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The
StarSeeker
Newsletter of the R.A.S.C. Calgary Centre, Member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
January 2015
Volume LVI Number I
2015
Annual Banquet &
Awards Night
Saturday, January 31, 5:30 p.m.
Danish -Canadian Club 
727, 11th Avenue S.W.
Photo Credit: Wallpaperswide.com
Inside the StarSeeker:
 Editor’s Message .....................................2
 President’s Message ................................2
 Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy ....................3
 New Members .........................................3
 RASC Calgary Centre Contact List.........4
 Annual Banquet & Awards Night ...........5
 Observing Groups Report........................6
 Astro-Imaging Round Up ........................7
 Explore The Universe Certiﬁcate ............7
 Green Laser Pointer Usage ......................8
 RASC GM Guest Speaker .......................9
 Telescopes For Rent Program .................9
 Calendar..................................................10
Editor’s Message
President’s Message
By Carole Benoit
By Robyn Foret
Happy New Year! Welcome to the January 2015 edition
of the StarSeeker. We are also welcoming Robyn Foret as
our newly elected President and his ﬁrst ofﬁcial message
to us.
January ends with the Banquet on the 31st. Please contact
Andrew Jones for tickets and reservations. You may also
purchase your banquet tickets at the January 15 General
meeting.
Your Astro-imaging photos are requested, as it is time
to showcase your hard work. The deadline for your
submission (s) is January 17. Jack Milliken is the contact
for sending your images.
A late Christmas Day present–Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy
is now coming into good view for northern hemisphere
observers. Larry McNish has prepared for us a diagram
of the Comet’s path (see next page). Thank you Larry!
Jack Milliken also submitted his Observing Groups report
on page 6 as the Nova , OG and Youth group meetings
are schedule to restart as well this month.
For up-to-date information and upcoming events, visit
the calendar of activities in this newsletter (p. 10) and/or
on our web site for more details.
http://calgary.rasc.ca/calendar.htm
To ﬁnd out about last minute astronomy evenings or
activities visit the rasccalgary Yahoo discussion group:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/rasccalgary/
Happy New Year!
Thanks To All Who Contributed
Articles This Month
––––––––––––––––––
Don’t Forget, We Would Like To
Hear From You!
All RASC members are invited to submit your ideas, new
equipment reviews, current projects, photos, etc. Let us
know what you would like to read in the newsletter. Would
you like to start a column? Please send your submissions
to Carole at:
2
First of all, I want to thank Jason Nishiyama, our Past
President, Andrew Jones, our past Past President, Victor
Barbu, our past 2nd VP, and retiring Councillors Luke
MacMillan, Katherine Peterson, Ed Reddy and Doug
Thorp for their service on Council.
With our annual “elections” behind us, I have the honor
of becoming your Centre President for the next two years.
I’d like to thank all of those who volunteered to ﬁll the
vacant Executive and Councillor positions at November’s
General Meeting. New to this year’s Council, we welcome
Roger Nelson, Susan Yeo, Glenn Hawley, George Grant,
Grace Nelson and Roland Dechesne and moving from
Councillor up to 2nd VP, George Cavanaugh. I look
forward to working with our new Council and as always,
if you have the next great idea to make the Calgary Centre
even better, be sure to share your thoughts with any of the
Council members. We have some interesting initiatives
to share with you this year so stay tuned for more as the
year progresses.
Larry McNish posted the 2015 events calendar and
predictably, we have a busy year ahead with plenty of
opportunities for members and the public to explore our
passion. Of course everything we do is thanks to the
efforts of our volunteers; be they Council members or
the regular non-council volunteers that you see at almost
every event. If you haven’t had the opportunity to help out
at an event, consider doing so to hone your craft; you’ll
be surprised how much you will learn when you plan to
lead and there are always plenty of seasoned volunteers
around to help you along the way. My only caution is that
it is very addictive.
