Members of London Centre are very active providing the community with access to the night sky, by setting up their telescopes, providing guided tours of selected deep sky highlights, and by giving illustrated talks and answering viewers questions. Below is the archive of major London Centre activities since 2001, listed starting with the most recent.

2009 - International Year of Astronomy

• December 18th, At our monthly meeting Mike Hanes and Dave McCarter talked about their summer trip to China for the July 22 Solar Eclipse. Mike showed slides and talked about the many amazing things they saw, including the very dark five minute and twenty nine seconds of totality. Dave then talked about his following visit to Hawaii and his visit to the telescopes of Mauna Kea. Then the London Centre IYA2009 Opics Draw winning tickets were drawn for a Celestron 4.5mm reflecting telescope, won by Danielle Aitken, who filled out her ticket during our talk at Middlesex High School in Parkhill, and a nice pair of Orion Worldview binoculars, won by Alexsandra Gieralt, who filled out a ticket at the Cronyn. There were a large number of door prizes, including some very nice wooden telescope Christmas decorations made by John Kulczycki.
  
• November 28, Clear skies made for a promising Exploring the Stars Open House evening at the Cronyn Observatory. Graduate student Amanda Papadimos gave her digital slide presentation “Planets, Planets … Planets?” before a group of 47 visitors. Graduate student Ryan Marciniak operated the big 25.4cm refractor in the dome tracking on the Moon with the 52mm Erfle eyepiece giving 84X. Greg Andres set up his 20.3cm Sky-Watcher Dobsonian on the Observatory’s roof patio and showed people M31 the Andromeda Galaxy, Jupiter, the Moon and the Pleiades in his telescope. Dave McCarter and Bob Duff alternated using the Centre's 24.5cm Dobsonian to show visitors Jupiter, the Moon, M31, Albireo, the Pleiades (M45), the Double Cluster, bright stars Betelgeuse and Aldebaran, and low in the eastern sky the Trapezium and the small arc of nebulosity around the Orion Nebula (M42). Richard Gibbens assisted and answered people's questions.
  
• November 27th, London Centre President Dave McCarter gave his updated talk "The Telescope" and provided a Star Party for the rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge. Twenty rare members and guests attended and asked some insightful questions.
  
• November 26th, Several London members attended a talk by Dr. J. English, from the University of Manitoba, on "From Cosmos to Canvas: Tensions between Art and Science in Astronomy Images" given in the Physics and Astronomy Building, UWO. The next afternoon several more members attended the imaging workshop provided by Dr. English. We should begin to see a subtle improvement in the colouration of members astro-photographs.
  
• November 20th, At our monthly meeting Dr. Luc Simard was our IYA2009 Guest of Honour, courtesy of CASCA, and gave an informative and facinating talk titled Galaxies “Like Grains of Sand”.
  
• November 17th London Centre members Dave McCarter and John Rousom presented an Astronomy Presentation and Star Night for the Lucan Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at the Lucan Scout/Guide Hall.
  
• November 17th Peter Raine and Dave McCarter stayed at Fingal until 6am to observe the Leonid Meteor Shower. While no obvious peaks were seen, and Leonids were rather sparce at times, those that were seen could be spectactular. Pete also photographed Orion all night long in the hope of catching a bright train across the famous constellation. Instead he captured a pre discovery image of a super nova.
  
• October 22-24, Lousy weather prevented any observing or telescope use during the Galilean Nights IYA2009 event, but Bob Duff, Peter Jedicke, John Kulczycki and Dave McCarter manned booths at Chapters North and South to answer questions and hand out Starfinders and Galileo Moment Cards.
  
• October 21, London Centre members set up some telescopes at the Cronyn for the interest of first semester physics and Astronomy students and members of the Space Society of London.
  
• October 20, Several London Centre members attended a public talk by Dr. Francesco Paresce Marconi at Conron Hall, room 224, University College Building, Western.
  
• October 16, At our Monthly Meeting our Guest of Honour was Dr. John Moffat, professor emeritus of physics at the University of Toronto, adjunct professor of physics at the University of Waterloo, and member of the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics. He discussed his theory of a new scalar tensor field that would modify gravity in such a way that the proposed "Dark Energy" and "Dark Matter" would not be required to explain observational anomolies. This work is laid out in his recent book "Reinventing Gravity: A Physicist Goes Beyond Einstein". Facinating stuff!
  
• October 15, Dave McCarter, assisted by Bob Duff and Harold Tutt, presented to the residents and family of the Amica of London Retirement Community at 517 Fanshawe Park Road West
  
• September 25, A bright bolide flashed through the skies at 21:02:45 and was seen by members at Fingal and also from the Fall'n Stars Star Party just south of Tweed. It put meteorites on the ground south and west of Grimsby and searches organized by Western's Phil McCausland have been scanning the countryside looking for more of the small black rocks.
  
• September 24, Seventh annual Byron Northview Public School Star Night. Despite hazy clouds the grade-6 students and their parents showed up for a star night at Byron Northview Public School, totalling an audience of 57 people. Dave McCarter gave an outdoor digital slide talk on “Astronomy,” calling everybody’s attention to the International Space Station, which was bright and glided high overhead from the northwest at 7:55 p.m. Several telescopes were set up and occasionally showed Jupiter through thick cloud.
  
• September 18, At our monthly meeting Bob Duff was presented his Service Award and Dr. Chris Pritchet, Professor of Astronomy at University of Victoria, presented a quick overview of telescope developments and the discovery of the expansion of the universe by Hubble. He discussed the more recent discovery with modern detectors and huge telescopes of the accelerating expansion, leading to the theory of Dark Matter and Dark Energy. While he did not postulate what these must be, he left us all with a sence of what remains to be discovered. The meeting, held on Western's campus, was well attended by Western students and faculty and members of the public, with an attendance of about 180 people. The Galileoscope door prize was won by an Astronomy Grad student. After the meeting a reception was held at the Cronyn Observatory, with cake and drinks. The mighty 254mm refractor provided stunning views of cloud bands on Jupiter and Galileo's four moons to everyone's delight.
  
• September 12, Perth Hall Star Night: To celebrate Freshman Orientation Week at Western, London Centre members Bob Duff, Peter Jedicke, John Kulcycki, Mike Roffey and Harold Tutt set up telescopes at Perth Hall Residence, and showed about 25 enthusiastic visitors the planet Jupiter, Albireo, Epsilon Lyrae, M57 and Mizar and Alcor.
  
• August 29 At the Fifth Annual Grundy Star Party London Centre president David McCarter presented the illustrated astronomy talk "The Telescope" to roughly 50 Grundy Provincial Park campers and visitors under cloudy and damp skies. That evening scopes were not set up due to the weather. The next eleven evenings were clear and Dave set up his telescope on Poplar Beach and showed our moon, Jupiter and it's moons, Neptune and as many dep sky objects as he could find to a large number of appreciative campers. Dave gave the talk again on September 5th to about 250 campers. On September 7th, 8th and 9th Dave was assisted at the beach by London members John and Darle Rousom. The ISS was visible and each evening drew a large and facinated crowd. On the ninth the shuttle and ISS rose out of the trees with the shuttle leading and sporting a long curved comet like tail, which we guessed was a water dump prior to landing. Our total Galileo Moment count was 435 people.
  
• Summer Saturdays, Cronyn Observatory Open House. Every Saturday evening from May 2nd to August 29th London Centre members Greg Andres, John Bontje, Suzie Chelico, Paul Chodis, Eric Clinton, Tom Czinege, Bob Duff, Bill Gardner, Richard Gibbens, Stuart Happy, Steve Imrie, Peter Jedicke, John Kulcycki, Craig Levine, Dave McCarter, Adam Priestap-Suttis, Mike Roffey, Harold Tutt, and Ottawa Centre member and ex-london Centre member Dale Armstrong set up their telescopes on the front lawn and the patio roof of the Cronyn Observatory and shared their enthusiasm for astronomy with 672 visitors.
  
• August 20 to 23 At the windy and rainy Starfest Astronomy Convention, now known variously as Windfest or Twisterfest, twenty six London Centre members tried their best to keep their tents in one piece. The 2009 Starfest will be best remembered for the announcement that London member Dr. Dave Toth will have asteroid 2004 RU247 (154902) named "154902Toth". The asteroid was discovered on 2004 Sept. 11 by London member Tom Glinos, and David and Wendee Levy at Jarnac Observatory in Vail, Arizona and Tom prepared the International Astronomical Union citation. London Centre members did very well in the prize draw and Dave Toth's wife Ronda won a copy of Starry Night Pro, which she later gave to an astonished and grateful Adam Priestap-Suttis.
  
• August 15, At the 13th Annual Pinery Star Party London Centre members John, Nancy, Bram and Faye Bontje, Bob Duff, Bill, Daniel, and Maryn Gardner, Richard Gibbens, Dave and Jan McCarter, Adam and Cheryl Pristlap, Mike Hanes, John and Darle Rousom, Mike Roffey and Harold Tutt set up their telescopes around the Ampitheatre. Dave started the IAU2009 trailer and began his illustrated talk The Telescope to 750 Pinery campers. A Galileoscope was given to a deserving member of the audience. The skies were hazy but clear so observing and question time carried on until 1 am. The drive home was in very dense fog.
  
• August 8, Bob Duff provided an astronomy presentation to 14 campers at Lake Whittaker Conservation Area. No observing was possible due to heavy rain.
  
• August 1, London Centre members Bob Duff, Harold Tutt, Peter Jedicke provided a Solar Observing session in the London Regional Children’s Museum parking lot. Harold used his white light Baader filtered 80mm refractor and Peter set up Craig Levine's Coronado Ha solar scope and a Sunspotter folded refractor solar projector. Peter also made a presentation in the museum, while Harold and Bob showed about 50 people views of the Sun through the telescopes outside.
  
• July 28, Star Night for St. Mary’s Public Library at McCully’s Hill Farm. Despite rain and clouds for most of the day, the sky cleared out for the St. Mary’s Public Library star night at McCully’s Hill Farm. Members Bob Duff, Bill Gardner, Gary Hinks, Adam and Cheryl Priestap, Peter Jedicke and Harold Tutt set up their telescopes to show 15 visitors the night sky. Peter Jedicke made an introductory address to the group at twilight, and later gave a laser-guided tour of the sky. The star night ended around 11:00 p.m. when visitors had pretty well gone home. It was a successful and enjoyable star night for everybody involved, although there was a ground mist and considerable dewing of eyepieces.
  
• July 25, On the second night at the Quai du Vin Winery Star Party London members Peter Jedicke, Marcus Stevens, Dave Rubenhagen, Rick Saunders, Joe O’Neil and son Tristan assembled under overcast skies with rain, heavy at times. Four guests showed up despite the weather and Peter had a lot of fun answering questions for two hours. When pretty much everyone had gone home, and Peter had taken down his 40.6cm truss-tube Dobsonian, the sky cleared! That's how it is sometimes.
  
• July 24, At the first night of the Quai du Vin Winery Star Party about 70 people enjoyed Peter Jedicke's presentaion on the big outdoor screen while 17 London Centre members including Ross Blakey, Eric Clinton and son Ben, Roman Dubinski, Bob Duff, Richard Gibbens, Jeff Harrison, Dale Haves, Gary Hinks, Steve Imrie, Peter Jedicke, Cheri McCracken, Peter Raine, Mike Roffey, Dave Rubenhagen, Glen Spooner, Harold Tutt, and Patrick and Bridget Whelan set up scopes and binoculars for the public to enjoy. There was an ISS pass, most of the visitors were gone by 11:30 p.m. and the members celebrated Dave Rubenhagen’s 50th birthday with a cake and some wine. It was a very enjoyable evening.
  
• July 22, Mike Hanes and his wife Eva and Dave McCarter and his wife Jan were in Wuhan, China for the longest solar eclipse of the century. Partly cloudy skies made the early phases of the moon's passage across the sun more interesting, but a thick cloud obscured the first four minutes of totality, and then the clouds parted so that inner corona and prominances were seen during the last two and one half minutes. The clouds then cleared for the egress of the moon, but by then most people were satisfied and packed up their equipment.
  
• July 21, Bob Duff presented a digital slide presentation at Grand Wood Park Apartments & Retirement Residence. The theme for the program was the Apollo program for which July 2009 was the 40th anniversary of the first Moon landing.
  
• July 17th, at our monthly meeting the PBS video 400 Years of the Telescope was shown, Bob Duff showed the members his Galileoscope, and Patrick Whelan gave a brief talk about past and current lunar missions.
  
• July 11th, Star Night at Dalewood Conservation Area. Steve Imrie, Bob Duff and Dave McCarter showed 43 campers and park personnel the planet Saturn, two passes of the ISS, several double stars, globular cluster M13, planetary nebulas M57 and M27 and M4 near Antares. Dave pointed out constellations and the locations of several celestial objects with his green laser pointer and answered many astronomical questions.
  
• July 8th, London Centre member Bill Gardner presented the fifty annual astronomy talk to roughly 350 Killarney Provincial Park campers and visitors. A telescope was set up near the Outdoor Theatre after the talk and Bill gave sky tour with green laser and provided views of th emoon, Saturn and many other deep sky objects.
  
• June 27, Star Party for Friends of Springwater Campground. Steve Imrie and Dave McCarter set up their telescopes at the conservation area, although the sky was hazy and partly cloudy. Steve began showing the moon to the eager children and parents well before sunset. The children were particularly eager to receive a galileo Moment card, and as we discussed astronomy topics if the child could answer one of Dave's astro questions they earned a GM card. We had enough breaks in the cloud for everyone to see Saturn, M13, Mizar and Alcor, Cor Corelli and M57. In total we had 37 participants, not counting the baby racoon that climbed through Dave's Dob mount.
  
• June 21, On the shortest night six London Centre members gathered at our Fingal dark sky site under exceptional skies. Peter Jedicke got his digital encoders working on his large telescope and observed a personal best of fifty globular clusters. Wow! Dave McCarter managed to find Saturn shortly after sunset and was able to show the planet to four people out walking their dogs. Marcus Stevens had Galileo Moment cards for them.
  
• June 19, At our June monthly meeting Dr. Randy Kissak, Western Associate Professor and self admitted history of astronomy enthusiast, took us back to the anxious days of October, 1957 and discussed the impact of the Sputnik launch. He had an amazing collection of materials, including that historic beeping on the old ham radio.
  
• June 17th, Star Night at Camp Sylvan for 36 grade six students from Seaforth Public School and 4 adults. Dave McCarter gave his Constellation slide show and there were loads of intelligent questions. We could not observe due to clouds and rain. The students built IYA2009 Starfinders and when last seen were happily comparing their Galileo Moment cards.
  
• June 13th, Dave McCarter gave an astronomy presentation designed for the Astronomy Badge requirements to the 22nd Lambeth cub group (eight boys and three leaders) at Longwoods Road Conservation Area. Then Dave gave a public talk to a capacity crowd 36 children and adults. Then it was outside under transparent skies to where Craig Levine and Bob Duff had set up their telescopes and were providing view of Saturn, and various deep sky objects. We saw numerous bright satellites, including two that moved across the sky in tandom, and several meteors.
  
• June 12th, Star Party at Upper Thames Elementary School in Mitchell. Dave McCarter delivered his "The Telescope" talk to three students and three teachers. The low turnout was no doubt due to the final NHL Stanley Cup game that started at the same time. Adam Priestap and John Rousom set up their telescopes in the parking lot and observed Saturn, assisted by Peter Jedicke. Then everyone walked over to the soccer field to do a constellation tour, observe several deep sky objects, and watch some satellites pass by.
  
• June 11th, London Centre's Annual Banquet was held at the Portuguese Club, with an attendance of 33 members and spouces. Science Journalist Ivan Semeniuk gave an interesting talk on what he called a fringe topic, the loss of the North American Megafauna during the Younger Drias, about 12,900 years ago. Do the high concentrations of nano diamonds indicate wild fire, comet impact, or some other disaster? London Centre Honorary President Peter Jedicke was recognized for his continued contributions to the Centre by being named as London Centre Member of the Year.
  
