Regrettably, MonSFFA’s Website began experiencing numerous intermittent disruptions on the very day of our January 2024 meeting, Saturday, the 13th!

The site went down for much of that morning, preventing us from posting material related to our meeting, as is our custom. Only one post was put up before the site went down for a good stretch, effectively disrupting the online part of the meeting. Fortunately, we were still able to live-stream proceedings on ZOOM for our online participants.

Note that we have posted, below, some of the links and information on solar eclipses that our two guest speakers had on hand at the meeting, including this map of the Montreal area showing the path of the solar eclipse expected on April 8 of this year—scroll down for more related information.

As for the Website disruptions, we initially speculated that the problem might be connected to local power failures, or the far-reaching winter storm blanketing Ontario, Quebec, and the Eastern U.S. that day. But the disruptions have continued since, and the issue has not yet been resolved.

If you are reading this, obviously the site is up and running, but we caution that it may well go down again at any moment! If it does, try again in 20 minutes.

In the meantime, we have contacted the appropriate technical support services to report the problem so that a remedy may be found and implemented as soon as possible. We eagerly await word, and a return to normal functionality!

Astronomy specialists David Shuman and Paul Simard guested at our January meeting, presenting their documentary short, “Shadowchasers.” If you missed the meeting, find the film here:

https://vimeo.com/340109017

Here are links to other resources that our guests recommended. Astronomy sites will be updating as the April solar eclipse date draws near.

https://rascmontreal.org

https://www.rasc.ca

https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse-simulator/2024/1504?elevation=47

Safe, approved solar-eclipse viewing glasses may be purchased at these sites:

EclipseGlasses:

https://www.eclipseglasses.com/collections/eclipse-glasses-stock

Daystar:

https://www.daystarfilters.com/glasses/Glasses.shtml

Rainbow Symphony:

https://www.rainbowsymphony.com/collections/eclipse-glasses-safe-solar-viewers

Here, also, is a NASA link showing how to build a safe pinhole viewer:

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/

Eclipse glasses may also be found at astronomy stores in our region:

LA MAISON D’ASTRONOMIE (Montréal)

ASTRONOMY PLUS (Longueuil)

DAVID ASTRO (Boucherville)

1) INTRODUCTION

We’ll open 2024’s programming on the topic of the upcoming solar eclipse in April!

Welcome to both those present here in our meeting hall, and those participating from home via ZOOM!

If all has gone well, our ZOOM participants are now viewing a live-stream of MonSFFA’s January 2024 Meeting. As previously stated, it is our aim to live-stream all or most club meetings, thereby creating hybrid events in which participation may take place both in-person and virtually.

This afternoon’s proceedings are shortly to get underway. Those of you joining us online may follow along, and participate, by way of our ZOOM-chat.

This is our first meeting of the New Year and we’re kicking off with not one, but two special guest speakers, the RASC’s David Shuman and Paul Simard, who will provide their expertise on solar eclipses, and tell of their many adventures “chasing shadows.” As an added bonus, they’ll host a screening of their documentary short, “Shadowchasers”!

We will also hold our AGM and Executive-Committee Elections this afternoon. And, we’ll continue where we left off in November with Part II of our presentation on Air Shows and Aviation Museums, tapping into the aviation industry, which often inspired early SF and made aviation fans, too, of many sci-fi devotees!

Today’s programming agenda will begin at 1:00PM (next post); those online are invited to connect via ZOOM now…

2) JOIN THIS AFTERNOON’S VIDEO-CHAT ZOOM!

To join our ZOOM video-chat, which will run throughout the next few hours, simply click here and follow the prompts: This Afternoon’s MonSFFA e-Meeting on ZOOM

If you’re not fully equipped to ZOOM, you can also take part by phone (voice only); in the Montreal area, the toll-free number to call is: 1-438-809-7799. From out of town? No problem; find your ZOOM call-in number here: Call-In Numbers

Also, have this information on hand as you may be asked to enter it:

Meeting ID: 838 2459 4309
Passcode: 761217

3) TODAY’S AGENDA

1:00PM: Guest Speakers David Shuman and Paul Simard on the Upcoming Solar Eclipse, plus a Screening of their Documentary Short, “Shadowchasers” 

3:00PM: Break; AGM and Club Elections

3:30PM: Air Shows and Aviation Museums, Continued

4:45PM: Wrap-Up, Sign-Off, and Clean-Up

Please note that, while we strive to keep on schedule, we do, sometimes, fall behind a little, or find ourselves having to reshuffle the order of items on the agenda. Please also note that all programming is subject to change!

On April 8, 2024, weather permitting, Montreal will witness one of the most exciting events on the astronomical calendar—a total solar eclipse!

We open 2024’s programming joined by two special guest speakers, plus a screening of their documentary short, “Shadowchasers”!

