest lunar observing programme enhances your understanding of the motions of Earth and Moon, provides training in the operation of your telescope, and — above all — helps you learn how to observe.
The Speaker:
David Chapman started looking at the sky 50 years ago, and by age 10 had his first, small, telescope. Page one of his observing log was devoted to the Moon. He has been more or less involved in astronomy since then, as a hobby, but studied Physics in university and completed a research career in underwater acoustics. After he retired, he turned his gaze back at the Moon and earned the RASC Lunar Observer’s Certificate and pin. In other words, he is now a certified lunatic!
David has just returned from a 5-week tour of New Zealand, where he had the experience of observing a completely different starry sky and viewing the Moon upside down!
Also, David is the recently-appointed editor of the Observer’s Handbook of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, so he is destined to have a significant influence upon the observing activities of amateur and professional astronomers in many countries during the next few years.
7pm in Rm 202 Huggins Science Hall, Acadia University
Member presentations – show your new astronomy-related Christmas gift, pictures, or other item.
This will be a Christmas/Solstice Party at the Funky Sun Observatory,
hosted by Robert and Ruth Clark – This is our 5th annual such meeting.
Saturday Dec 11, at 7 pm at the home of the Clarks on Rt 1 west of Berwick known as the Lone Pine Farm.
Meet in rm 202 Huggins Science Centre, Acadia University
Saturday, 13 November at 7 pm
Dave Lane will be our speaker and talk of
“Amateur Variable Star Research at the Abbey Ridge Observatory”
This is the Dave’s observatory he built and operates.
Meet 2nd floor of Huggins Science Centre, Acadia University Rm 202
7 pm Saturday -Oct 16
S. Chandrasekhar – Astrophysicist (1910-1995)
Astrophysicist working in astrodynamics and stellar evoluion.
Worked at Yerkes and the University of Chicago and received the Nobel Prize in 1983.
Presented by Roy Bishop
Meet at Acadia University, Huggins Science Hall, Room 202
Main Presentation:
The Tides of Fundy
by Roy Bishop
Roy was asked to be the speaker at the closing banquet the 2010 General Assembly of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada held in Fredericton in July, and that his topic be The Tides of Fundy. He will repeat that presentation at MAG this Saturday. Roy spoke on tides at the first meeting of MAG 16 years ago (1994 November 12). The 2010 version of his presentation on tides has been updated, in both content (better physics and astronomy) and technology (PowerPoint)!
Come and join us for casual astronomy talk and interaction after Roy’s talk.