Tag Archives: Solar Eclipse

Astronomy News

Clear Sky for Monday’s Eclipse

 Yes! Clear sky and mild temperature for viewing the eclipse.

How to view the eclipse in the Montreal area

Download the app: Developed by Quebec Federation of Amateur Astronomers (FAAQ), this app will give you information related to where you are standing. Also, it is good for years to come. While we won’t see another eclipse in Montreal in our lifetimes, they are fairly common and who knows? You might catch the bug and start chasing shadows. https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-app-helps-amateur-astronomers-watch-the-eclipse-1.6834789

There are two major hubs of activity for viewers in the Montreal area if you are ok with crowds.

Parc Jean-Dapeau  : Plan to get there early, the Metro is expected to be crowded. Free eclipse glasses will be distributed to the first 150 000 arrivals.

Montreal Science Centre :The Science Centre in collaboration with Cirque du Soleil will distribute 20,000 free pairs of eclipse glasses.

Watch to music: The OSM has a playlist on Spotify.  Click start right at 2:14 for best listening experience!

There is a small margin of error in the maps along the edges of the path of totality. Try to be closer to the centre, you wouldn’t want to miss this event by being a block too far away! If you are willing to travel, the best viewing, ie longest duration of totality, will be in the Eastern Townships.

Timing for the total solar eclipse in Montreal:

  • Eclipse begins: 2:14 p.m.
  • Total solar eclipse: 3:27 p.m.
  • Eclipse ends: 4:36 p.m.

What to watch for:

  • Just before totality, you may see ripples of light on the ground.These are the “shadow bands”.
  • Plants that close in the dark, such at the prayer plant or dandelions if any are out yet.
  • Pets may react strangely.(or they may be reacting to our strange behaviour!)
  • Colours, especially reds and blues, may look darker or brighter.
  • A drop in temperature
  • For a bit of fun, use a colander to view multiple little eclipses on the ground or project them onto a wall.
  • Shadows will appear sharper.
  • 360 degree sunset
  • Brightest stars, as well as Jupiter and Venus. Venus will be the brighter one.

Keep your glasses! The sun is approaching maximum, there are often sunspots you can see with your eclipse glasses. Just make sure to keep them in pristine condition and always check for scratches or pinholes.

Astronomy News, Guest Appearance

Guest speakers at our January 13 meeting!

MonSFFA is excited to host guest speakers from the RASC  David Shuman and Paul Simard.
In April of 2024, weather permitting, Montreal will experience one of the most exciting astronomical events–a total solar eclipse!

We have invited David Shuman and Paul Simard to talk about their adventures chasing shadows. They will also explain how best to safely view the eclipse. We will also get to watch their mini-documentary, “Shadowchasers”.

David, a graphic designer by trade & avid amateur astronomer and photographer,  is a longstanding member and Board member of the RASC Montreal Centre.

He has had many experiences from NASA press credentials, photographing the Space Shuttle in 1994, to visiting the Keck, Gemini & Subaru telescopes in 2001.

My fascination with spaceflight has also allowed me to witness several unmanned launches from KSC in Florida to extensive knowledge of spaceflight & launch vehicles.

Along wih Paul Simard, he is co-creator of the Eclipse mini-documentary “Shadowchasers: The Great American Total Solar Eclipse” in 2017 shown at the 2019 RASC AGM.

Dave and Paul have given numerous public talks & 3-D film presentations at NEAF & in California.

Long time members will remember their previous presentations at Con*Cept and MonSFFA.

Astronomy News

Watch Indonesia’s Total Solar Eclipse Live!

From Sky and Telescope website:

Exploratorium Webcast: The staff of San Francisco’s Exploratorium is collaborating with NASA and the National Science Foundation to produce a live broadcast of the total solar eclipse. They’ve sent a production crew thousands of miles by plane and by boat to Woleai, Micronesia. (You can read the expedition’s blogs here.) You can watch a 3¼-hour-long telescope feed beginning on the 8th at 4:00 p.m. PST (7:00 p.m. EST, 0:00 Universal Time on the 9th), and narrated webcast beginning an hour later.

Slooh Webcast: The Slooh online observatory has also dispatched astronomer Paul Cox on a wild expedition to the remote countryside of Indonesia to webcast the eclipse. His 3-hour-long livestream begins on the 8th at 3:00 p.m. PST (6:00 p.m. EST, 23:00 UT). Cox will be joined during the event by Slooh astronomer and veteran astronomy writer Bob Berman.

Many eclipse-chasers are making the long journey to see the event firsthand. In addition to a congregation in Ternate, at least six cruise ships and two aircraft will moving into position. Another group is setting up on Woleai Atoll in Micronesia, which is closest to the location where the eclipse will be greatest (predicted to be 4 minutes 9 seconds long at 1:57 Universal Time).

– See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/watch-the-total-solar-eclipse-live-030420165/

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