• June 6th, The Star Night for the Tri-Shore Beaver's Star Party at the A.W. Campbell Conservation Area, just north of Alvinston was a success in spite of heavy cloud. Dave McCarter and Derek Hitchens gave a short talk to the 160 Beavers and Cubs, Leaders and Parents, and then provided views of some caterpiller eaten leaves on the top of a distant elm.
  
• June 3rd Star Night for the Grade one students and parents at Clara Brenton Public School. A total of 61 people viewed the moon and Saturn through a small refractor and two large dobsonian telescopes set up by Bob Duff and Dave McCarter. Peter Jedicke came by to answer questions and help find Saturn in the still bright sky with his Celestron Sky Scout. Viewers included a few scouts and some boys passing by on their bikes, and everyone expressed their enthusiasm and appreciation.
  
• May 30th Star Night for the Chatham scouts at Camp Timken. Steve Imrie and Dave McCarter set up telescopes in the big east field and began with the first quarter moon in a sunlit sky for more than 20 scouts and 10 adults. The broken clouds were annoying, but just a few minutes wait would bring a clearing. Several adults tried afocal photography and were rewarded with good pictures of the moon. Once it got dark enough we spotted Saturn just above and to the left of the moon, and everyone had multiple looks, again while dodging clouds. At one point we had a few rain drops, but not enough to put away the scopes. Thunderheads put on a great light show to the north. Then it cleared nicely and Dave gave a laser tour of constellations for the leaders and older boys. Then we looked at M13, M57, epsilon Lyre, Mizar, Arcturus and Antares. A very worthwhile night.
  
• May 28th Dave McCarter presented an astronomy presentation to 56 grade one students and four teachers at Clara Brenton Public School.
  
• May 23rd. Star Night for Guides at Camp Peco Dah Quah. Cheri McCracken presented an excellent slide show “Constellations” to 80 Guides and 10 adults and answered their questions. Bob Duff demonstrated how to assemble the ”Star Finder” planispheres and then left 100 for them to assemble on their own. A Guide leader distributed the Galileo Moment cards to the girls. Peter Raine, Bob and Cheri set up their telescopes and succeeded in showing the Guides views of Saturn, M13 and the stars Mizar and Alcor. Peter announced an ISS pass, which was bright and glided overhead. The Guides and their leaders were immensely pleased with Cheri’s presentation. We were very glad to be able to show them some celestial objects through our telescopes despite the clouds. We left for home a little after 11:00 p.m.
  
• May 23rd. Peter Jedicke, Steve Gauthier and Bob Duff made an astronomy presentation to the 4-H Club Ontario "High Energy Event" at the Glencoe Arena to 95 children (ages 10—12) and 20 adults. Their theme was, “Out of This World.” Peter made an enthusiastic introductory astronomy presentation, and was immediately followed by Steve who gave them a sky tour using Stellarium and Celestia sky charting software. Bob distributed Galileo Moment cards and assembled some 30 “Star Finder” planispheres for interested children.
  
• May 22nd. About 400 Scouts and Cubs were at Camp Timken for an annual camping event and this year’s theme was “Reach for the Stars.” Six RASC London Centre members, Steve Imrie, Rick Saunders, Dave McCarter, Craig Levine, Peter Jedicke and Bob Duff set up telescopes in the hope that the skies would clear as forecast. Continued cloudy skies prevented any observing and the members left the campsite a little after 10:00 p.m.
  
• May 21st. Dave McCarter set up a Ha solar scope on loan from Craig Levine and his own solar filtered refractor outside the North Campus building where the 2009 Science Olympics were being held. Students and high school teachers had views of the sunspot free sun, and discussed the impact that the loss of sunspots might have on earth's climate.
  
• May 17th. Our Observers Group Meeting was held at the Fingal Dark Sky site under exceptional skies. Eighteen members set up 22 telescopes and observed an exceptional variety of objects until well after moon rise.
  
• May 15th. At our monthly meeting Steve Barnes described his efforts to build several roll off roof observatories and robotic observatories in the deserts of Chile. He recently returned from several weeks in Chile accompanied by other Hamilton Centre members and welcomed the enthusiastic offers of future help from London Centre members awed by his presentation.
  
• May 13 London President Dave McCarter joined Physics & Astronomy students and faculty at Western Fair for SLOME 2009, demonstrating mirror grinding technique for students from grade six to twelve.
  
• May12 London members who took part in the 100 Hours of Astronomy were treated to a tour of the Elginfield Observatory by Dr. David Gray, Observatory Director. The tour was extremely informative and Dr. gray was very paitent in explaining the many features of a professional scientific observatory.
  
• May 5th saw London Centre provide a slide presentation at Westmount Public Library when Dave McCarter give his "The Telescope" talk to about 20 library patrons. Cloud obscured the sky so observing the moon and Saturn was not possible although Stewart happy and Bob Duff both had their scopes ready to go.
  
• May 2nd began the summer series of Cronyn Observatory Open House held on Western's campus. Professor Jan Cami was on hand to tend the 25cm refractor and Professor Els Peeters presented a non-stop slide show from 20:00 to 23:00 in the main floor classroom. Meanwhile, the London Centre's 25cm dobsonian was set up on the roof patio in the care of Bob Duff, and London Centre members Greg Andres and son Abram, Bill Gardner, Stuart Happy, Mike Hanes, Steve Imrie, Peter Jedicke, Craig Levine, and Dave McCarter accompanied telescopes on the front lawn. Skies were clear and about 62 visitors shared Galileo Moments. The moon received close inspection and many wows, Saturn was a hit, and several people walked up to Western road with Dave to observe Mercury low in the west.
  
• May 2nd was International Astronomy Day and London Centre members including Greg Andres and son Abram, Bob Duff, Bill Gardner, Mike Hanes, Peter Jedicke, John Kulcycki, Craig Levine, Dave McCarter, Cheri McCracken, Pete Raine, Rick Saunders, Dan Tremblay and Harold Tutt manned a booth at McKittrick’s Ltd., Cherryhill Village Mall. Several large amateur telescopes were on display, including Craig's Ha solar telescope, Bill's portable refractor, Rick's complex and capable imaging setup, John's refractor on an interesting homemade alt-azimuth mount, and Mike's awesome home made 32cm Dobsonian. Many amateur astrophotos were on the display boards. We spoke with some 110 people, most of whom took Galileo Moment cards and London Centre brochures. A few completed ballots for our telescope and binocular prize draw. A man and his wife brought their small telescope and Dave helped them learn to use it.
  
• April 30th was astronomy presentation day for the grade nine students at North Middlesex District High School in Parkhill and Dave McCarter made a slide presentation using the centre's new data projector in the school library. Bob Duff set up his dobsonian to demonstrate a typical amateur telescope to the students.
  
• April 28 was Star Night at North Middlesex District High School in Parkhill with sightings of a gibbous Mercury, almost edge on rings of Saturn, the crescent moon with earthshine, M3, M13, M81 and M82, M51 and several bright stars by staff and students. Gary Hinks brought his small refractor, Bob Duff his 20cm Dobsonian and Dave McCarter his 25cm Dobsonian.
  
• April 24th We held a Spring Star Party at Fingal, in spite of occasional clouds and gusty winds. The clouds cleared out shortly after Rick Saunders disassembled his imaging setup about midnight. Observing and astrophotography continued until dawn.
  
• April 17th, At our monthly meeting science author Dan Falk spoke about his most recent book "In Search of Time, Journies along a Curious Dimension". The presentation was very well received.
  
• April 2nd to 5th, IYA2009 - 100 Hours of Astronomy
• April 2nd at Chapters North Gary Hinks, Peter Jedicke and John Kulcycki had a good time despite mostly cloudy skies Thursday evening meeting about 50 people who looked through Gary’s 80mm and John’s 90mm refractors.
  
• April 3rd at the London Regional Children’s Museum. Dave McCarter set up a data projector and laptop computer in the Festival Room on third floor, a previous venue for London Centre meetings, while Simon Goveia set up his telescope to demonstrate. Anne Wen of the Space Society of London assisted. Dave presented a sky tour with the software, “Stellarium”, zooming in on the Moon and Saturn and showing several constellations. Illuminating the constellation art provoked “ahs” and “ohs” among the audience of 10 adults and 20 children. The nasty weather put a stop to any real observing.
  
• April 4th at Chapters North, Gary Hinks, Peter Jedicke and John Kulcycki were joined by Patrick Whelan and daughter Bridget for a second night at Chapter North where they set up four telescopes and talked to about 150 people, showing them the moon and Saturn.
  
• April 4th at Chapters on Wellington Rd. South London Centre members Eric Clinton and son Ben, Jeff Harrison, Bill Gardner, Steve Imrie, Mike Hanes Bob Duff and newcomer Simon Goveia set up eight telescopes on the grassy and somewhat muddy strip along Wellington Road near the parking lot by Chapters. We had approximately 60 people look though our telescopes. Eric, Bill and Bob handed out Galileo Moment cards, while the public observed Saturn, the moon and at least one member showed them the Orion Nebula (M42) despite the glare from the parking lot lights. Bill remarked upon a grade-6 girl currently learning about astronomy in school being absolutely enthralled by views of the Moon and Saturn.
  
• April 4th at Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory. Graduate students and RASC London Centre members Stewart Happy, Dave McCarter and Mike Roffey had a clear and busy night at the Cronyn Observatory, setting up various reflectors and refractors on the observatory roof top patio to show off the moon and Saturn. The students held a Space Society of London Yuri's Night cake-cutting at 9:00 p.m. and there was a short talk about the IYA2009 Opening Ceremonies in Paris. Everybody then went back upstairs to continue observing. Dave counted 59 people at the Cronyn Saturday night.
  
• April 4th, at the Fingal Wildlife Management Area and London Centre Dark Sky site London members Craig Levine, Pete Raine, Cheri McCracken and Marc Stevens set up 7 telescopes for public viewing, which were enjoyed by 16 visitors. Craig showed a fine view of the Moon, Saturn and the Orion Nebula (M42) through his large Dobsonian. The UHC filter really brought out the detail in the Orion Nebula [M42] and wowed the observers. Pete Raine and Marc Stevens had a mini-Messier run, with M13 and M92 looking “really nice right overhead” and they had their first look at M57 for the year. They also did some deep-sky digital imaging of the Sagittarius / Scorpius Milky Way region and Pete made some exposures of the Lagoon Nebula (M8) in his 60mm refractor and the Moon earlier in the evening.
  
• April 5th, at the Cronyn had graduate student Amanda Papadimos make a digital slide presentation and provide a tour of the Cronyn Observatory dome to three university students, which was well received.
  
• March 30th Dave McCarter visited the Early Years class at Wilfrid Jury Public School and spent a great morning with 20 young children ages 4—6. Their favourite planets were Saturn and Pluto. Most wanted to go to the Moon, as long as they were accompanied by their parents, brothers and sisters. Dave made a PowerPoint presentation, demonstrated a Galilean and a modern telescope and showed them some meteorites. Later that evening Bob Duff and Dave McCarter returned to the school playground and set up four telescopes with which the 47 parents and children observed the moon, Saturn and the Orion Nebula. To close the evening we observed a bright pass of the International Space Station (ISS), which came in from the northwest, passed almost directly overhead and disappeared in the southeast. Galileo Moment cards were given out at the end of a successful evening of stargazing.
  
• March 20th, At our monthly meeting London Centre members Mike Hanes, Dave McCarter, and Joe O’Neil presented “Travelling for Astronomy”, a report on their February trips to Florida for the Winter Star Party, Chiefland Astronomical Village, and the Huntsville and Kennedy Space Centre.
  
• March 17, 18, 19 saw London members helping with the Cronyn Open houses for IYA2009.
  
• March 16th, Bob Duff presented a digital slide presentation to 24 children, ages 7 to 12 at the March Break Day Camp at White Oaks School, assisted by Dave McCarter. The students assembled IYA2009 Star Finder planispheres and a number of "Mary Lou's New Telescope," were awarded to children with excellent questions
  
• March 6th, Several members attended a facinating and educational talk by SETI researcher Seth Sochack at Western.
  
• Feb 27, Members attended the grand opening of the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (CPSX) and Canadian Lunar Research Network (CLRN). Bob Duff set up RASC London Centre GA2008 display with brochures and Galileo Moment cards in the Physics and Astronomy building.
  
• Feb 21-March1, London Centre members Mike Hanes, Joe O'Neil and his daughter Sibothan, Dave McCarter and David Toth attended the Winter Star Party on West Sumerland Key, Florida. Joe won a ticket to next year's star party, so his decision is already made!
  
• Feburary 20, we held out regular monthly meeting at Fanshawe where club member Rick Saunders gave a talk on 'Understanding the Weather'
  
• Feburary 4, A star night was held for 20th London Beavers at Stoneybrook Public School. Bob Duff set up his 20.3cm Dobsonian and John Kulczycki his tripod mounted binoculars on snow-covered playground for 16 people, including 9 members of the 20th London Beavers (ages 5-7) and 7 adults. Despite bitterly cold weather they had great views of the Moon and Venus. Afterwards in the school gym Bob Duff talked about astronomy and the IYA2009 and handed out Galileo Moment cards.
  
• Feburary 2nd. Dave McCarter presented an astronomy presentation to about 20 members of the Woodstock Field Naturalists Club at Huron Park Secondary School.
  
• Janurary 28th. Bob Duff provided a star night for the 20th London Beavers at Stoneybrook Public School.
  
• Janurary 16, was our regular meeting at Fanshawe. Dave McCarter gave his well researched talk on the history of the telescope which was prepared to celebrate the International Year of the Telescope, IYA2009.
  
• Jan 10, London Centre Members Dave Clark, Bob Duff, Bill Gardner, Peter Jedicke, Craig Levine, Dave McCarter and Peter Raine attended the opening ceremonies for the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009 in the Physics & Astronomy Department at the University of Western Ontario. They set up telescopes, including a hand made replica Galileo scope, in the Physics and Astronomy building and spoke with visitors. A mirror grinding demonstration also involved people. That evening Dave McCarter delivered a digital slide presentation "The Telescope" to visitors at the Cronyn Observatory Open House. A Galileoscope telescope was won by UWO Grad student Alexander DeSouza.
  

  2008

• Dec 19, 2008 we were addressed by Dr. Wayne Edwards who's talk titled 'The Great Siberian Meteor: Tunguska 100 Years Later' was followed by a slide presentation about the recent meteor over the Canadian prairies.
  
• Nov 21, was our monthly meeting and we were back at Fanshawe. Our guest was Bjarni Tryggvason who had exhibited a wonderful slide show while moderating a spirited Q and A session with those in attendance. We seemed to have had quite a few members of the Space Society at the meeting along with a few 'civilians'. All-in-all a wonderful night.
  
  Also at the November meeting the annual centre elections were held.The current executive all agreed to stand and there were no further nominees therefore the members present voted to return the current executive for 2009.
  
  President - Dave McCarter
  Vice-president - Patrick Whelan
  Treasurer - Bill Gardner
  Secretary - Rick Saunders
  National Representative - Craig Levine
  
  
• Oct 17, We held our monthly meeting at the Physics and Astronomy building of the University of Western Ontario where Dr. Robert Jedicke of the Insitute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii gave a rousing talk on 'Killer Asteroids'. After the talk the University held a 'meet and greet' while we finished conducting club business.
  
• Oct 8th, Despite clouds and rain 16 visitors, including youth and adults, showed up for a star night at Landon Public Library, 167 Wortley Road, London. London Centre members Dave McCarter, Richard Gibbens and Bob Duff were there. Dave made a digital slide presentation on telescopes and astronomy. Bob set up his 20.3cm Dobsonian telescope at the front of the room to the left of the screen. The presentation was well received with good questions from the group.
  
• Oct 6th, 2008 Some 70 children and adults enjoyed and evening of stargazing at Byron Northview Public School. London Centre members Bob Duff and Dave McCarter brought their telescopes and Dave made an outdoor digital slide presentation, pointing out celestial objects in the sky with his laser pointer. There was an over flight of the International Space Station and people enjoyed viewing the Moon, Jupiter and M57. One additional telescope was set up by a teacher and two other telescopes were brought by parents.
  