Our 1st VP, Steve Donaldson, continues to do an
exemplary job of securing guest speakers for our General
Meetings. Don’t miss the upcoming General Meetings
R.A.S.C. CALGARY – STARSEEKER
where in January, Professor René Plume will speak to
us on “Astrophysics and Astrochemistry: A Search for
Origins in the Universe”, in February Roland Dechesne
and Steve Donaldson present “Myths and Misconceptions
in Astronomy” (you won’t want to myth this one), and
in March Roland Dechesne and Jason Nishiyama with
“We’ve got the Astronomy Blues”.
That should be enough to wet your appetite; speaking
of which, be sure to get your Banquet tickets. Details in
the December and January editions of the StarSeeker. I
hope to see you there or at any (many) of the other events
planned for 2015.
Welcome!
Clear Skies!
NEW MEMBERS
Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy
Joseph Martin
Ian F. Dowbush
Lindsay Dowbush
Stuart Neis
Evan McColl
Jeff Smith
Stephen Y. Hogenson
Richard Davis
Brian Berg
Brianna Strong
Diane F. Cruise
By Larry McNish
Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy is approaching naked-eye
visibility (meaning you can see the star-like object, not a
huge comet). It is estimated to peak between mag 4 and 5
the ﬁrst week of January.
Below is a diagram of it’s path from December 23
through January 15 shown at midnight local time each
day. The comet may occult (<1 arcmin) the star R Eridani
(mV 5.68 ) Jan 1 at 11:31 pm MST and will be located 8
degrees from the Pleiades January 17.
Not a Member Yet? Join RASC!
More information at:
http://calgary.rasc.ca/applinfo.htm
Some membership benefits:
• National Membership in the RASC
• Membership Association with the
Calgary Centre of the RASC
• Subscription to the national publication,
the “eJournal” (the printed Journal is
optional)
• Subscription to the national publication,
the “eBulletin”
• The national annual publication, the
“Observers Handbook” (300+ pages)
• Subscription to the Calgary Centre
newsletter, the “StarSeeker”
• Members will also receive a free
subscription to “SkyNews”, the Canadian
astronomy magazine.
WWW.CALGARY.RASC.CA
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R.A.S.C. Calgary Centre Executive, Councillors & Other Contacts
Executive
President .............................................................. Robyn Foret...........................................
Past President ...................................................... Jason Nishiyama ...................................
First Vice President .............................................. Steve Donaldson ...................................
Second Vice President......................................... George Cavanaugh ...............................
Secretary .............................................................. Roger Nelson ........................................
Treasurer .............................................................. Greg Bridger .........................................
Councillors
Councillor ............................................................. Roland Dechesne .................................
Councillor ............................................................. George Grant .......................................
Councillor ............................................................. Glenn Hawley .......................................
Councillor ............................................................. Logan Kameda ......................................
Councillor ............................................................. Heather Laird.........................................
Councillor ............................................................. Larry McNish .........................................
Councillor ............................................................. Grace Nelson ........................................
Councillor ............................................................. Susan Yeo .............................................
Directors & Other Contacts
Alberta Star Party ................................................. Nic David ...............................................
Donations Coordinator ........................................ Luc MacMillan .......................................
ERO Site Director ................................................. David Brown ..........................................
Financial Scrutineer ............................................. Nic David ...............................................
Financial Scrutineer ............................................. George Grant ........................................
Librarian ............................................................... Carole Benoit ........................................
National Advisory Council ................................... Heather Laird.........................................
National Advisory Council ................................... Roger Nelson ........................................
National Advisory Council ................................... Susan Yeo .............................................
NOVA /Observer Group Chairman ...................... Jack Milliken ..........................................
StarSeeker Newsletter Editor ............................... Carole Benoit -– 403.201.0357 .............
TS Volunteer Coordinator.................................. Robyn Foret...........................................
WCO Site Director/C-14 Bookings ...................... Jason Nishiyama -– 403.289.3903 ........
