Yukon Astronomical Society

There are TWO eclipses this month: a solar eclipse the morning of August 12th, and a lunar eclipse the evening of August 27th. The regular meeting on Monday evening we will talk about how eclipses work and how to (safely) view them. Remember: do not look at the sun without adequate protection.

Regular meeting: Monday, August 10, 6:30pm at CPAWS Yukon (301 Hawkins Street).
Solar eclipse: Wednesday, August 12, 8:40 to 10:14am. Maximum eclipse at 9:26am.
Lunar eclipse: Thursday, August 27, 9:09pm (moonrise) to 12:01am. Maximum eclipse at 9:14pm.
(Eclipse information from timeanddate.com)

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At our regular meeting on Monday (July 20) we will be discussing planning for YAS, including what we should prioritize during our summer work party and what we would like to do for the star party in late August. We will also look at future plans for events and the observatory more generally.

Date: July 20
Time: 6:30pm
Location: CPAWS Yukon (301 Hawkins St, #101).

Hey Everyone! Our next regular meeting will feature Lori Walton talking on "Recent Developments in SETI - the Scientific Search for Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life in the Universe". Monday, May 25th, starting at 6:30pm at a new venue for us: the CPAWS Yukon board room (301 Hawkins St).

One of Yukon Astronomical Society's early successes back in late 2016 was to get ATCO to agree to adopt lower-impact LED roadway lighting:

The Streetlight Blues “I used to stand at my son’s bedroom window, when he was two or three, and look northward to see stars,” says Forest Pearson, a resident of downtown

At our next regular meeting Kipp Cannon will discuss "Listening to Space: the Unusual but Familiar World of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy."

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When masses are accelerated, a wave of gravity, of space time distortion, is created. The wave moves away from the sources through the Universe at the speed of light, just like an electromagnetic wave generated by an antenna, and a very sensitive strain meter can detect the warping of space as the gravitational wave passes by. And so, by building what is essentially an extraordinarily sensitive microphone we find that we can hear black holes colliding far away in the Universe. This is gravitational-wave astronomy: instead of looking, we listen.

I'll speak about the history of gravitational-wave astronomy, about the various antennas we use today and the facilities being constructed for the future. I'll talk about some of the discoveries that have been made already, and what future discoveries to listen for as we search farther out into the Universe.
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April 27, 6:30pm at the Whitehorse Public Library.

Our next regular meeting will be this THURSDAY, March 26, 6:30pm at the Whitehorse Public Library. Christa will give a behind the scenes tour of the planetarium software Open Space.

Since there will be clear skies tonight, we have decided to host another Night at the Observatory! It will be tonight, March 2, at 8pm.

Next at the Observatory:

Saturday, February 21: Observers Night. For observers to come do some observing (or to chat about observing if the weather is not cooperative). You are expected to be an observer (learning or advanced). This is not a public open night. Start time 8pm.

Monday, February 23: Night at the Observatory. This is a public open night for night sky observing. Everyone is welcome. Bring your own telescope or binoculars, or learn how to use one of ours. Start time 8pm.

Join us on THURSDAY February 19th at the Whitehorse Public Library at 6:30pm for our next regular meeting. Dr Matt Russo will talk to us about Music of the Cosmos: From musical solar systems to screaming black holes, Matt Russo’s sonic exploration of the cosmos will open your ears to the rhythms and harmonies to be found in the depths of space. Matt will share the story of how his passions for music and astronomy led to an exciting career of creating data sonifications for NASA. You’ll learn how sound can be used to connect people to the wonders of space and to each other.