• October 4 we met the Sparta Beavers for a Star Night at Fingal. About twenty adults, Beavers, Cubs and siblings were on hand to view the moon, Jupiter, Venus, a bright pass of the International Space Station, various bright stars and deep sky objects. Many thanks to London Centre members Dave McCarter, Dan Tremblay, Craig Levine, Marcus Stevens, Mike Hanes, Greg Andres, and Bob Duff.
  
• Sep 19, we had our monthly meeting at Fanshawe College. Dr. Els Peeters delivered a well received talk on the spectroscopy of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, organic compounds that are found in large cold clouds throughout space. They could be the building blocks for life based upon carbon.
  
• August 30 Grundy Provincial Park Star Party. Dave McCarter gave an illustrated talk to about 350 campers and answered questions before providing views through his 25.4cm Dobsonian telescope.
  
• August 23 Pinery Star Party. Under threat of rain and thunderstorms several London Centre members set up scopes at the Pinery amphitheatre. Peter Jedicke began his astronomy talk only to have the event cancelled due to the danger of nearby lightning. London Centre members arrived at the local Timmie's a little earlier than planned.
  
• August 16 The only London Centre member to directly observe the Partial Lunar Eclipse was Dave McCarter, and he was in Pompeii to do it. The eclipse was particularly dark.
  
• August 7th to 10th Starfest. About 20 London Centre members took part in this years astronomical gathering.
  
• Aug 2nd, Killarney Star Party. Bill Gardner provided a well attended talk and observing session to campers.
  
• Aug 2 and 3, the annual Quai du Vin star party was held. Fantastic skies greeted the many public attenders on both nights who enjoyed a spirited slide show and many club telescopes.
  
• July 18th, was the night of our July monthly meeting. Ed Hitchcock of the Toronto Centre gave a lively and well received talk on how to do astronomy on a budget.
  
• July 10th, 2008 London Centre members Fraser McCrossan, Peter Jedicke and Bob Duff provided a star night in the Rotary Reading Garden of London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street. Peter Jedicke gave a spirited digital slide presentation to 16 parents and children, introducing it with the International Year of Astronomy 2009 trailer. Visitors observed the first quarter moon under hazy skies through Fraser's 80mm apochromatic refractor and Bob Duff's 20.3cm Newtonian on its Dobsonian mount. In all, 20 people showed up for the star night, including the 16 who arrived for Peter's digital slide talk.
  
• June 20, was the night of our monthly meeting. Dan Taylor of the RASC Windsor Centre gave a presentation on light pollution.
  
• June 10 London Centre members provided a star night for students at North Middlesex District High School in Parkhill, which also included children from four neighbouring elementary schools.
  
• June 7 RASC London Centre begins its participation in the University of Western Ontario Hume Cronyn Observatory's Saturday evening summer Open House, which runs June 7-August 30th: 8:30-11:00 p.m. Members set up their telescopes on the observatory's front lawn and roof patio to give members of the public an opportunity to observe through amateur telescopes as well as the big telescope in the dome.
  
• May 31 London Centre members provided a star night at Camp Orenda for Girl Guides and Brownies (120th and 49th Brownies, the 85th Pathfinders and 13th Sparks), which, together with their leaders, totalled 75 people.
  
• May 23 London Centre members provided an observing session for the Boy Scouts at Camp Timken.
  
• May 17 the London Centre turned out in force to man a belated Astronomy Day display at the Cherryhill Mall.
  
• May 16, Our monthly meeting featured Geoff Gaherty, winner of the RASC's Chant Medal in 2008 who provided a talk on Chant Medal winners past and present.
  
• May 13 London Centre members provided a star night under clear skies for grade one students at Clara Brenton Public School in London.
  
• May 12 London Centre President Dave McCarter made a digital slide presentation to two Grade One classes (40 children, including 2 teachers) at Clara Brenton Public School.
  
• May 10 London Centre members provided a star night with hazy skies for the Friends of Springwater at the Springwater Conservation Area.
  
• April 18 we held our regular monthly meeting. Dr. Randy Kissack thrilled the group with an animated and passionate presentation on the heady days of NASA's X-15 experimental aircraft program.
  
• April 14 London Centre members Peter Raine and Bob Duff provided a star night under clear skies to St. John's Ambulance Cadets in the parking lot of St. John's Ambulance. This was preceded by an informal indoor talk by Bob Duff.
  
• March 29 was the night of our Annual banquet at Tony's Restaurant on Springbank Dr.
  
• March 27 London Centre member Bob Duff provided commentary for digital (Internet) images presented by a Cub Leader to the 31st B Pack Cubs at Calvary United Church and answered questions about astronomy and space exploration.
  
• March 21, our monthly meeting was held. Richard Gibbons presented a short biography of Arthur C. Clarke and our guest of honour, Dr. J. R. Percy of the University of Toronto gave a presentation on the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), science/astronomy education and outreach.
  
• March 4 London Centre member Bob Duff spoke to the 80th Westmount Cubs in the Jean Vanier School gymnasium and answered questions about astronomy.
  
• February 25 London Centre President Dave McCarter made a slide presentation before about 22 students and their teacher at John Paul II High School.
  
• February 15, we held our monthly meeting. Dave McCarter made a presentation on the upcoming lunar eclipse. Peter Raine told us about his trip to Florida for the Orange Blossom Special star-party. Amanda Papadimos, an under-grad from UWO attended the meeting and told us about the Science Club that she is helping to start at the university and asked if we could help out in some way. Rick Saunders presented a simple image timer. Jon Gunning advised us that he was taking the St. Thomas Photography Club out to Fingal for the eclipse and asked for volunteers.
  
• January 21 Diamond Aircraft gave the London Centre a tour of their manufacturing facilities in London.
  
• January 18, we held our regular monthly meeting. There were no scheduled speakers but we had member presentation on comets Holmes and Tuttle and the new Meade MySky.
  

  2007

• December 14 we held our monthly meeting (shifted from December 21st due to the holidays). Our honored guest was Peter Gural of Science Applications International Corporation who delivered a presentation on several years of chasing the Leonid meteors. Mr. Gural developed the software and equipment that several teams used on the ground and in an airborne observatory with image intesifiers to automatically determine the number of meteors visible.
  
• On November 16 we held our monthly meeting, at which occultationist Guy Nason discussed observing the motion of an asteroid across a star, using timing to determine the size and shape of this far off object. Dave McCarter reviewed images of Comet 17P Holmes. As well, the annual elections were held to chose the 2007-8 Centre Executive.
  
• October 27 Star night for the 57th London Pathfinders at Camp Orenda was cancelled due to rain.
  
• On October 26 Peter jedicke, Bob Duff and Dave McCarter took part in the Cronyn Observatory Open House. Alyssa Moldowan, Coordinator of the Exploring the Star program gave an illustrated astronomy talk to about 26 very interested people. After questions, Dave gave the tour of the large refractor and answered more questions. Even though it was raining, everyone had a good time.
  
• On October 20 we held a successful Star Night at Fingal Wildlife Conservation Area for the London Devilettes Girl Hockey Association Pee Wee BB team. In addition a group of army cadets enjoyed the views through the telescopes, and showed a good deal of knowledge about the night sky.
  
• On October 13 we held a very successful Star Night at Fingal Wildlife Conservation Area for London Fifth Young Single Adults Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The skies were absolutely clear and dark, and everyone had a great time.
  
• At our October monthly meeting Dr. Jan Cami, Assistant Professor, UWO, gave an informative talk about the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs for short), a common name for a set of hundreds of absorption lines that are detected from the near-UV to the near-IR in the spectra of so-called reddened stars - meaning there is a lot of interstellar material between us and the star. The first of these bands was detected as early as 1922, yet as of today, not one single line is identified with a carrier, which makes the DIBs the longest standing problem in astronomical spectroscopy.
  
• On October 8 Peter Raine gave a slide show and talk to about 25 young people at the London Fifth Young Single Adults Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 615 Baseline Road, East, London.
  
• On September 21 we held our first monthly meeting of the new year at Fanshawe College. Dave McCarter provided the continuation of a tour that he, Dave Rubenhagen and Mike Hanes took in late May of Arizona and California. They visited the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference, Mount Palomar, JPL, Mount Wilson, the Grand Canyon, Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater and the Petrified Forest before heading home. Bill Gardner started a stampede when he put the new 2008 RASC calendar up for sale. Later we spent some quality time at Kelsies on Oxford E.
  
• On the evening of September 19 Dave McCarter gave a slide presentation to a small group of keen beginning observers and their parents at the main branch of the London Public Library. London members Joe O'Neil, Fraser McCrossan, Harold Tutt, Peter Raine, and Bob Duff set up both refracting and reflecting telescopes and provided views of the moon and various stars in the London Rotary Reading Garden. Peter Jedicke and Richard Gibbens assisted. The heavy light pollution, high buildings and hazy skies hindered more adventuresome observations.
  
• On September 15, London Centre set up a mall display at Cherry Hill Mall for Fall Astronomy Day, in cooperation with McKittrick Photo/Video, who provided 3 telescopes from inside McKittrick's store. We had the usual assortment of pamphlets, magazines and textbooks to show. Also, one of McKittrick's employees gets a kick out of making paper models and so we had miniature versions of the spacecraft Galileo, Cassini, Magellan, New Horizons, MER, etc. suspended in front of photos of the planets where they explored. Marc Stevens brought a photo album of his latest impressive astrophotography. Along with Marc, Bob and I, other London Centre members who met the public included Harold Tutt, Dave McCarter and Richard Gibbens.
  
• On September 8 London Centre members Peter Raine, Bob Duff, Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt, Richard Gibbens and Peter Jedicke visited University of Western Ontario's Perth Hall student residence ready to set up telescopes and share the sky with students celebrating the end of Frosh Week. Unfortunately cloud moved in, and the intrepid observers were obliged to set up a text book, opened to a photograph of a barred spiral galaxy, some distance away as a suitable telescope target. Perhaps a dozen or so students came over to the observing area and had an enjoyable chat with the astronomers. Nobody was fooled by the subsitute galaxy!
  
• Early on the morning of August 28, several London Centre members enjoyed watching the total Lunar Eclipse, low in the western skies. Peter Cerevolo got it right when he called it a Chessire Cat grin, which slowly faided into invisibility as the sky grew brighter with the approaching dawn.
  
• On August 22 Bob Duff provided a well received Planetarium Tour at the London Regional Children's Museum to eight children aged 10-12 years using their Sky Lab equipment.
  
• On August 15 and again on the 22nd a star party planned for McCully's Hill Farm in St. Mary's was cancelled due to poor weather prospects.
  
• On August 18 London Centre presented the Eleventh Annual Pinery Provincial Park Astronomy Presentation and Star Party, to which over 800 campers and day visitors were drawn in spite of the completly overcast skies. Dave McCarter gave the illustrated talk Observing the Universe while Dave Clark, John and Faye Bontji and family, Steve and Chrissie Arenburg, Harold Tutt, Richard Gibbens, Peter and Dianne Jedicke, Mike Costa and Mike Flegel answered questions and showed off their telescopes. Dave Clark literally roped in people to demonstarte the scale of the solar system, including non-planet Pluto.
  
• On the night of August 12-13 a large crowd of London Centre members and family met at Fingal to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower. The Moon was new so the skies were perfect, except for the thunder storm at midnight which forced observers and equipment into their cars for about an hour. Once the rain stopped and the skies cleared meteor observing carried on until the beginning of twilight.
  
• From August 9 to 12 London Centre members attended Starfest 2007, presented by the North York Astronomical Association. Imagine 850 amateur astronomers with large telescopes and camping gear under clear skies. We enjoyed dark skies, making new friends and sharing stories with old friends, buying astronomical goodies, and just generally having a great time at the best Star Party in North America. Several London Center members won prizes at the draw, and all came home happy.
  
• On July 22 London Centre provided an observing session for Girl Guides at Camp Orenda, Chapindale Site. Bob Duff set up his 15cm Dobsonian-Newtonian and Harold Tutt used his 80mm Stellarvue refractor. Peter Jedicke brought the venerable C5. There were about 50 youngsters from the brownies, guides and pathfinders on hand and we received plenty of positive reactions from them. We showed them Venus in twilight, then the Moon and Jupiter. Between the bright moonlight and them heading off to their tents for lights-out rather early, that just about filled the allotted time. Many of them were very keen to learn a constellation or two and some star names, so the laser pointer was at least as busy as the telescopes. Also they asked a lot of darned good questions, so hopefully we were able to inspire a few of them. We spent a little time hunting for Comet LINEAR but we weren't willing to wait for moonset and Harold's battery was fading so we gave up on that.
  
• On July 20 we held our monthly meeting with at least 22 telescopes and twice that number of members at the Quai Du Vin Winery, under transparent skies to about a hundred guests. We repeated the event the next night with an even better turnout. Peter Jedicke gave a slide talk. Our members included Harold Tutt, John Bontje, Faye Bontje, Mike Costa, Ron Sawyer, Rick Saunders, Steve Imrie, Richard Gibbens, and at least a couple others. Rob Quai laid out wine & cheese after midnight on Saturday and we were all gone by 01:30.
  
• On July 18 Bob Duff provided a Star Lab presentation at the London Regional Children's Museum for 10 to 15 campers, aged 10-12 years, taking part in a space day camp.
  
• On June 21 Dave McCarter, Rick Saunders and Bob Duff provided an astronomy talk and observing session at Camp Sylvan to 30 grade 6 students and 6 adults (teachers and parents). We started with a high pass of the ISS and the shuttle Atlantis, and then viewed the moon, Saturn, Venus and Jupiter, plus a few deep sky objects.
  
• At our June 15 monthly meeting London Centre members Dave McCarter, Mike Hanes and Dave Rubenhagen presented their report of the Astronomy Tour of a Lifetime, their two week visit to major observatories in the southwest US. They did so much that their talk was limited to their first four days when they visited Kitt Peak, The
  Sonora Desert museum, Pima Air & Space Museum, David Levy, Jack Newton at Sky Village, Mount Graham Visitors Centre, Starizona Astronomy Store, Kitt Peak again, Steward Observatory Mirror Lab, and Mount Hopkins. And that was just the start!
• The May 25 observing session at Camp Timken Scout/Cub camp was cancelled due to inclement weather.
  
• On May 18 we held our monthly meeting, at which observing opportunities and other club activities were discussed.
  
• On May 5 we held our Annual Banquet at the Mandarin Banquet Hall. There was certainly enough to eat!
  
• On April 26 we provided a star talk at the Beachville Public School, organized by Tracy and Jeff Harrison. Jeff had his telescope ready, but heavy rain cancelled the observing session for about 35 students and parents. Peter Jedicke gave a well received illustrated talk.
  
• On April 25 we provided an astronomy talk and short observing session at the main branch of the London Public Library. Dave McCarter gave an illustrated talk to about 35 children and parents while Bob Duff and Harold Gibbons waited in the Rotary Reading Garden for the clouds to clear. When the talk was over the sky did part enough to see the Moon and Saturn and those who took advantage of Bob's telescope were very pleased with their high power views.
  
• On April 21 we provided a Star Night at Longwoods Conservation Area. Dave McCarter gave a short slide presentation and talk and answered a lot of questions. London Members Bob Duff, Harold Gibbens, Craig Lavene, Stan Podeszwa, Pete Raine, Rick Saunders, Harold Tutt, and two non-members. The waxing moon, Venus, Saturn and several galaxies and globulars were observed to the delight of the guests.
  
• On April 20 we held our monthly meeting, at which Dave McCarter showed slides of the recent Moon Venus conjunction, and some of the more obvious objects to observe with a small scope at this time of year. Dave then introduced Rick Saunders, who spoke about the ongoing upgrade and re-engineering project that is his telescope mount. You can check out his web page for all the details and so much more! Then Craig Lavene talked about the eyepiece/telescope nomogram in The Observers Handbook, and fingered Peter Jedicke to prepare a Handbook talk for next month. What are the odds that it will be about Globular Clusters? Further topics were the plans for the July meeting, see above, and for the Calgary General Assembly.
  
• On March 16 we held an abreviated meeting, due to the passing a day earlier of one of our members, Sherry Hominsky. Many members instead attended the visitation, and as Sherry requested, members then gathered at Kelsey's to celebrate her memory.
  