Webmaster ........................................................... Larry McNish .........................................
Youth Group Director ........................................... Doug Thorp ...........................................
RASC Memberships/Address Change/National Office .......................................................
.............................................................................. 1.888.924.7272
ERO: Eccles Ranch Observing Site
WCO: Wilson Coulee Observatory
TS: TELUS Spark
4
R.A.S.C. CALGARY – STARSEEKER
The RASC Calgary Centre
2015 Annual Banquet & Awards Night
January 31st, 2015
2013
2013
Each year the members of the Calgary Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada put on
their ﬁnery and indulge in a good meal, good conversation and good fun as they gather to honour and
be honoured at the Annual Banquet. The banquet is a chance to socialize with your fellow amateur
astronomers indoors–and with white lights on !
WHERE AND WHEN:
This year’s banquet occurs on Saturday January 31, 2015 and will be held at the Danish Canadian Club.
The address is 727 11 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta.
The evening begins at 5:30 PM with a cash bar and lots of conversation, followed by a wonderful dinner
at 6:30, awards, door prizes, a few speeches and lots of fun (and more conversation).
RESERVATIONS:
Reservations are payable in advance and are $38/person.
Cheques should be made payable to RASC Calgary Centre.
Andrew Jones will be collecting cash and cheques for tickets at the January 15 General Meeting.
If you can’t make it to one of these locations, please contact Andrew at:00000000000000000
to arrange payment, or send a cheque to our mailing address:
R.A.S.C. Calgary Centre
250, 300 5th Ave SW
PO Box 20282
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4J3
To order a special meal please contact Andrew at:000000000000000000
WWW.CALGARY.RASC.CA
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Observing Groups Report
By Jack Milliken
NOVA (New Observers to Visual Astronomy)
About a dozen people attended the NOVA meeting held
at the WCO on December 12. The sky was mixed with
some clear areas but clouds were moving in by the time
the indoor presentation started. Topics covered included
a discussion on ‘What to ask Santa for Christmas’, how to
choose and use binoculars for astronomy, and how to plan
an observing session. The winter list of observing targets
from the Explore the Universe program was handed out
as well as ‘Hopping around Orion’ which helps identify
the constellations around Orion.
As expected the clouds won out and so we continued
with a general question and answer session on various
astronomy topics. Larry helped troubleshoot a CCD
camera issue and then worked on a GoTo mount that was
not communicating with its hand controller.
The next NOVA meeting will be on January 23
and the topics will include a brief discussion on key
characteristics to consider when choosing a new eyepiece
for your telescope, and a presentation on observing deep
sky objects like open clusters, globular clusters, etc. I will
also hand out the winter observing list from the Explore
the Universe observing program.
If you are interested in attending NOVA meetings please
send an email to my address at the end of this article. I
send out an email about a week before each meeting with
the agenda and the distribution list is also used to send
out cancellation notices if bad weather makes the roads
dangerous.
Observing Group (OG):
Weather conditions were not great and only four of
us showed up for the OG meeting. I went through the
What’s Up presentation which included Perseus as the
Constellation of the Month. The forecast called for clearing
skies later in the evening and we wanted to check out the
Geminid meteor shower if possible. I brought along some
DVDs so we enjoyed some Stevie Ray Vaughn videos
and then portions of a Jeff Beck concert.
6
Credit: Russ Chandler, December 13, 2014 – Jupiter and shadow
transit through the C14 using his smartphone.
Harvey headed home but some stars were starting to show
up so the rest of us waited a bit and then went out and did
see a few meteors. So we set up our chairs around 11:30
and were soon seeing some of the brighter Geminids as
the sky continued to clear. Jupiter was nicely placed and
I put the C14 on it and got a very nice view including a
nice bonus of a shadow transit with the shadow centered
on the planet. We then tried out the new adapter for taking
a picture through telescopes using a smartphone.
