The Peterborough Astronomical Association will hold its regular monthly meeting, which take place on the first Friday of the month, on March 1st. The meeting location is the Rotary Education Centre/Guest Services Building, Riverview Park Zoo, Peterborough.
The PAA is again presenting the “Novice Astronomy Classes”. This year the classes are focused on the practical aspects of learning astronomy. They will introduce you to equipment, software and many other astronomy related subjects at a very basic level. You will get hands on with equipment and learn to use it and other tools of astronomy. This month's session will be presented by Brian Colville and cover the basics of observing the objects in our solar system, including the brighter planets, moon, meteors, comets and aurora. He will also go over basic ‘safe’ solar observing as well. Later in the season, we will have a self-paced course on Viewing the Moon. Those interested, should be at the above mentioned meeting location by 6:00 p.m. The classes will run 45 minutes each session, before our regular meetings.
Before the main presentation, we will look at the “Sky This Month”. Be informed about the locations of the planets of the solar system and what is happening in the sky above us for the month to come.
Our presentation for March will start shortly after 7:00 p.m. and features club member Rick Stankiewicz, taking everyone on a guided Tour of The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO), near Penticton , B.C. This is one of Canada’s premier radio observatory sites and Rick will share his photographs and experience touring this site last October. You don’t want to miss this personalize tour that includes Canada’s largest and newest radio telescope installations. The cutting edge research Canada is noted for, is showcased at this facility and you will see many examples of astronomical history during this presentation.
There will also be the usual opportunities to come and check out the PAA and all it has to offer, at no cost. This is an all ages meeting and the venue is barrier free. Also, you don’t need a telescope to belong, but a curious mind helps