• On February 16 we held our monthly meeting at which Dave McCarter reviewed further images of Comet McNaught. Dave then showed images of winter objects currently in need of observation. Craig Levine then showed his portable weather station, a Kestrel 4000, that can monitor and record for later analysis all the important weather indicators while you are out observing. Rick Saunders discussed his continued progress with maximizing his telescope, and took us on a web tour of some of his recent projects.
  
• On January 19th we held our monthly meeting. Comet McNaught was making quite an impression and some fantastic photos showing an extensive tail showing above the western horizon were shown.

  2006

• On December 15 we held our monthly meeting.
• On December 9th several London Centre members dug out their driveways and set up a mall display at Cherry Hill Mall, with the assistance of John McKittrick. In attendance were David Clark, Bob Duff, Gary Hinks, Peter Jedicke, Dave McCarter, Don MacKenzie, John Rousom, Dave Rubinhagen, Rick Saunders, Elias St. Bryce, and Harold Tutt.
• On November 17 we held our monthly meeting and Dr. Martin Houde, Assist. Prof, UWO, spoke about the challenges and benefits of Submillimetre Astronomy: the Last Frontier. Dust and complex organics emit short wavelength radio waves that allow astronomers to peer into the dark recesses of the galaxy.
• On November 8 several London Centre members were able to take advantage of breaks in the constant cloud cover to observe the Transit of Mercury. The tiny circular disk of Mercury was complemented by a massive sunspot that had just recently moved onto the disk.
• On October 20 at our monthly meeting Alex Brett, author of novels Cold Dark Matter and Dead Water Creek, discussed her interest in writing science mystery novels. In particular she discussed interesting cases of scientific fraud and the effect upon honest science.
• On October 19 the first of a series of St. Mary's Astronomy Club meetings was held at the St.Marys Public Library. David McCarter gave seven very attentive young people a talk about the Milky Way. These meetings are being organized by the St. Marys Public Library in conjunction with Elias St. Bryce. For more information, visit their web page.
• On October 3 Dave McCarter provided views of the moon through a small refracting telescope and a large newtonian telescope to the grade one students and their parents and teachers at Clara Bretton Public School.
• On September 28 Peter Jedicke provided an astronomy presentation to patrons at the Westmount Public Library. David Clark, Dave McCarter, Bob Duff and Elias St. Brice provided the after talk star gazing and observing the moon with telescopes in the parking lot adjacent to the Library.
• On September 26 at 19:30 we held the fifth annual slide show and star party for Northview Elementary School on Commissioners Road, west of downtown Byron. About 40 grade six students and 20 parents turned up, and by the time the slides were done the skies were mostly clear, so lots of observing happened.
• On September 15 we held our first monthly meeting of the new observing year. Dave McCarter spoke about the role of members in the club, and encouraged everyone to share their enthusiasm and knowledge, to take part in observing and public outreach activities. Our many summer activities were reported upon. Bob Duff then presented the "Exploring the Stars" Astronomy Outreach Program at the University of Western Ontario, Coordinated by Alyssa Moldowan, and asked for members to volunteer to assist. Later Peter Brown gave a short PowerPoint presentation about the program and answered further questions. Peter Jedicke spoke about following the Pluto debate in Prague on the live webcast. Joe O'Neil delivered a new German Equatorial Mount for the draw, and talked about the shift in the astronomy marketplace to the high quality telescopes and eyepieces coming out of China. Then Patrick Whelan showed a short piece of video shot at Starfest regarding Pluto's change of status, and Jon Gunning showed a video shot at Starfest in 2005 that discussed how that star party has become the premier amateur astronomy event in Canada.
• On August 29, London Member Dave McCarter and Camp Naturalist Lucy provided an observing session and Q&A for the campers at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. About 150 campers of all ages arrived on the Poplar Beach where three telescopes were set up. Everyone had questions and everyone wanted to look at the astronomical views. The observing continued until the wee hours.
• From August 24 to 27 about 25 London Centre members braved poor weather to enjoy the social aspects and interesting talks of the Starfest Astronomical Convention, held each year at the River Place Campground. Astronaut Story Musgrave gave some inspiring talks and signed photographs. It is known that at least one London Centre member bought a new telescope, resulting in several days of cloud and rain.
• From June 3 to August 26 London Centre members assisted with the Public Observing Session at UWO Cronyn Observatory. UWO Astronomy Professors and Graduate Students gave an illustrated astronomy talk and when weather allowed they opened the observatory dome to observe through the large 25cm refractor. London Centre members set up their telescopes on the front lawn and roof top terrace and gave visitors some great views around the night sky.
• On August 24 London Centre President Dave McCarter gave an astronomy presentation to about 450 fellow campers at Grundy Lake Provincial Park, north of Parry Sound. The skies were perfectly clear and there is no light pollution there, apart from misaimed flashlights, so the talk was followed by several hours of avid observing, introductions to the Milky Way, unaided eye sightings of M31 and M33, the passing of many satellites including the ISS and Cosmos I, and many brilliant and speedy meteors.
• We had really dark skies Monday evening, August 21, for the McCully's Hill Farm Star Party, just outside the town of St. Mary's, organized by Elias St. Brice in cooperation with the St. Mary's Public Library. There was a good crowd of adults and children with an estimated 100 people showing up. Taking part that evening were London Centre members Peter Jedicke, John Rousom, Harold Tutt, Gary Hinks, Elias St. Brice and Bob Duff. We observed the planet Jupiter and a number of deep sky objects, including the orange and blue double star Albireo, the Ring Nebula, the globular cluster M13 in Hercules and the Andromeda Galaxy, to mention a few. Peter Jedicke gave us all a tour of the constellations using his green laser pointer, explaining that the Milky Way was the plane of our galaxy seen edge on. We also saw the International Space Station pass overhead and several bright meteors!
• On July 31 London Centre members John Rousom, Harold Tutt, Dave Clark and Everett Clark provided an observing session at Camp Orenda Girl Guide camp for about 40 girls and their leaders. When clouds appeared Dave Clark gave an astronomy talk. This was followed by an amazing thunder and lightning show, which we hope everyone enjoyed and survived.


• On July 29 we held our Tenth Annual Pinery Astronomy Presentation and Star Party. London Centre members Bram Bontje, John Bontje, Nancy Bontje, Everett Clark, Eric Clinton, Bill Gardner, Richard Gibbens, Dianne Jedicke, Peter Jedicke, Dave McCarter, Fraser McCrossan, Dave Nopper, Penny Poole, Peter Raine and girlfriend Sherry, John Rousom, Darle Rousom, Rick Saunders and one guest observer set up their telescopes around the amphitheatre at the Pinery Provincial Park. Heavy clouds threatened to prevent observing, but as the star talk by David McCarter began the crescent moon appeared and later Jupiter was also visible, creating long lineups at the telescopes during the talk. The clouds had all but vanished by observing time and everyone was able to enjoy the treasures of the sky. The Milky Way arched across the sky, satellites glided silently north and south and bright meteors created excitment now and then. The audience was estimated at between 700 and 750. Many people attending have done so for several years. Everyone had a fabulous time, and several people said that this observing experience was the highlight of their summer.

  Fraser, see here placing an eyepiece in his refractor with Eric in the background, contributed this story as typical of the night: "I was lined up on the Moon early in the evening, and one woman was looking through the eyepiece. I asked her if she saw it okay, and she replied "Yes, I saw the disk." She didn't sound impressed. I checked the focus and found that it had been knocked way off by one of her kids, so I asked her to look again. "Oh wow!", she said, "it's so clear, you can see the craters!". I had similar experiences all night, always from adults. Many of them didn't *expect* to see much of anything and were very surprised to see such clarity and detail. I wonder how many have only experienced department-store telescopes and have very low expectations?"

• On July 21 we held our monthly meeting, at which Dave McCarter gave his "Tour of the Milky Way" presentation, showing how to star hop to many fine Messier objects and Barnard's Star. Faye Bontje was presented her Messier Certificate.
• On July 15 we provided the second night of astronomy, while Rob Quai provided the wine, cheese and fresh baked bread at Quai du Vin winery on Fruit Line Road. Peter Jedicke gave the illustrated talk to an audience of about 200, while Ross Blakey, Bram Bontje, Faye Bontje, John Bontje, Nancy Bontje, Everett Clark, Mike Costa, Donna Costa, Richard Gibbens, Jon Gunning, Mike Hanes, Gary Hinks, Ingrid Hutchinson, Steve Imrie, Dianne Jedicke, Peter Jedicke, Dave McCarter, Fraser McCrossan, Dave Nopper, Joe O'Neil, Tristan O'Neil, Arthur Oslach, Penny Poole, Jenny Shaw, David Smith, Harold Tutt and at least one guest had their telescopes ready to show off the night sky. Observations carried on until well after moonrise about 1 am. We saw almost every deep sky object available, lots of meteors, several dozen satellites, and a lot of smiles on people's faces (although it was really dark so many of the smiles are inferred from happy voices).
• On July 14 we provided a slide talk at Quai du Vin winery south east of St. Thomas. London Centre members Peter and Diane Jedicke, Mike Costa, Dave and Angella Clark, Dave Nopper, Elias St. Bryce, Richard Gibbens, Dave McCarter and several guests brought out telescopes, but due to the clouds and mist they didn't get used. A small but appreciative audience listened to Dave McCarter give a talk on near space and the grander objects that amateurs observe.
• On June 16 we held our monthly meeting, at which Peter Jedicke discussed the possibility of applying for a Trillium grant to support our outreach activities. Everyone has something to contribute and the ideas flew fast and furious.
• On June 14 Peter Jedicke and Dave McCarter provided an Observing Session for 35 children and parents of the Shedden-West Lorne Home Schooling Group at Fingal. The skies were perfectly clear and we were able to find Jupiter shortly after sunset. Then the eagle eyes of the children spotted Saturn and Mars, making it easy for Peter and Dave to point their telescopes. As it got dark the children were given laser guided tours of constelations and several named stars were pointed out. Later M13, the Hercules globular cluster, and M57, the ring nebula were shown. We observed a moon shadow transiting Jupiter and saw a brilliant but short meteor just over Polaris. Just before the last family left we were treated to a magnitude -5 Iridium flare in the western sky. A wonderful night was had by all.
• On June 10 Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt, Ross Blakey, Steve Imrie, Chris Flemming, Dan Williams and Dave Nopper were given a wonderful behind the scenes tour of the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill by Observatory technician Heidi DeBond. We spent time in the extensive library, offices, and two domes on the roof of the administeration building. Then we toured the main dome which houses the mighty David Dunlap 188cm f17.9 English mount telescope. When the skies cleared we looked at brilliant Jupiter, and later the telescope was pointed at M57 the Ring Nebula.
• On May 30 Harold Tutt gave a Star Talk to about 25 people at the Westmount Branch of the London Public Library. After the talk Harold and Peter Jedicke set up telescopes and showed the moon and Saturn through thin clouds.
• On May 27 London Centre members Rick Saunders, Everett Clark, Harold Tutt, Dave McCarter, Peter Jedicke, Bob Duff and Dan Tremblay set up telescopes at Longwoods Conservation Area for a Public Star Party. Dave presented an illustrated star talk about the objects amateur astronomers observe, and then everyone walked over to the telescopes for several hours of good views. We were treated to a Jupiter moon shadow transit, and very stable seeing for the rings of Saturn and globular cluster M13. The skies were a bit milkey so the Virgo Galaxy cluster was difficult to see.
• On May 26 Harold Tutt and Dave McCarter set up telescopes at the Springwater Conservation Area and showed about 25 Brownsville Girl Guides, their parents and leaders the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, as well as many deep sky objects. A wonderful and bright meteor was seen streaking south in a trail of flame, and a few satellites were seen slipping silently through the sky.
• On May 19 we held our monthly meeting. Our Guest of Honour was Dr. Alan Boss, Carnegie Institution of Washington, and member of the NASA Kepler mission: A Search for Terrestrial Planets. Dr. Boss spoke about planet formation and the technology used to search for and find extrasolar planets. Jon Gunning and Glen Spooner showed astroimages they took at the Texas Star Party.
• On May 17 Harold Tutt drove to Mon Signor O'Neil School in Tillsonburg and presented Bill Gardner's PowerPoint show to 4 classes of Grades 5 & 6 students, approximately 120 children. The children were well behaved and by the questions they asked seemed to be interested most in Galaxies and Black holes. The presentation was held in the school gym, the equipment was operated by a student and all Harold had to do was point out the objects with his laser pointer and shout "next". A great time was had by all.
• On May 12 London Centre held our Annual Banquet at Michael's on the campus of UWO. Thirty three members and guests were present for the sumptuous repast. President David McCarter presented this year’s Member of the Year Award to Robert Duff, for his long standing and continuing contributions to the Centre. Dr. David H. Levy was our Guest of Honour, and later in the evening we wandered over to the Cronyn Observatory for a wonderful illustrated talk.
• On May 9 London Centre member Harold Tutt gave an Astronomy Presentation for the students of Faith Christian Academy in St. Thomas. Later that evening Steve Imrey and Dave McCarter joined Harold in the Academy parking lot for an observing session. Even though the lights of the ball fields immediately to the west were pouring out megawatts of light, and the sky was hazy to cloudy, the intrepid observers were able to find the moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Later Dave actually thinks he spotted the core of the comet 73P-C very near Vega, although that observation is largely unconfirmed.
• On May 6, International Astronomy Day, the RASC London Centre together with McKittrick's Photo/Visual hosted a day long event at Cherryhill Village Mall. Astronomy day organizer Bob Duff was joined by David Clark, Harold Tutt, Richard Gibbens, Peter Jedicke, and other London Centre Members, who set up their telescopes and a photo display and talked to many interested people. John McKittrick had telescopes and large binoculars on display from his store.
• On April 21 we held our monthly meeting at which cartographer Phil Stooke discussed his soon to be published "Atlas of Lunar Exploration". Peter Jedicke and Mike Hanes showed pictures and video of their eclipse experiences, Dave Clark and Dave McCarter discussed comet viewing opportunities with 73P, and Bob Duff described plans for Astronomy Day.
• On March 29 London Centre members Peter & Dianne Jedicke and Mike and Eva Hanes had perfect conditions for the solar eclipse in the Medeteranian Sea north of the Lybia-Egypt border. We'll probably hear all about it at the next meeting!
• On March 23 Dr. Don Brownlee, Department of Astronomy at University of Washington, Principal Investigator of the Stardust Science team, co-author of "Rare Earth", and member of the Kepler Planet Finder science team, talked about the early results of the Stardust Mission at UWO, Science Centre, Room 55. Afterwards we wandered over to a small reception where discussions continued.
• On March 17 we held our monthly meeting at the Cronyn Observatory and Howard Plotkin spoke about the Dresden Ontario Meteorite and his recent attempts to locate additional pieces of the July 11, 1939 fall. He also brought the first piece recovered from the field for people to hold and admire. Phil McCausland then gave a short talk on the re-entry of the Stardust capsule and showed slides and video describing their infrasound and seismic research on the shock waves produced by hyper velocity objects entering earth's atmosphere. After the meeting people gathered at a local eatery for more talk and green beer.
• On March 14 Harold Tutt joined Rick Saunders at Frontierland, Camp Sylvan, for an observing session with about twenty scouts and their leaders. After an introduction to the winter/spring constelations Rick focused mainly on a great view of Saturn while Harold provided views of the Orion Nebula and the Plaiedes star cluster. They joined the scouts after the observing session for hot chocolate and cup cakes.
• On February 25 London members Rick Sanders, Mike Costa, Elias St. Brice and Dave McCarter waited patiently for the snow streamers to abate and provided an observing session to about 20 girls and their parents and leaders from the 85th Brownies at Orenda Girl Guide Camp. We were able to thrill them with views of Saturn, Mars, M45 (the seven sisters) and the Orion Nebula. We gave sky tours using our green laser pointers to point out several constelations, including the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Taurus, Orion, and Canus Major. They particularly loved seeing spots on Betelgeuse and watching Sirius twinkle! We drove home in another heavy streamer. Great job!
• On February 17 we held our monthly meeting, at which Ray Kahn of Kahn Scopes talked about the evolution of the telescope market, showed some really nice and affordable toys, and answered questions. Peter Jedicke and Gary Hinks told us about the evolution of the Journal and showed how to sign up for the electronic version.
• On January 20 we held our monthly meeting at which Dr. Pierre Boulos from the Windsor Centre discussed the lives and work of Cassini and Huygens, the two early astronomers who did work on Saturn, discovered the Cassini Division in the rings, and all that good stuff. We also talked about upcoming events like comets, RASC meetings,

2005

• On December 17 many members and friends got together over eggnog and snacks at the home of Joe O'Neil fo rthe annual Christmas Observers Group meeting.
• On December 16 we held our December "Christmas Special" meeting. Steve Pellarin, from Windsor Centre, gave an illustrated talk on "Project Cassini to Saturn: A Summary." Steve showed a sample of the exciting images and shaired the fantastic information scientists are getting from the sixth planet with the Cassini spacecraft. Then Harold Tutt made a presentation of a donated eight inch Skywatcher telescope with carying case and eyepieces to Krista Jager. Needless to say, she was almost speachless for the rest of the evening!