I believe Elaine saw over 25 meteors before she left around
1 AM. Russ set up his camera to try for some meteor
photos and caught a few of them. We saw some excellent
ones with magnitudes between 0 and 1 including one that
left a train for a few seconds. We left after 3 AM as the
skies were getting cloudy again and although we were
not counting I think I saw between 60 and 70 meteors and
Russ saw more as I spent some time in the dome. Before
leaving I put the C14 on the Orion nebula and we could
see the ﬁfth and sixth stars in the trapezium fairly easily
so the seeing was pretty good.
The next OG meeting will be on Saturday, January
24 at the WCO. The ofﬁcial start time is 8:00 PM but it
gets dark long before then and some people arrive as it
gets dark and get in some early observing as it gets even
colder as the evening goes along. I usually arrange for the
gate to be open at 7:00 PM for 90 minutes.
Anyone wanting more information about the Calgary
Centre observing groups please contact me at:
Clear skies!
R.A.S.C. CALGARY – STARSEEKER
Explore the Universe Beginner’s
Observing Certificate
Annual RASC Calgary Centre
Astro-Imaging Round Up
Deadline: January 17, 2015
By Jack Milliken
The Explore the Universe Observing Certiﬁcate is the
ﬁrst RASC certiﬁcate aimed at the novice astronomer.
First offered in 2002, this program is designed to:
- 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, planetary, deep
sky, double stars and several 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. 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. Handy
recording and application forms are available from a link
at the bottom of this page.
Here is a summary of the Explore the Universe program
requirements:
OBSERVING OBJECTIVE
Constellations and Bright Stars
The Moon
Solar System
Deep Sky Objects
Double Stars
Total
Required
12
16
5
12
10
55
Available
24
32
10
24
20
110
Want to get started? Download the Explore the Universe
program requirements at:
(http://www.rasc.ca/explore-universe) and start your
observing program today!
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Once you have completed your Explore the Universe
certiﬁcate you can apply for your Certiﬁcate. The contact
for our Centre is Jack Milliken.
Our annual awards banquet will be held in late January
next year and once again we would like to invite members
to submit their astronomy related images taken over the
last year or so. We display all the images during the
cocktail hour and everyone enjoys seeing them. Plaques
are awarded to entries deemed to be the best in each of
the following categories:
1. Sketch–a drawing made at the eyepiece
2. Tripod–an image taken just using a camera, no
telescope or mount involved
3. Piggyback–an image taken with a camera mounted on
some form of tracking platform
4. Prime Focus–an image taken using a telescope as a
lens for the camera
5. Eyepiece Projection–an image taken through an
eyepiece in a telescope
6. Light Pollution–images showing examples of good or
bad lighting practices
7. Video–time lapses or pure video showing some
astronomy related action
8. Open–this category was created for more experienced
imagers who no longer participate in the other categories
in order to encourage new people to contribute images
There is also an award for Best Overall selected from the
entries. This image is also known as the ‘Wall Hanger’,
an image that the judges would like to see hanging on
their wall.
Many of you have been working away through the spring
and summer, including a few star parties, and this fall has
had pretty good weather so we hope you will submit a few
of your best efforts for all of us to enjoy at the banquet.
It’s best if the images are given to me electronically via
email:
or copied onto my computer at a NOVA or OG meeting.
Sketches should be scanned using full depth colour
settings to retain as much of any subtle shading as
possible. If video ﬁles are too big for email then just burn
a CD and get them to me at WCO or general meetings.
WWW.CALGARY.RASC.CA
7
Green Laser Pointer Usage
any person, vehicle, aircraft, or wildlife;
Avoid using GLPs near an airport or airport runway
approach. We suggest that GLPs not be used within 10
km of any airport;
Use the minimum power to do the job: if a 5 mW laser is
bright enough, why use a stronger one?