On the evening of November 24 Astronomer, Author, and SkyNews Editor Terence Dickinson gave a Public Talk at the Wolf Theatre, London Public Library. He reviewed why sky gazers become enchanted with the boundless beauty of the night sky. He demonstrated the immense size of the solar system, the stellar neighbourhood, and ultimately the entire universe. Here Terry does an audio check as the crowd files in.



Before the talk Terry signed each of the Backyard Astronomers Guide copies donated to the London Public Library in memory of Mark St. George, and after the talk he signed a large number of his books purchased by eager fans, no doubt destined as keepsakes and Christmas presents. He posed with the members of London Centre instrumental to the success of the evening: Front Row: Diane Jedicke, Terry Dickinson, Ingrid Hutchinson, Back Row: David Clark, Peter Jedicke, David McCarter, Robert Duff.



On the afternoon of November 24 Terence Dickinson spoke to a large and appreciative crowd at Fanshawe College in room D1060 for the Arts and Letters Society as this years special invited guest. Afterwards Terry joined Peter, Ingrid, Bill and Daniel, Bill's parents, Bob, Dave, Harold, John, Steve and Valery for supper.



• On November 18 we held our monthly meeting at which amateur astronomer and amazing potter Steve Irvine described the tall tale of "Keppel Henge. He also showed the sun dial in which the observer is the genome. They have also created a small to-scale model of the solar system, and will shortly be placing a model of Proxima Centaurus at it's correct distance, on Vancouver Island. There is a lot of space in space! You can visit his web page and learn more about his activities. Ingrid Hutchinson, recently back from Australia, shared some slides of her trip and discussed the history and current activities at Sydney Observatory.
• On October 29 the Physics and Astronomy Department, including Dr. Margret Cambell/Brown and Dr. Peter Brown, Dave Clark, Peter Jedicke, Dave McCarter, Bob Duff, Chris Fleming, and Mike Costa provided a look through the Hume Cronyn Memorial telescope and Member Telescopes at Mars during it's close opposition. At any one time there were over fifty people in the dome waiting for a view, and unfortunately the combined heat of so many bodies combined with the cold outside air to destroy the seeing. However, telescopes set up outside had much better luck. In all about 450 people visited the event. Mars is still very much worth looking at, until at least mid December.
• On October 29 Harold Tutt and Rick Saunders provided an observing session for the 2nd Lambeth Guides Camp at Kah-ne-do.
• On October 21 we held our October meeting. Astronomer Paul Mortfield discussed "CCD Imaging From Your Urban Backyard" and showed off amazing astronomical images while describing the equipment and processes required to create images of great beauty and scientific interest. Current Mars observations and plans for the 29th were discussed. Tickets were made available for the Terrence Dickinson talk. Elections were held and the current executive acclaimed for next year.
• On October 14 London members provided an observing session and guided sky tour for the Tillsonburg Pathfinders & Sr. Branches of Girl Guides at Barnabus Christian Camp in Richmond (near Tillsonburg).
• On October 4 London Centre members Dave McCarter, Dave Clark and Harold Tutt provided a well attended and received slide show & observing session for the Jeff Gallant grade eight class at Byron Northview Public School.
• On October 1 Harold Tutt provided a star party and observing session for the Girl Guides at Camp Orenda.
• On September 30 Peter Jedicke, Steve Gauthier and Dave McCarter went on another road trip to UofT Alumni Hall to attend the Cosmic Frontiers talk "Way Too Cool: Tales of Stellar Corpses" by David Helfand, Columbia University. David is an acomplished speaker and his discussion of the high energy physics on and near nutron stars and black holes was both entertaining and informative. Unfortunately his talk was a very quick fifty minutes. Fortunately we were able to have him at our table at O'Gradys Pub, where the talk centred around the chances of the Boston Red Sox getting to the World Series.
• On September 23 London Centre members Pete Jedicke, Steve Gauthier, Dave McCarter and Bill Gardner did a road trip to the University of Toronto to see Cosmologist Rocky Khob (Director of the Particle Astrophysics Centre at Fermilab) give a talk titled "Beyond Einstein: The Dark Side of the Universe". After the fantastic and humorous illustrated talk we relaxed at O'Grady's Pub and were pleased that Rocky chose to join us at our table for an hour or so of light discussion about dark matter and dark energy, cosmology, matter - energy equivalency, and other quantum bits. Do red wine and Ricker’s Red have a common goal?
• At our first meeting of the new school year, on September 16 our Guest of Honour was William E. Baylis, Physics Dept., University of Windsor and Honorary President of the Windsor Centre who spoke on "Einstein's 'Biggest Blunder' and the Big Bang" in honour of the centenary of Einstein's amazing year, 1905.
• Every Saturday evening from June 4 to August 27 London Centre members set up their telescopes on the front lawn and roof patio of the Hume Cronyn Observatory on the campus of the University of Western Ontario to help with the Summer Open House. Each evening fifty or more visitors enjoyed the illustrated talk given by UWO faculty or graduate student, talked stars and telescopes with our members, and when the skies were clear they were treated to many celestial objects, the most favourite being Jupiter and its moons.

• On August 20 Harold Tutt provided an astronomy slide show and talk at the Strathroy Public Library.
• On August 13 London Centre members David and Everett Clark, Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt and friend Harold, and Dave Nopper provided the Ninth Annual Pinery Provincial Park Star Show. Dave and Everett were able to show the first quarter moon through a break in the clouds, and the audience of about 450 enjoyed the slide show "The Mikly Way, A Tour". The rain began just as the astronomers completed packing up.
• From August 3rd to 7th London Centre members enjoyed excellent skies and wonderful events at the StarFest Astronomy Convention at the River Place Campground, just north of Mount Forest. Many said it was the best Starfest ever!
• On August 4 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Lambeth Library.
• On August 3 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Carson Library.
• On July 31 London Centre hosted the third annual Quai du Vin Estate Winery Star Show & Observing Session under fantastic skies. While thunderstorms flashed over the Bruce Peninsula, we observed satellites, meteors, and a whole range of deep sky objects. Peter Jedicke gave the astro talk to a large and appreciative crowd.
• On July 29 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Beacock Library, 1280 Huron Street.
• On July 27 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Cherryhill Library, Cherryhill Mall 301 Oxford St., W.
• On July 22 London Centre members Harold Tutt, John Rousom, Gary Hinks, Dave McCarter, Everett Clark, Elias St. Bryce, and several local astronomers provided an observing session for St. Marys Library, at McCully's Farmers Market. Conditions were excellent and 82 people signed the guest registry. Our thanks to the kind library folk who made us feel so wlecome.
• On July 20 Harold Tutt gave a slide show and talk at the St.Marys Library.
• On July 19 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Crouch Library, 550 Hamilton Road.
• On July 15 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Westmount Library, 3200 Wonderland Road South.
• On July 15 at our monthly meeting UWO astronomer Shantanu Basu give a talk and showed computer animations regarding the process by which a cloud of gas and dust in the interstellar medium gravitationally collapses to a disk and forms a star and perhaps planets. Discussions were extensive!
• On July 13, London Centre members Harold Tutt, Glen Spooner and Dave McCarter presented a slide show and tried to provide observing for 45 people at Rondeau Provincial Park. The remains of huricane Dennis filled the sky with clouds and haze, although we were able to view the moon and Jupiter from time to time. Then the mosquitoes, a particularly viscious species, made their presence known, and people thought better of staying out.
• On July 7 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Masonville Library, 30 North Centre Road.
• On July 6 members Rick Saunders, Harold Tutt, Steve and Christie Arrenburg, and Dave McCarter provided an observing session for the annual Exeterrestrial Science Camp at the Exeter High School. About 22 youngsters and some parents enjoyed views of Jupiter, several satellites, several swift meteors, the ISS, and of course our favourite deep sky objects.
• On July 6 Harold Tutt presented an astronomy talk and slide show at the Pond Mills Library, 1166 Commissioners East.
• On June 25, several members, including Rick Saunders, Kelly Sibthorpe, Harold Tutt, Bill Gardner and Ingrid Hutchinson provided an observing session for L.O.O.P (Local Outdoors Opportunity Partners) Perth Chapter, camp-out on a farm near Stratford.
• On June 20 Peter Jedicke, our Honarary President and National RASC President, gave an illustrated astronomy presentation to Betsy Reilly's class at St. George's Public School.
• On June 17, we held our monthly meeting at which Astronomer Robert Jedicke from Pan-STARRS, gave a talk about the plans for the Deep Impact space mission.
• On May 30 London Centre members Dave Clark, Bill Gardner, Harold Tutt, Dave McCarter and Melody MacKensie provided an illustrated talk and set up telescopes to show off the clear skies to the Ingersoll District Nature Club and the Ingersol Guides.
• On May 28 London centre members Dave, Angela and Everett Clark, Elias St. Brice, Dave McCarter, Dustin Wyrot and friend, Melody MacKensie and friend Denise provided an observing session for 350 Girl Guides who were celebrating 95 years of Guiding at Ska-Nah-Doht, Longwoods Conservation Area.
• On May 27 London centre members Rick Saunders, Dave and Everett Clark, Elias St. Brice, Melody MacKensie and friend Denise, and Dave McCarter provided an observing session for the International Scout camp at Sylvan, west of Parkhill.
• On May 26 Peter Jedicke gave an astronomy presentation to the North Middlesex District High School, in Parkhill. The evening observing session was cancelled due to cloud.
• On May 20 at our monthly meeting Dave McCarter discussed the simple art of Starhopping to navigate your way across the sky to favourite deep sky objects. We also discussed what criteria experienced observers use to decide when to drive out to Fingal for a great night of observing.
• On May 7 London Centre held its Annual Banquet at Michael's in the Great Hall, UWO. The food and fellowship were excellent. After dinner we moved to the presentation room at the Cronyn Observatory for a fasinating talk by Astronomer Beth Ellen Clark, an expert in asteroids. Her most recent article is in the June '05 Sky&Telescope. She passed around a few large sample meteors and discussed how astronomers are trying to make sense of the various populations in the asteroid belt. After the talk we observed Jupiter in the large refractor.
• On April 30 London Centre members Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt, Bill Gardner, Bob Duff, Peter Jedicke. Chris Fleming, and John Rousom put on an Astronomy Mall Display at Cherry Hill Mall, outside McKittricks Astro-Video-Photo store. We answered lots of questions from interested people, showed off telescopes and how mirrors are ground to the correct curve. John R. took home a new big toy, reducing our telescope display by one. Expect another weeks worth of clouds!
• On April 17 we held an Observers Group Meeting at the home of Gary Hinks. We observed the start of a moon transit on Jupiter and a nice bright Iridium flare. Lots of nibbles were enjoyed.
• On April 16, Astronomy Day, many members of London Centre set up their telescopes and provided a great observing session for fifty Girl Guides at Camp Orenda.
• On April 15, at our monthly meeting, Robert Godwin of Apogee Books gave a short talk about the space publishing business and showed many of the publications for which he is justly proud. He also showed a fifteen minute audio and film sequence of the view from the Apollo 11 Eagle window during the moon landing sequence.
• On April 7, early in the morning, Joe O'Neil, Chris Fleming, Peter Jedicke, Bob Duff, Harold Tutt, Don Trembley, Dave Rubinhagen, Melody MacKenzie and Dave McCarter turned out at John McKittricks Camera Store on Dundas St. to appear on CFPL-TV's New Day show. The theme was amateur telescope making, and Joe and Dave gave a short demonstration on glass grinding and what goes into a telescope. Melody showed her home made telescope, and Harold, Bob and Chris talked about observing, astronomy books and resources. Girl guide cookies were eaten and everyone had a good time.
• On April 4 Harold Tutt, John Bontje, Dave McCarter, Justin Tonner, Chris Flemming and Bogdan Toduse set up telescopes and showed the excellent skies to the members of the Elgin Nature Club.
• On April 1 Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt and Dave Nopper provided a slide talk to the Elgin Nature Club in St. Thomas. We hope to provide an observing experience as soon as the clouds clear!
• On March 24 Astrobiologist Dr. David Grinspoon of Southwest Research Institute presented an interesting and current lecture: "How Lonely is our Planet?: New Results in the Quest for Alien Life" in the Natural Science Lecture Theatre Rm 145 at the University of Western Ontario. After the lecture the discussions continued in the Physics and Astronomy building.
• On March 18 at our monthly meeting RASC National President Peter Jedicke presented his talk "Astronomy in Hawaii: Research, Outreach and Observing", a photographic tour of facilities, telescopes, the people, and the beaches of Hawaii.
• On February 18 we held our monthly meeting. Jeremie Vaubaillon, an Astronomer currently doing his Post-Doc at UWO, gave an informative and entertaining talk about the incredible history of and some of the current activities of three observatories associated with the Paris Observatory.
• On January 21, at our monthly meeting, London Centre members Ingrid Hutchinson and Chris Fleming reviewed the recent news from Titan and observing Comet Macholtz.

2004

• On December 17, at our monthly meeting, London Centre moon expert Robert Duff and Observers Chair Chris Fleming showed what there is to observe with a photographic tour of the moon. Chris provided a detailed discussion on the new "Observe the Moon" RASC certificate that is still in "beta testing". Arthur Oslach showed video of the moon and Comet Macholtz. We celebrated Christmas early with many excellent astronomy books, a complete Celestron eyepiece set donated by McKittricks, an Epic 3.5mm widefield eyepiece, a GPS receiver, and several other excellent prizes!

• On December 10 we held a Special Meeting Night to host our Guest of Honour, Science Journalist and Astronomer Ivan Semeniuk. Ivan gave a wonderful illustrated talk about the current flood of discoveries being returned by spacecraft missions studying the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and its moons, and Saturn, the wonderous rings, and the moon Titan. Following the question period the discussions continued at Kelsie's.
• On December 7, Harold Tutt gave an astronomy talk with slides at the Westminster Secondary School for the grade nine class. They are really looking forward to the observing session.
• On November 27 a large group of London Centre members set up a mall display at Cherry Hill Mall, in conjunction with McKittricks Photo/Video. We met a lot of nice people who were very keen on Astronomy and got them to consider real telescopes, or big binoculars worthy of use under the stars. At the risk of forgetting someone, taking part were: Rick Saunders, Bob Duff, Elias St. Bryce, Dave McCarter, Chris Fleming, Peter Jedicke, Don MacKenzie, Dustin Wywrot, James Bleakley, Harold Tutt, John Rousom, and Richard Gibbens.
• On November 25, with cloudy skies overhead, Harold Tutt presented a well received slide show and talk for the 31st B cubs at Calvary United Church, on Rideout St.
• On November 20 Harold Tutt presented a slide show and astronomy talk to guides at Camp Orenda.
• On November 19 we helfd our most recent monthly meeting. Astronomer Megan Donahue discussed her research on clusters of galaxies: their contents - dark energy, dark matter, hot gas, galaxies, distant Type 1a Super Nova - and what they tell us about the contents of the universe and how galaxies form and evolve. It's a strange place out there!
• On November 6 London Centre members Harold Tutt, Rick Saunders, John Rousom, Elias St. Brice, Dustin Wywrot, Dave McCarter and Peter Jedicke provided telescopes and sky tours to the 37th London beavers, cubs and scouts at Camp Sylvan. We saw an exceptional number of bright meteors, probably Northern Taurids, comet Tucker, a bit of aurora, and numerous deep sky targets.

• On October 27 London Centre members and Guests enjoyed a great view of the Total Lunar Eclipse under clear skies at Fingal, and at the Cronyn Observatory. Click the small picture for a complete eclipse sequence!
• On October 19 Harold Tutt provided a slide talk for the 37th cub pack held at St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, in London.
• On October 21 Harold Tutt provided a slide talk for the Grade 6 students of Elgin Public School in St Thomas. A Fingal observing event planned for that evening was cancelled due to clouds, and rescheduled for May.
• On October 15 at our monthly meeting Robert L. Brooks, Professor of Physics, University of Guelph discussed the role of Nebula, Star Forming Regions, Star Birth, Star Death, Supernove, and a lot of other really neat stuff and how they contribute to the stuff found in the "Space Among the Stars." Annual elections were held, and Arthur Oslach showed results from his new AstroVid digital camera and his 41 cm scope, which can see down to about magnitude 15.
• On the evening of September 30 we held a slide talk and observing session for the class of Jeff Gallant at Byron Northview Public School. Many students brought the family telescope and we were blessed with clear skies to see a multitude of deep skies targets.
• At our September 17 monthly meeting. Astronomer Rob Weryk gave a talk about the search for Interstellar Meteoroids, using the "Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar (CMOR)". We also discussed the hugely successful summer observing sessions, public star nights, and the Proposal to build a Warm Up Room and Observatory at the Fingal Wildlife Management Area.
• On every Saturday evening from June 5 to August 28 London Centre members assisted at the Cronyn Observatory Open House Program. Usually between 30 and 100 people showed up to see a slide presintation given by Astronomy students or Professors, and look through telescopes.Taking part were: David Clark, Everett Clark, Eric Clinton, Mike Costa, Robert Duff, Chris Fleming, Gary Hinks, Peter Jedicke, Diane Jedicke, David McCarter, Ron Sawyer, Ingrid Hutchinson, Steve Gauthier, Valerie Rausch, Harold Tutt, Justin Wywrot, Mark McCallum, Dan Tremblay, Richard Gibbons and Gary Wabersich.
• On August 26 Dave McCarter gave an astronomy talk at Grundy Lake Provincial Park to about 200 campers and park staff. The night was cloudy, but many returned the next night to view the heavens with Dave's 25.4cm scope.
• From August 16-21 London Centre Members assisted at the Meteoroids 2004 Conference, held at the University of Western Ontario.
• From August 19 to 22 Members of London Centre attended the Starfest Astronomy Convention, located just north of Mount Forest at the River Place Campground. We enjoyed several excellent observing sessions, formal and informal presentations, green laser pointer light wars on the bottoms of Friday night cloud, workshops, commercial exhibits, the swap tables, and good discussions with friends old and new.
• On August 14 London Centre almost member Melody Mackensie attended the Stellafane Telescope Makers Convention. She writes: "People did oooh and aaaah over my scope during mechanical judging on Saturday, and every one really liked the stained glass effect and everything else about my scope. Many people wanted to take photos of it, either alone or with me, so now there are hundreds of people around the world with photos of me and my scope in their homes, that's a little weird!! It was a lot of fun to sit up there and have people come by and ask questions about telescope building as if I knew something about it!!!! I also got some advice and suggestions, and that was nice too. And while I didn't win any prizes for mechanical (I thought I might have had a chance at craftmanship) if you go to the Stellafane website and click the post 2004 convention link, you'll see that they've used my picture as the one to click to view all of the other scopes that were entered, so at least the webmaster thought my scope was worth something extra!!! But I'm not at all discouraged, it was a great experience and I have the little gold sticker on my scope as a reward for having entered it." Well Done, Melody!
• On August 11 London Centre members offered the Fifth Annual Rondeau Star Party and slide show. Dave gave his usual slide talk and then the skies cleared. Showing the sky through their telescopes were Chris Flemming, Mike Costa, Steven Imrie, Mike Hanes, Elias St. Bryce, Richard Gibbens, Harold Tutt, Glen Spooner, and Dave McCarter. We saw many bright and fast Perseid Meteors by the lake shore, and lots of interesting things in the Milky Way.
• On August 7 London Centre members provided the Eighth Annual Pinery Star Party and slide show. The slide talk by Dave McCarter was well attended by 850 campers and local people into the park just for the show, at least half being under 18. Dave Clark warmed up the younger set with his "put the solar system in order" game, and "let's play planets on a rope", which stretched from the front of the auditorium right to the back. The child playing Sedna has not been seen since, so wrapped up in her role was she. Our skies were spotty to cloudy to lousy to some clear spots to gee it's clearing to hey this is a nice sky to I hate to leave to there's the moon glow I'm packing up. Many thanks to the London Centre Members who make this possible: Dave Clark, Everett Clark, John Bontje, Bram Bontje, Faye Bontje and the rest of the family, Mike Hanes, Harold Tutt, Chris Flemming, Steve Arrenburg, Melody Mackensie, Joe and Tristan O'Neil, Chris LeMesurier and family and friends, and guest Tim and family from Stony Creek who set up their 200mm Dobsonian and had a great time.
• On August 6 and 7th London Centre provided the Second Annual Star Gazing and Wine Star Party at the Quai du Vin Winery. Peter Jedicke gave the high tech PowerPoint presintation, while members Mike and Donna Costa, Ingrid Hutchinson, Dave18 Mooney, Dave4 Nopper, Dianne and Peter Jedicke, Dave5 McCarter, Harold Tutt, Mike Hanes, and Melody MacKensie showed the sky through their scopes.
• On July 31 London Centre members Harold Tutt, Everett Clark, Cliff Johnson and son, Jon Gunning, Dave McCarter, Dustin Wywrot, and guest Melody Mackensie set up telescopes for the Girl Guides Diversity Camp at Camp Orenda. Skies were almost clear and as darkness fell we spotted Jupiter low in the west. Then the full moon rose, the second of the month, and everyone was most impressed by the ruddy orange colour, due to the hazy skies. Fog developed and observing slowly came to a close as the girls, many from Tabul in Afganistan, went off to sing and dance. After the astronomers and a few leaders watched an Iridium flair in Cygnus, many of the older ladies, including mothers and grandmothers, asked to see the moon, which was once again visible. Melody and Dave quickly set up their home made telescopes and provided views and answered questions about the history of the moon. One Afgan lady said: "Canada is the most beautiful country in the world. We find freedom here. We can dance and sing and look at the beautiful moon through a telescope that a woman built."
• On July 24th London Centre members Mike Costa, Richard Gibbens, Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt, Dave Nopper, and guest Melody MacKenzie set up telescopes, (all home built!) for an observing session for the Among Friends Summer Camp of about 100 Guides, Brownies & Sparks at Camp Orenda. Thin cloud hid all but the hazy moon, so we showed slides and Dave gave a talk, with many good questions from the young audience.
• On July 16, at our monthly meeting, meteorite collector David Gregory brought an astounding collection of his favourite meteors and described his collection of rocks from the Moon, Mars, and the Asteroid belt. Truely out of this world! While a few are so rare and valuable that they were non-touchable, most meteors could be held and felt. All the pieces were large museum quality meteors and to hold such rareties and examine them closely was a very special treat!
• The observers group meeting on June 20 was a great time that turned into an observing session in Mike Hane's back yard. Several NGC objects were found for Mike's attack on the Finest NGC List.
• On June 18 we held our monthly meeting. Dave McCarter showed a number of images and discussed his trip to Crete to view the Transit of Venus and various members related their transit experiences. Bill Gardner showed the images of the transit he made at Cobble Hills. Peter Jedicke also showed some images, and played a new audio recording of famous astronomy songs.
• On June 8 many members observed the sunrise with an addition, the shadow of Venus. Mike Hanes was accompanied by seven other members at Cobble Hills, and was able to see Venus while the sun was still in low haze. Dave McCarter traveled to the Mediterranean island of Crete to observe and photograph the entire transit. The next transit will be visible late in the afternoon of June 6, 2012.
• On June 4 several members provided an observing session for the 79th Brownies at Rock Glen Camp Grounds.
• On May 29 several members provided an observing session for the 98th Girl Guides at Girl Guide Camp Orenda.
• On May 28 several members had fun providing an observing session with the students from Catholic Central High School at Camp Olalondo.
• The Observers Group Meeting on May 23 was at the home of John and Darle Rousom and a large turn out had a great time.
• The Spring Celestial Tent Star Party planned for May 22 was a wash out as clouds and rain made Derek's fields more of a water bed. We'll try again in the fall.
• At our May 21 monthly meeting Geoff Gaherty presented "The Great Canadian Variable Star Challenge". Dave McCarter discussed "Where do you need to be to see Venus transit the Sun?
• On May 20 we held a Star Party and BBQ at Fingal for the West Elgin Nature Club. Thunderstorms and light rain didn't dampen our enthusiasm as Jon Gunning manned the BBQ and turned out the burgers. Through a gap in the clouds we were able to see the thin crescent of Venus and the four moons and cloud bands on Jupiter.
• On May 15 Dave McCarter and Harold tutt provided a slide show and talk to the students of the Romanian Heritage Language Program at G.A. Wheable Adult Education Centre.
• On May 7 Dave McCarter gave two astronomy talks illustrated with slides to three classes of grade nine students at Catholic Central High School.
• On May 1 members held an Astronomy Display at Cherry Hill Mall, in co-operation with McKittricks Cameras. Members set up telescopes and picture displays, and answered questions.
• On April 28 members held a star party called "Astronomy in the Garden" at the London Public Library. Telescopes were set up in the reading garden adjacent to the Library to show off the first quarter moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and several double stars.
• At our latest meeting on April 16 we were all captivated by Gregg Mackay, chief engineer for the Canadian Arrow Project as he outlined the project of getting to the edge of space, showed images of hardware and engine tests, and outlined the engineering challenges that have been met and the tasks remaining before the first Canadian manned flight to the edge of space, possibly from just north of Sarnia Ont. from a barge 5Km offshore in Lake Huron. We look forward observing the unmanned first flights through our telescopes.
• On April 7, Harold Tutt, Dave and Everett Clark, Dave McCarter, and Bogdan Tudose set up their telescopes at Fingal and provided views of Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter to the students, parents and teachers from Galt House private school. We also looked at several star clusters, some galaxies in Leo and Ursa Major, and a very bright satellite.
• On April 1, Harold Tutt provided a slide talk for the 79th Brownies at Nicholas Wilson Public School.
• On March 19, at our monthly meeting, Dave Clark ran two Clear Sky annimations showing the orbits of minor planet Sedna, which is way out there, and near earth asteroid 2004FH, which buzzed the earth Thursday afternoon. Dave McCarter showed a stereo image of the nucleus of comet Wild 1, and also the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. We discussed the possibility of observing Omega Centauri from Hawk Cliff, and the Horsehead Nebula in a small scope. Dave Clark was presented with a copy of the citation for his Service Award, to be presented at GA2004 in St. Johns. Neil Ripley presented the draft of a light pollution abatement presentation, which was well received due to a lot of effort on Neil's part. Then we went off to Kelsies for some chat and eats.
• On March 17 Dave and Harold provided a slide show and astronomy talk for the Men’s Organization of Rowntree Memorial United Church.
• On March 9th Dave and Harold provided a slide show and astronomy talk for the 98th Girl Guides at Westmount Presbyterian church.
• On March 5 we held our Annual Banquet and Awards Night at the 7 Dwarfs. Our special guest speaker was Alan Whitman who talked about hunting the clusters and nebulae within M33, M101, and the Large Magdelanic Cloud from the dark skies of Australia. Appreciation awards were presented to Dave Clark and Robert Duff for the fine work they did co-ordinating the many Mars star parties during last year. Harold Tutt was recognized as Member of the Year for his continued group star party activities and club support.
• On March 2 Dave McCarter and Harold Tutt provided a slide presentation with talk at Galt House private school to about 20 very attentive and astronomy aware children.
• On February 24 we held a fun observing session for the 1st Thorndale Cubs/Scouts and their parents. The skies were clear and we showed Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, the Pleiades, the orion Nebula, and several other deep sky treasures.
• On February 20 we held our monthly meeting at which Professor Martin Connors of Athabasca University talked about Earth's second natural moon and about Aurora. Martin Connors was president of London Centre from 1971 to 1973 and was presented a London Centre name badge noting his years of service.
• On February 16 Bill Gardner, Dave McCarter, Dave Clark and Mike Hanes provided an observing session and slide show and talk for the Ingersoll Nature Club. Excellent treats were served.
• At our monthly meeting on January 16 Dr. Paul Wiegert, UWO, gave a facinating talk on the Orbital Dynamics of Near Earth Asteroids, particularly when they share the same orbit as Earth.
• On January 14 Dave McCarter gave his slide show for the 1st Thorndale Scouts and Cubs at the Scout Hall in Thorndale. Afterwards a number of scouts were duct taped to the building.