Be aware that distraction and distress can be experienced
by anyone illuminated by green laser light, even if the
level is well below that which would cause physiological
damage;
Over the last decade, the striking ethereal glow of Green
Laser Pointers (GLPs) has become a familiar sight at
astronomy education and public outreach events, from
star parties for beginners to sky-at-night tours around
astronomical installations. With the beam of a GLP an
astronomy educator can direct an audience unerringly
to a speciﬁc object - planet, meteor-shower radiant, star,
asterism, constellation, or nebula. The GLP remains one
of the coolest tools in the amateur’s instrument case - but
only if used responsibly. GLPs are tools not toys, and
their misuse can lead to serious harm.
Use good sense in storing GLPs. Don’t leave lasers
accessible to children. Consider removing the batteries
when you are done using a GLP.
By following these guidelines (which are simply
common sense) RASC members will reduce the
chance of an unfortunate incident involving GLPs, and
will demonstrate due diligence while leading public
astronomical activities. Remember, GLPs are useful if
you’re SMART about using them.
Safe = place safety foremost
Mature = keep GLPs in responsible hands
Under the Canadian Aeronautics Act, conviction for laser
ﬂashing an aircraft carries maximum penalties of a ﬁve
year prison term, and a $100,000 ﬁne:
www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/standards/
aerodromeairnav-standards-ais-directed-bright-lightmenu-1068.htm.
Astute = use GLPs skillfully and economically
The RASC counsels its members at all times to cooperate
with law enforcement ofﬁcials, and to remain within the
law.
http://www.rasc.ca/education/green-laser-pointerusage
In keeping with the RASC’s commitment to informative,
inspiring, and safe public outreach events, it strongly
encourages its members to observe the following
guidelines when using GLPs:
Rational = match your GLP use to your scientiﬁc
approach
Tactical = think ahead - plan your GLP use
RASC 2015 Calendar
Available Now! A Great Gift Idea
Ensure that GLPs are operated only by designated,
responsible adults, preferably RASC members who are
familiar with the potential hazards of laser light. During
public events, it is best to assign one or more RASC
members to help GLP operators spot oncoming air
trafﬁc;
Take special care not to shine GLPs in the direction of
8
R.A.S.C. CALGARY – STARSEEKER
RASC General Meeting
January 15 at 7:30 P.M.
Guest Speaker:
Prof. René Plume
Telescopes For Rent Program
by Greg King
Coordinator, Telescope for Rent Program
LOCATION: Kerby Centre, 1133 - 7 Avenue SouthWest,
Calgary, AB
PARKING: Free. The Kerby Centre parking lot is across
the street, immediately north of 7th Ave S. Access is from
11th St. W.
ADMISSION: Free:
Prof. René Plume was born at
C.F.B. Cold Lake (AB) and, in
his youth, lived all over Canada
as part of a military family. He
received his IB degree from the
Lester B. Pearson College of
the Paciﬁc in 1985, his BSc in
Astrophysics from the University
of Toronto in 1989, and his PhD in Astronomy from
the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. Following
graduation, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics at Harvard
University and worked on the SWAS mission at NASA’s
Goddard Space Flight Centre. In 2001 he was hired as
an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at the University of
Calgary and was promoted to Full Professor in 2012. His
research interests focus on the physics and chemistry of
gas in our own Galaxy, particularly as they relate to the
formation of stars and planets.
TOPIC: Astrophysics & Astrochemistry: A Search for
Origins in the Universe
Modern astronomy involves more than most people
realize. While the use of physics to understand the
origins of galaxies, stars and planets is still fundamental,
we have begun to realize that chemistry and even biology
play important roles in understanding the universe. The
dynamical and physical evolution of a nebulous cloud
of interstellar gas on its way to becoming a star and
planetary system is also accompanied by an evolution
of chemical species which play an important role in
regulating this process. In this talk I will present recent
results from the Herschel Space Observatory showing that
a rich and complex chemistry exists deep in interstellar
space. The existence of these complex molecules in the
interstellar medium points to the possibility that the
chemicals important to life, and even life itself, might
have originated deep in interstellar space.