2003

• On December 19 we held our Christmas Social meeting, part how to buy a telescope, part looking at Tom's new telescope in Arizona.
• On November 21, our monthly meeting, Peter Brown showed early results from an innovative stereo telescope imaging process to determine meteor trail size. Dave Clark demonstrated the variability of planet and moon orbits with his amazing Clear Skies software. We also had a huge prize draw, with many excellent prizes.
• On November 20 a number of London Centre members attended a talk by Dr. Heidi Hammel at UWO, where she talked about present and future plans for exploring the solar system in the next decade and beyond. After the talk we enjoyed meeting Dr. Hammel over refreshments.
• On November 14 London Centre members Harold Tutt, Dave McCarter, David Clark and Everett Clark were joined by Marie Fisher from Sarnia Centre at the Wallaceburg Christian School for a slide show and observing session under mostly clear skies. There was a standing room only turnout with in excess of 65 interested parents and children. Several people brought their own telescopes and Dave Clark demonstrated how to get the most out of them. When Saturn cleared the trees the gasps of awe and joy were very heart warming. The 3/4 gibbous moon received similar attention. Marie and Dave attempted to locate Comet Enkie, but were frustrated in their efforts by haze and light pollution. A reporter from the Wallaceburg News took photos of people enjoying Harold's telescope and interviewed participants.
• On November 8 a small group of London Centre members and guests gathered at Fingal to enjoy the Total Lunar Eclipse. It was neat seeing the setting sun to the south west and the rising moon to the north east. Venus was spotted low in the western sky. The skies were exceptionally clear and darkened nicely as the moon moved ever so slowly into Earth's shadow. The Milky Way stood out as if it were new moon. Pictures were taken. Shortly after totality occured some thin clouds moved in to make the sky even darker. Neil Ripley and Dave McCarter found Uranus just to the right of Mars. When the clouds completely took over the sky people packed up and headed home.
• On November 7 Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt and Bob Duff provided a slide talk and star party at the Landon Branch Library. We looked at the almost full moon, Mars, and M57 before cloud moved in.
• On November 4 Harold Tutt gave a show and tell with his telescope to the 77th Brownies & Sparks at St. Marks School.
• On November 2 we held an Observers Group Meeting at the Airport Hotel, Dundas Street E. Dave Toth drove up from Lima, Ohio for this one, and we talked about flying and airplanes, and distant star parties. Nibbles were consumed.
• On October 27 Dave McCarter and Harold Tutt presented a slide show and astronomy talk for both grade nine classes at John Paul II Secondary School.
• On October 24 the clouds parted for a few prescious hours and ten London Centre and Sarnia Centre members decended on Derek Hitchen's country estate for the Celestial Tent Fall Star Party. We looked at Mars and a few other choice deep sky objects. We attempted to find comet 2P Encke and intended to locate asteroid 1937UB Hermes and comet 2002T7 Linear, but high cloud and then thick cloud with rain intervened. We will try again!
• The star party on October 22, with rain date of Oct. 23, for Catholic Central High School Star Party at Camp Olalondo was cancelled because of heavy cloud and rain. We await a rescheduled date.
• The October 21 star party for 29th London Cubs at the Optimist Hall in Byron was cancelled due to rain. Harold Tutt gave the slide talk instead. We await a rescheduled date for the observing session.
• On October 20 we held a star party for HEARTH, a home schooling group, at the Peters Farm north of Port Burwell. About 55 Parents and children enjoyed the slide show by Dave McCarter, and the views through scopes brought by Bill Gardner, Harold Tutt, and Steve Imrie.
• On October 17 we held our most recent monthly meeting. Vincent Chan spoke about the need for Collimation, which is the process of aligning the optics in your telescope such that all the elements are pointing precisely in the proper direction. Vincent showed methods, depending on the skill of the user and tools available, for making a laser collimator from a cheap $5-15 laser pen. Upcoming events were discussed, and the annual rasc-o-cratic process resulted in the 2003-04 executive. Melanie brought her fully ground 8 inch mirror and plans to have her scope finished by Christmas.
• On October 10 London members Harold Tutt, Dave and Everett Clark, Peter Jedicke, Mike Costa, Richard Gibbens and Dave McCarter were joined by students and parents at Jeanne Sauve School for a great star party under perfect skys. One of the parents, Scott, set up his computer guided ETX telescope. At 7:10 the International Space Station made a high pass across the sky, and then people began looking at Mars, the moon, Uranus, M13, M57, and several double stars. Dave Clark used his Clear Skies software to demonstrate the orbits of planets and asteroids.
• On October 8 Harold Tutt, Steve Imrie, Richard Gibbens and Dave McCarter provided a slide talk and star party to the 92nd Cubs at the new meeting hall at Spencer Hall on Windermere Drive.
• On October 6 Dave McCarter provided a slide talk to the grade 5 students at Byron Northview Public School. The students were also able to safely view the sun and several sun spots through a filtered ETX and with unaided eye through a #14 Welders filter. The next evening under perfect skies Harold Tutt, Dave McCarter, Dave and Everett Clark were joined by many parents and the family telescope for a fun Star Party. We marveled at a fantastic pass of the I.S.S., Mars, Uranus, the moon, and numerous deep sky objects, including M31.
• On October 1st Dave and Everett Clark, Richard Gibbens, Mike Costa, Steve Imrie and Dave mcCarter provided a star party for Kensal Park Public School. We had great skies, enjoyed views of Mars, Uranus, the moon, and several satellites, including the I.S.S.
• On September 29 Dave McCarter provided a slide talk to the grade 5 students at Clara Bretton Public School. The students also viewed the sun and several sun spots through a filtered ETX. The next evening under less than perfect skies Dave set up two telescopes in the playground and students and parents viewed Mars and the moon, and a few bright stars.
• On September 19 we held our monthly meeting. We reviewed members summer observing experiences, saw images of Mars taken by members, other amateurs, and professionals. Our Guest speaker was Professor John Hatch, associate professor in the Art History section of the Faculty of Visual Arts at UWO, who discussed constellation patterns in the background of paintings by the Maxt Ernst.
• On Tuesday evening, September 9, Ingrid Hutchinson held a neighbourhood Mars star party, with Mars Bars, coffee and cookies as well as a large turnout of neighbours and their relatives! About sixty people including kids observed over the whole night. Harold Tutt was a huge help as were Chris "Moon-Man" Fleming and Richard Gibbens (to lend moral support). Steve Imrie drove up from St. Thomas to help out. Peter Jedicke was also present as were two students from Fanshawe College who taped an interview with Peter for the Broadcast Journalism Program. Ingrid received several thank you cards and emails from neighbours who were extremely delighted with the evening and the opportunity to see Mars.
• On August 30 over 3000 people visited the telescopes set up in the soccer fields at Brescia College and lined up for hours to have a high powered look through the Hume Cronyn Observatory 250mm refractor at Mars. London members. Gary Wabersich, Kelly Sibthorpe, Dave McCarter, Shawn Osterberg, Joe and Tristan O'Neil and Tristan, Ingrid Hutchinson, Eric Clinton, Peter and Dianne Jedicke, Steve Imrie. Bob Duff, Mike Costa, Dave and Everett Clark, Steve and Christie Arenburg, Steve Gauthier and Valerie Rausch, Cliff Johnson, Paul Griffiths and Bogdan Tudose, had telescopes set up in the soccer field or around the traffic circle in front of the Cronyn. The crowds continued until 2am Sunday, probably a new record for the Saturday evening Astronomy Open House. The slide talk was given six times!
• Also on August 30 about 120 campers at Lake Whitticker enjoyed views of the sliver of moon, several deep sky objects and of course Mars through the telescopes of Ron Sawyer, Bill Helps, Steve Imrie and Dave McCarter.
• On August 29 we held a Mars Public Viewing at Cherry Hill Mall, in cooperation with John McKittrick. After a slide show by Dave McCarter, and the awarding of a Mars Bar for good astronomical questions, London members Dave and Everett Clark, Peter Jedicke, Kelly Sibthorpe, Gary Hinks, Ingrid Hutchinson, Cliff Johnson, Steve Imrie, Chris Flaming, Jean ThĂ©berge, Mike Costa, Harold Tutt, Robert Duff, Steve Gautier and Valerie Rausch tried their best to provide Mars viewing in spite of the clouds. Those who stayed late, when the clouds dissipated, were not dissapointed.
• On August 28 over 450 Rondeau guests attended the Third Annual Rondeau Provincial Park Star Party, which featured a slide show, the clear night sky and London members Dave McCarter, Peter Jedicke, Mike Costa, Harold Tutt, Chris Fleming, Steve Imrie, and Shawn Osterberg set up their telescopes so that people could view many dark sky favourites and the close opposition of Mars.
• On August 27 over 1700 Pinery guests attended the Seventh Annual Pinery Provincial Park Star Party, which featured a slide show, the night sky, and of course impressive views of nearby Mars using the telescopes of London Centre members Dave McCarter, Dave and Everett Clark, Peter Jedicke, John and Darle Rousom, Kelly Sibthorpe, Cliff Johnson, Ingrid Hutchinson, Ron and Colleen Sawyer, Steve Imrie, Chris Fleming, Joan Henderson, James Collins, Mike Costa, Harold Tutt, Gary Hinks, Robert Duff, and Richard Weatherston from RASC Sarnia Centre. During the slide presentation Dave called the attention of the audience to a spot in the northern sky where an Iridium flair was expected. But first there was a nice meteor, which brought some delighted gasps, and then the flare started. It got very bright, maybe mag -6, and that brought a lot of cheering and applause. Many people stayed around until the wee hours for the very best views of Mars high in the southern sky.


• August 20~24: Thirty London members attended Starfest! You can click on the picture above for a larger version (245KB). Wednesday evening was super and the lightning Thursday night had more awe than shock. Friday and Saturday nights were almost the best on record, delivering sharp and impressive views of Mars and a whole host of deep sky objects.
• August 2&3, 20h: Despite some clouds and even rain on Sunday, the Star Gazing with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada at Quai du Vin Estate Winery event was an unqualified success. London members Dave Nopper, David Mooney, Peter and Dianne Jedicke, Jon Gunning, Mike and Donna Costa, Dave and Everett Clark, John, Bram, Faye and Nancy Bontje, Ron and Colleen Sawyer, Gary Hinks, Chris Fleming, and David Mooney set up their telescopes and tried to find stellar targets through the clouds. Everyone had a great time and we'll ceertainly plan to do it again next year.
• The General Assembly of the Royal Astronomical Society took place in Vancouver from June 27 to 30 and five London Centre members were there. Everyone had a great time and will probably talk your ear off if you let them. We crused the Vancouver harbour, toured several telescopes, slept in the Planitarium, visited Wreck Beach, listened to facinating talks, made new friends and caught up with old friends, shopped and hiked around the city and Stanley Park, and just had a great time.
• July 18, 19h: Our monthly meeting.
• At our June 20 monthly meeting Dave Clark demonstrated his astronomical demonstration software "Clear Sky", Joe O'Neil spoke about using a simple web cam with telescope adapter to do high quality astroimaging and showed some great results. Neil Ripley showed a light pollution map of South Western Ontario that he has been developing, based upon data from the Defence Meteorological Satellite Program. Dave McCarter showed several web pages where images of Mars taken by amateurs can be seen.
• On June 14, members Jon Gunning, Steve Imrie, Harold Tutt, and Dave McCarter were in St. Thomas Pinafore Park to provide a Star Party for members of Faith Baptist Church.
• On June 13, Harold Tutt and Dave McCarter provided a slide show and talk for 75 grade five and six students, their parents and teachers. The skies were cloudy so we will try for some time next week for an observing session, and for sure again in September when Mars will be available.
• On June 9 London members Dave Clark, Bob Duff, Harold Tutt and Dave McCarter set up telescopes at Kensal Park Public School for a star night. We saw the International Space Station pass by, craters on the moon, the moons and cloud bands of Jupiter, M13, M57, M62, and a number of nice stars.
• On June 1 Members John Rousom, Bob Duff, Dave McCarter, Dianne and Peter Jedicke, and Dave Nopper went on an Astronomy and Dinner Road Trip to the Theater of the Arts, University of Waterloo for the Helen Sawyer Hogg lecture. The speaker was Michael Shara from the American Museum of Natural History, and he spoke about Stellar Promiscuity and Destruction. Stars collide with interesting results in the cramped confines of Globular Clusters. We also met other amateur and professional astronomers from across Canada.
• On May 30 London Center members Bob Duff, Harold Tutt, Peter Jedicke, Steve Imrie, Gary Hinks, George Leatherdale and Dave McCarter provided a slide talk to members of the Sunrise Baptist Church on Clarke Road. Clouds prevented us from using our telescopes.
• On May 24 we held our Annual Banquet at the 7 Dwarfs. David Clark was acclaimed Member of the Year, John Appleyard received the Observer of the Year award, and it was announced that Dave McCarter will be receiving the RASC Service Metal at this year's General Assembly.
• On May 16 we held our most recent meeting. Some members had the good fortune to observe part of the lunar eclipse. We enjoyed an old '50s sci fi movie about a nuclear powered rocket trip to the moon. The special effects were enjoyable, as was the view back in time to the semi-scientific understanding of the problems of space travel and geology of the moon.
• On May 15, the night of the Lunar Eclipse, cloud and rain spoiled the skies all across Ontario. Rasc members on the east coast report seeing the ruddy moon through clear skies. London Center member Gary Hinks, who lives north of the city, said "I saw a fuzzy glimpse of totality at around 11:45 pm for a few minutes. Just enough to see that the moon as expected was brighter on top and darker down below. This was about as good as the last (lunar) eclipse in January (2000) when I saw a glimpse through the snow flurries. Typical astronomers luck!!! Anyway I did see it for a few minutes with binocs-I guess better than nothing." Yup. He's got that right!
• On May 14 London Centre members provided a star party to students, parents and teachers at John Paul II High School. Bob Duff and Chris Flemming set up their 20.3cm Dobsonian telescopes while Dave McCarter, Peter Jedicke and Steve Gauthier shared the lifting duties to place Twilight, the club's massive Meade DS16 40cm Newtonian telescope, on it's large equatorial mount. We began with the almost full moon, moved over to brilliant Jupiter, where we found a moon shadow transit in progress, and then Saturn. Several students independantly spotted Saturn's moon Titan. Then we located M13 which was faint and difficult in the heavy moonlight. A good time had by all.
• On May 12 Bob Duff and Dave McCarter delivered 15 copies of The Backyard Astronomers Guide to the London Public Library, and one copy each to the St. Thomas Public Library and to the Strathroy Public Library. Books have also been donated to the Public Libraries in St. Mary's, Stratford, and Woodstock. These excellent introductions to amateur astronomy were donated thanks to the generosity of London Centre members in memory of Mark St. George. The dedication placed in each book for London Public Library is here.
• On May 3 fifteen London Centre members and two Sarnia Centre members star partied at the home of Derek Hitchens, near Alvinston. We enjoyed late season views of Saturn, watched a moon transit and shadow transit of Jupiter, hunted down messier objects, dark Nebula, the asteroid Vesta, and tried astrophotography. Harold Tutt completed his Messier List by identifying all the Messiers in the Vergo Cluster, and Dave Clark knocked off galaxies in Leo. Early in the morning Derek and Dave located faint Pluto in Derek's 40cm scope, and viewed the tiny poorly resolved disk of Mars. Derek is already talking about a fall star party.
• On April 26 from 9h to 17h several RASC members worked with John McKittrick to put on a mall display at Cherry Hill Village Mall. Harold and Kelly set up scopes outside and provided amazing views of solar sun spots. Our main display of telescopes, photographs and slides were once again in front of the photo/scope store, and we had a lot of interest.
• Our April meeting was delayed one week to the 25th, due to Easter Friday. Steve Barnes of Sky Optics in Burlington showed slides and video of his trip to Australlia to see the December '02 Solar Eclipse. He was fortunate enough to visit an amazing amateur observatory in Adelaide and talked about Astronomy Down Under.
• On March 21 our monthly meeting was on "Drawing at the Eyepiece". John Appleyard showed and described his use of observing logs, and announced that he has finished his Messier List. John has observed all of the planetaries in the Finest NGC List and is working on the Hershell 400 List with his 20 inch Obsession. Chris Flemming discussed other observing lists and record forms that are available on the RASC web site and encouraged members to make observations that may have some scientific value. Bob Duff discussed the evolution of his observing records, from early note books, later observing forms, and his current computer records. Faye Bontji displayed and discussed her wonderful astronomically inspired watercolours, and had her audience in awe. Most paintings were readily identifiable and astronomically accurate. After the break members had the opportunity to try their pencils with several projected images. Mars was particularly popular. Michael Costa showed slides of his visit to Palomar Mountain, and his great fortune to have a tour inside the dome. After the meeting members dined at Kelsies.
• On February 21 RASC President Rajiv Gupta gave a talk on "Composite Digital Techniques for High-Resolution Astrophotography with Film". Astrophotography is one of the more challenging branches of amateur astronomy, because the objects being photographed are so faint. The best deep-sky images now being produced are composites, formed by combining two or more individual exposures into a single image and Rajiv showed how easy it is to do this in real time using Rajiv's own "Registar". The images he showed were stunning in their beauty. After the meeting 36 members had a great time at a local eatery.
• At our monthly meeting on January 17, Robert Jedicke of the Spacewatch Institute discussed the ongoing search for large Earth Crossing and possibly Earth Impacting asteroids and comets. Tom Glenos showed some video and slides of his November trip to David Levy's backyard in Tuson Az. to observe the Leonids. They enjoyed clear skies and lots of meteors. Steve Arrenburg presented a passionate and mathematical proof that astronauts really did visit the moon before computer graphics made everything possible.
• The London Children's Museum held a star night on Friday, January 10. Since the museum caters to families and closes at 20h, it is very difficult for them to hold astronomy events in the summer, when the sun is still 20degrees above the horizon! January is the most favourable month for them -- notwithstanding the weather prospects. So Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt, Bob Duff and Peter Jedicke were there in the snowsqualls. Dave showed some slides to the three families who showed up. Then, miraculously, about 19h15 a report reached us that it was clear out. Imagine that! This only happened because Bob, Harold and Peter did not bring their telescopes. The Sky Gods saw that we were unprepared and surprised us with clear skies. But the Sky Gods had not reckoned with Dave's intrepid little ETX, which Dave set up on a patio table in "Janet's Garden" beside the museum. We just had time to show some folks the moon -- with the beautiful craters along the terminator -- and Saturn's rings before the snowsqualls closed up over us again. The museum staff was thrilled. The four intrepid promoters of astronomy retired to a nearby establishment for continuing discussion.