The “Telescopes For Rent Program” is one of the many
beneﬁts of Calgary RASC membership. The Calgary
Centre has a great ‘Scopes for Rent’ program and the
rental rates are extremely low: $2.00 per inch of aperture,
per month. Therefore a 6 inch Dobsonian telescope
would rent for $12.00 for a month. That’s a “steal” for an
astronomical telescope worth about $500!
The telescopes are rented for 1 month minimum and in
increments of one month. Renters may keep the telescope
for additional month(s) until another RASC member
requests to rent it, in which case it will be recalled at
the end of its current term by the program coordinator. If
you want a particular telescope, request it up to a month
ahead of the desired rental date, and it should be available.
Interim payments may be required if telescopes are kept
for extended periods.
If you don’t already have a scope or are wanting to try
something different, the Calgary Center has a diverse
range of instruments ranging from astronomical
binoculars to an 80mm Sky-Watcher Refractor to a 13
inch Truss Dobsonian. All telescopes come with ﬁnder
scopes, eyepieces, and a moon ﬁlter. There are only
two prerequisites for renting a telescope: You must be a
member in good standing of the Calgary RASC Center,
and you must be at least 18 years of age.
For information and pictures of all the scopes we have to
rent please see calgary.rasc.ca/scopes.htm To rent one of
these scopes contact Greg King at 403-239-5685, or via
e-mail at
WWW.CALGARY.RASC.CA
9
January
2015
The Quadrantids is the first major meteor shower of the year. The
shower owes its name to the now defunct constellation Quadrans
Muralis. The constellation was left off a list of constellations drawn out
by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1922, but because
the shower had already been named after Quadrans Muralis, its name
was not changed. The Quadrantids is also sometimes called Bootids
after the modern constellation, Boötes.
The Quadrantids are associated with an asteroid - 2003 EH1.
The asteroid takes about 5.5 years to orbit around the Sun.
MONDAY
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
Annual Banquet & Awards Night
January 31st at the Danish Canadian Club
Time: 5:30 P.M.
For Tickets: Andrew Jones
4
5
6
SATURDAY
FRIDAY
2
QUADRANTID
METEOR
SHOWER
NEW YEAR’S
DAY
7
3
9
10
16
17
8
FULL MOON
QUADRANTID
METEOR
SHOWER
Earth at perihelion
(closest to
the Sun)
11
RASC
COUNCIL
MEETING:
7:30 P.M.
UOF C
NEW ROOM #:
ST064
CBC Radio One’s
RASC Astronomy
with Don Hladiuk
6:22 A.M.
12
13
14
RASC
GENERAL
MEETING & PUBLIC
LECTURE
7:30 P.M. AT THE
KERBY CENTRE
LAST QUARTER
STAR COUNT
NIGHTS
(January 11-20)
15
VULCAN
STAR NIGHT
7:30P.M.
Astro-Imaging
Contest Deadline.
Contact:
Jack Milliken
February StarSeeker
Article Deadline
18
20
19
21
NEW MOON
25
26
RASC NOVA
7:30 P.M. at
WCO
27
28
FIRST QUARTER
29
24
23
22
RASC OG
8:00 P.M. at
WCO
30
RASC
YOUTH GROUP
7:30 p.m. at
WCO
31
2015 Annual
Banquet & Awards
Night
at the Danish
Canadian Club
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Additional information on these and other public astronomy events can be found on our
website: calgary.rasc.ca/calendar.htm
10
R.A.S.C. CALGARY – STARSEEKER
All-Star Telescope
Annular Solar Eclipse Tour
May 19-21, 2012
Canyon de Chinle, Arizona
www.all-startelescope.com
WWW.CALGARY.RASC.CA
11