2002

• We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mark St. George on December 16 in Leamington. Mark was an accomplished observer, astronomy promoter, and Amateur Telescope Maker. He represented London Centre as National Representitive, edited the Centres newletter, and took an active part in London Centre activities. He will be missed.
• December 20, 19h: Our monthly meeting was held at Fanshawe College. We learned a lot about the equipment required to set up and begin doing CCD astrophotography from Steve Gauthier, Bill Gardner, and Jon Gunning. They had the technology right there and it was very hands on. Examples of astroimaging were shown, including the excellent examples at Robert Gendler's Astroimaging Gallery, which is well worth a visit. Peter Jedicke showed a didital video of the Leonid meteor shower, shot by Margaret Campbell and Gil Esquardo near Decator Illinois. We also had a fantastic Christmas raffle. Don MacKenzie won the telescope, five eyepieces and sky guide donated by Joe O'Neil of O'Neil Optical, the 12x50 binoculars donated by the centre were won by guest Rod Harle, Dave McCarter won the 7x50 binoculars, Steve Arrenburg won the heater controller donated by Dave McCarter, Valerie's scarfs were won by Ross Blakey and Randy Hentz. The venison pepperettes donated by Randy Hentz were won by Valerie Rausch and John Bontje.
• On November 23 London Centre member and renowned meteor expert Dr. Peter Brown was interviewed by Quirks and Quarks host Bob McDonald about his current paper in "Nature" regarding the flux of large meteor impacts impacting the earth. You can hear the whole interview here on the CBC website.
• On November 18 members of London Centre tried their best to observe the Leonid Meteor shower, which was predicted to storm to a ZHR of over 2000 per hour, with plenty of bright fireballs. Harold Tutt, Chris Flemming, Doug Stewart and Dave McCarter drove to Casselman in far eastern Ontario to find clear skies. The first peak was predicted to occur at 23h Monday evening and the group of four stopped just north of Belleville to see if there would be any earth grazers shooting from east to west. None were seen through thin haze. They drove on, stopping in Kingston for gas and food, and arrived in the desired area at 3:30am. By 4:00am they were set up by a microwave tower. They typically saw 12 to 15 bright meteors every half hour until 5:00, when the clouds just got so thick that nothing could be seen. Here are two meteors photographed that morning. Image one is very close to the radiant, and the stars of Leo's head and the planet Jupiter can be seen. The amazing thing about Image two is that it was taken looking south west with a 20mm f2.8 lens, and nobody saw it happen in real time. We were all looking in other directions!
• Meanwhile, Gil Esquardo and Margrett Campbell drove west down the 401, past the border and on to just north of Decatur, Illinois. The skies cleared about 3 hours before the morning peak and two low light television systems and one Very Low Frequency Radio experiment were set up and recording right through dawn. Peak visual rates were around 10 to 15 meteors per minute, and the full moon and some local haze diminished the show to a great extent. The low light video camera performed extremely well as the tape shows intervals when as many as 60 meteors are visible each minute! This rate seems to last for about 20 mins, before there is a serious trailing off in the peak rate. In the one hour tape centered about maximum there may be more then 500 meteors total. This is remarkable given the conditions including haze, moonlight and light pollution. Way to go, team!
• On November 15, at our monthly meeting we discussed observing the Leonid meteor shower, Where to be, what to do, how far to drive to avoid clouds. Dan Falk, science writer and amateur astronomer, talked about his new book, "The Universe on a T-Shirt". After a lengthy Q&A we continued the discussions at Kelsies.
• Clouds prevented the Celestial Tent Star Party which was to be held on November 1 and 2 at the country home of Derek Hitchens. We will be planning a spring observing event for the March- April period, so stay tuned!
• On October 18, at our monthly meeting astronomical historian Peter Broughton spoke about the signifigance of the Wales & Dymond expedition to view the transit of Venus at Churchill. An update of progress towards an observatory at Fingal and Granton was given, and recent data on the next showing of the Leonids was shown. The "election" of executive took place for the coming year.
• On October 11, seventeen members of London Centre proved their optimism by setting up telescopes under dark cloud for the Stars and Steaks Star Party at Fingal Wildlife Management Area for members of the Elgin Stewardship Council, their families, and neighbours interested in seeing what we observe while at Fingal. A total of 50 people were in attendance. Cliff Johnson put his cub leader experience to use by tending the BBQ, flipping burgers and rolling hot dogs. Dave Rubenhagen also got his BBQ hot and prepared burgers. Everyone had their fill, but found room for the cookies that Peter Jedicke and Valerie Rausch had made. The evening was a great socal success, and everyone had a chance to see the moon peeking through the clouds. We hope that our neighbours will visit us again when the skies are more co-operative!
• On October 5 the skies cleared and 12 observers desended upon the Fingal Pad to observe and chat. The evening was a great success
• At our September 20 monthly meeting at Fanshawe College it was member night, reviewing the activities held over the summer, greeting new guests, and viewing slides of the night sky taken by Dave Rubenhagen with his home made motor driven polar mount and massive zoom lens.
• On September 19 Dave McCarter gave the slide show and talk "Introduction to the Milky Way" to the West Elgin Nature Lovers Club in West Lorne.
• On September 14 Harold Tutt tried to provide a star party for the 43rd London Beavers at the Fanshawe Conservation area. Cloud permitted a few quick views of the moon, and thunder storms ended the evening. Next time!
• Every Saturday Evening from June 1 through August 31 the Professors and Students of the Physics and Astronomy Dept at UWO opened the Cronyn Observatory, located next to Alumni Hall, and provided the public with a slide show and astronomy talk, and views through the 254mm refracting telescope. The views of Venus at over 600 power were marvelous. London Centre members set up their personal telescopes on the observing patio and on the lawn behind Alumni Hall to show visitors the stars, star clusters, nebula, the International Space Station, and of course the moon. Members taking part were: Brian Billing, Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt, Chris Fleming, Dave Clark, Kelly Sibthorpe, George Leatherdale, Steve Imire, Stan Podeszwa, Jeff Harrison, Dennis Craven, Steve Gauthier, Valerie Rausch, Richard Gibbons, Peter Jedicke, Gary Irwin, Robert Duff, Dave Toth, and Eric Clinton.
• On August 22 Dave McCarter gave the "Introduction to the Milky Way" slide show and talk to 450 campers and park staff at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. While the full moon hid some of the splendor of the Milky Way, it made finding the constellations easier. The bright deep sky objects like M13, M31, M57 and M27 were easily found in the Park's new 60mm spotting scope.
• On August 17 Harold Tutt, Dave and Everett Clark and Dave McCarter waited out the weather at the Fingal pad, including light rain and a small thunder storm, to spot the speeding asteroid 2002 NY40 fly closely past Earth. The faint moving dot of light, about ninth magnitude, was first picked up well after midnight moving from Lyra towards Hercules. It was tracked for several hours speeding along at 8 degrees per hour until it was lost in cloud low in the western sky.
• London members Harold tutt, Chris Flemming, Glen Spooner and Dave McCarter set up their telescopes on August 13 for the second annual Rondeau Provincial Park slide show and star party. The attendance of 200 campers was down a bit from last year due to the clouds and hazy skies, but the slide show went well and everyone still had a good look at deep sky showpieces.
• On August 11 London Centre members John, Nancy, Bram, and Faye Bontji, Kelly Sibthorpe, Ingrid Hutchinson, Harold Tutt, Dave and Everett Clark, Chris Flemming, Valerie Rausch, Steve Gauthier, and Dave McCarter provided the fifth annual Pinery Provincial Park slide show and star party. The attendance was in excess of 900 people, and everyone had a great time. We saw numerous Perseid meteors, a bright pass of the International Space Station, and many parts of the Milky Way. We will be there again next year!
• Over 35 London Centre members attended the highly successful Starfest Convention, held at River Place Campground, north of Mount Forest. With a record 1200 astronomy enthusiasts in attendance, Starfest is Canada's largest annual observing convention. This year the skies were clear and transparent from Tuesday to Sunday, leading to excessive sleep deprivation and wide smiles.
• On August 7 London Centre members Ingrid Hutchinson, Kelly Sibthorpe, Harold Tutt and Dave McCarter introduced a large group of 4H students to the night sky on the grounds of Ridgetown Agricultural College.
• At our meeting on July 19 John Appleyard spoke about his recent observing success, with many supportive comments from the audience about how awesome the views were of familiar and new deep space objects. John and Bram Bontji assembled their new home made 40cm telescope and showed their improvements to the basic Dob design so that the scope will fit in a compact car. We'll post pictures here as soon as possible. Chris Flemming, Dave Rubenhagen and Dave McCarter, assisted by other experienced observers in the audience, showed wide angle colour slides of the entire summer night sky and described what to observe and where to find it. Amazingly, many of our favourite objects, like the Dumbell Nebula, the Veil Nebula, the North American Nebula, M16, M17, M22, the Coathanger, and many others could be seen directly in the slides. Chris distributed a comprehensive list of observing targets for the summer observer. Afterwards we went to Kelsies where discussion continued.
• On July 15 Dave McCarter and Harold Tutt set up their telescopes at Lake Whiticker Conservation Area to provide a view of the night sky to campers and picnickers. The skies were nicely clear wiht the moon approaching first quarter. We started with brilliant Venus in the western sky. Many of the picnickers spoke Spanish, so Harold and Dave learned a few new words, like "Magnificanto", "el luna" and "Awesome!", which come to think of it, might have been English!
• On July 10 Harold Tutt, Steve and Christy Arenburg and Dave McCarter set up scopes and binoculars at the South Huron Dictrict High School in Exeter, to provide London Centre member and teacher George McEwan's Summer Space Camp students and their parents access to the night sky.
• At our meeting on June 21 some slides were shown of the recent planetary conjunction and the partial solar eclipse. Our Guest of Honour was Dr. Martin Beech, a former London Centre member who is now a faculty member at University of Regina. Martin discussed the history and development of 20th century astronomy, as portrayed in his extensive collection of trade, cigarette and bubblegum cards.
• On June 10 London Centre members Harold Tutt, Gary Irwin and family, Ingrid Hutchinson, Kelly Sibthorpe, Joe O'Neil and son Tristan, Shawn and Sherry Osterburg and Dave McCarter set up telescopes and cameras on the beach at Grand Bend, Ont. to observe the partial solar eclipse, which began with first contact at 20:30. Dave Clark set up roadside just north of Greenway on Highway 81. At first the use of solar filters was necessary to reduce the suns brilliance to safe levels. As the sun went down it entered dense atmospheric haze and could be viewed with ease and safety, even through telescopes. Seagulls soaring above the lake frequently crossed the sun, and both Shawn and Dave tried to time their photographs of the partly eclipsed sun to include the gulls. Their slides will probably be shown at the next meeting.
• On June 6 London Centre members Harold Tutt, Gary Irwin, Dave Clark, Peter Jedicke, Ingred Hutchinson, Kelly Sibthorpe, Joe O'Neil, and Dave McCarter provided a star party to the Port Stanley Public School grade six students, their teachers and parents. Click on the link for the full report with pictures!
• On June 1 London Centre members Harold Tutt and Dave McCarter were at Fanshawe Lake Conservation Area to provide a star orientation for the London 74th Beaver group and their parents. Unfortunately the cold front forcast for much later that night was much too early and the event will be rescheduled for the fall.
• On May 28 London Centre members Peter Jedicke, John and Darle Rousom, Dave McCarter and Bob Duff had a sneak preview of the "Reach for the Stars" exhibit at the London Regional Children's Museum. The "My Place In Space" Gallery is very impressive and the little children had a great time. The star dome is very well set up and we were treated to a taste of what it can do. A very good representation of the night sky, and what a great way to learn the constellations! Of particular note is the extensive use of computers and video in the interactive displays. A 1-meter plasma screen video display is permanently tuned to NASA Select, and we were treated to views of the earth from space. That will be the place to watch launches and further spacewalks on the ISS. The Museum is located at 21 Wharncliffe Road South and is open to children of all ages.
• On May 27 London Centre President Dave McCarter appeared on the Rodgers Cable show "Daytime" with IMAX Manager Voytek Michalczyk to help promote the IMAX film Space Station.
• On May 24 about twenty London Centre members attended the opening of the IMAX film Space Station which began its all summer visit to the London IMAX theater, Western Fair Grounds. After the film Steve Gauthier, Chris Flemming and Dave McCarter set up telescopes and showed other attendees the moons of Jupiter, Venus, and the moon.
• On May 23 London Center executive members Bob Duff, Chris Flemming, Harold Tutt and Dave McCarter attended the press screening of the IMAX film Space Station. Dave McCarter provided an introduction to the film, and answered questions. A listing of easily visible passes for the next ten days was provided to the audience. After the film these members were joined by Dave Clark, Steve Gauthier, and Valery Rauch as everyone set up their telescopes to provide the appreciative audience views of Jupiter, Venus and the Moon.
• On May 22 London Members Gary Irwin, Dave McCarter, Velery Rauch and Steve Gauthier drove down to Hawk Cliff (42d 39.807'N 81d 10.209'W) to attempt to observe the large Globular Cluster Omega Centauri, which at -47d 29' dec. just skimmed the southern horizon at 22:50EDT. Dave and Steve currently hold the uncontested record for most northerly sighting, from a lakeside site at Eagle, at 42d 32.695'N. The conditions must be absolutely perfect for such difficult observations, and while the atmosphere was close to perfect that night, moonlight scattering off the water vapor normally present in the atmosphere hid the feeble glow of the Globular Cluster. We'll try again when conditions permit!
• At our meeting on May 17, Shuttle Flight Trainer J.A. "Triple" Nickel reprised his briefing from the 2001 General Assembly on "Flying With The Space Shuttle Astronauts". After a fantastic meeting we adjourned to Kelsey's on Oxford St. for the 3 F's; food, fun, and friendship!
• On May 15 nine London Centre members travelled to "The Colossus" in Toronto to see the IMAX "Space Station" film in 3D. We met up with Karen Kahn and "Tripple" Nickel at the theater, which was a complete surprise to him. The film was stupendus, even though there was a ten minute break due to a power failure. This film is a must see for anyone who professes an interest in space and astronomy!
• On May 10 the London Centre and Derek Hitchens held a highly successful springtime star party at Derek's ranch north east of Alvinston. There were plenty of scopes and astronomers from London and Sarnia Centres to enjoy the clear, cool night. Comet Ikeya-Zhang was looking good, as was the close conjunction of Mars and Venus. We enjoyed the many galaxies in Vergo, Leo and Ursa Major, planetary nebluas and dark nebulas in the milky way, and a few bright satellite passes.
• On May 10 London Centre members Peter Jedicke, Dave McCarter, Harold Tutt and Bob Duff presented astronomy and telescope making to public and high school students at the SLOME Skills, Science and Technology fair at the Western Fair Grounds. Students, Teachers and Parents were particularly interested in the mirror grinding demonstration, and many tried their hand at pushing glass.
• On May 3 London Centre members observed the launch of the Spot 5 satellite. Here is what Observing Chair Chris Fleming had to say about the event. "The Ariane Launch was seen very nicely from the London Centre's dark sky observing site at the Fingal Wildlife Reserve. Sharp-eyed observers first picked it up in binoculars and soon after we were all scrambling to find it. A significant plume of smoke could be seen along its path, indicating a booster stage had ignited. The smoke disappeared soon after, so it could not have been a cloud. The rocket was seen visually and with binoculars but the best view was through John Appleyard's 25cm dobsonian. John was kind enough to let many of us share the view as we tracked it across the sky. Through the scope we could clearly see the outline of the rocket and the bright fireball shooting out from it. This was a spectacular way to observe this event and I would recommend to anyone that has a dobsonian telescope to have it ready to go if there is another launch of this type. Make sure that your Telrad or finder is accurately aligned and that you have a low power wide field eyepiece installed, focussed and ready to go. I observed the Mir space station this way several years ago with my 32 cm and I could actually see the shape of the station quite well."
• On International Astronomy Day, Saturday April 20, London Centre members David McCarter, Harold Tutt, Steve Gauthier, Bob Duff, Steve Imrie, Peter Jedicke, Karen Khan, Chris Fleming, John Rousom, Kelly Sibthorpe and Miroslav Komorous put on a mall display in front of McKittrick's Photo in the Cherryhill Mall. Click here for a full report with photos.
• We also held star nights at Kensal Park School on April 16, Byron Optimist Sports Complex on April 17, and for Faith Baptist Church at Pinafore Park in St. Thomas on April 20.