MonSFFA has invited astronomy enthusiasts David Shuman and Paul Simard to speak on the upcoming eclipse, and of their many adventures chasing shadows. Safety when viewing a solar eclipse will be covered, and David and Paul will screen their 2017 documentary short “Shadowchasers: The Great American Total Solar Eclipse,” which was presented at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s 2019 AGM.

David, a graphic designer by trade, is an avid amateur astronomer and photographer, and has been a long-standing member and board member of the RASC’s Montreal chapter. His fascination with, and extensive knowledge of spaceflight and launch vehicles has seen him travel several times to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the launch of unmanned spacecraft. He has held NASA press credentials and in 1994, photographed the Space Shuttle. In 2001, he visited the Keck, Gemini, and Subaru telescopes in Hawaii.

Paul, who has been passionate about astronomy for some 30 years, has also developed an interest in video-editing over more than a decade. Combining these two specialties, he seeks to educate and help people appreciate the night sky, and universe in which we all live.

David and Paul have teamed up on numerous passion projects, like a 3-D photographic tour of Mars and their “Shadowchasers” film. They have given talks and film presentations at the North East Astronomy Forum (NEAF), Montreal’s own ConCept sci-fi convention, and at MonSFFA.

We are thrilled to have them back on the subject of the April eclipse.

We will also hold MonSFFA’s AGM and Executive-Committee Elections, and continue with our PowerPoint presentation on air shows and aviation museums, aviation often having inspired early SF, making of many sci-fi fans devotees, too, of aviation!

DIRECTIONS TO THE LACHINE LEGION BRANCH

Easily accessible via public transit, the Lachine Legion is located at 3015 Rue Henri-Dunant, between Provost and St-Antoine, just east of 32nd Avenue (see map).

The 191 bus, among others, stops on 32nd Avenue, near the Legion. Those travelling from Montreal, for example, can board the 191 at the Lionel Groulx Metro Station;   the ride to 32nd Avenue takes about 35 minutes. From neighbourhoods west of Lachine, the 191, as well as the 195, depart from Terminus Dorval and take roughly 25 minutes to reach 32nd. Consult the STM (www.stm.info/en) for best bus routes.

Those travelling by car may exit from Autoroute 20, whether eastbound or westbound, at 32nd Avenue (Exit 60). Drivers may also access 32nd from Autoroute 13. It’s a short couple blocks drive south on 32nd to the intersection with Provost. Turn east onto Provost, then promptly south onto 31st Avenue, which lets out onto Henri-Dunant. Turn east again and find the Legion Hall about 50 metres from the intersection on the south side of the street.

The Legion maintains a parking lot adjacent the building; there is no charge to park one’s vehicle. Free parking is also available on Henri-Dunant.

See You This Afternoon!

Weather permitting, on April 8, 2024, Montreal will witness one of the most exciting events on the astronomical calendar—a total solar eclipse!

MonSFFA has invited astronomy enthusiasts David Shuman and Paul Simard to speak on the upcoming eclipse, and of their many adventures chasing shadows. Safety when viewing a solar eclipse will be covered, and David and Paul will screen their 2017 documentary short “Shadowchasers: The Great American Total Solar Eclipse,” which was presented at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s 2019 AGM.

David, a graphic designer by trade, is an avid amateur astronomer and photographer, and has been a long-standing member and board member of the RASC’s Montreal chapter. His fascination with, and extensive knowledge of spaceflight and launch vehicles has seen him travel several times to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the launch of unmanned spacecraft. He has held NASA press credentials and in 1994, photographed the Space Shuttle. In 2001, he visited the Keck, Gemini, and Subaru telescopes in Hawaii.

Paul, who has been passionate about astronomy for some 30 years, has also developed an interest in video-editing over more than a decade. Combining these two specialties, he seeks to educate and help people appreciate the night sky, and universe in which we all live.

David and Paul have teamed up on numerous passion projects, like a 3-D photographic tour of Mars and their “Shadowchasers” film. They have given talks and film presentations at the North East Astronomy Forum (NEAF), Montreal’s own ConCept sci-fi convention, and at MonSFFA.

We are thrilled to have them back on the subject of the April eclipse.

We will also hold MonSFFA’s AGM and Executive-Committee Elections, and continue with our PowerPoint presentation on air shows and aviation museums, aviation often having inspired early SF, making of many sci-fi fans devotees, too, of aviation!

DIRECTIONS TO THE LACHINE LEGION BRANCH

Easily accessible via public transit, the Lachine Legion is located at 3015 Rue Henri-Dunant, between Provost and St-Antoine, just east of 32nd Avenue (see map).

The 191 bus, among others, stops on 32nd Avenue, near the Legion. Those travelling from Montreal, for example, can board the 191 at the Lionel Groulx Metro Station;   the ride to 32nd Avenue takes about 35 minutes. From neighbourhoods west of Lachine, the 191, as well as the 195, depart from Terminus Dorval and take roughly 25 minutes to reach 32nd. Consult the STM (www.stm.info/en) for best bus routes.

Those travelling by car may exit from Autoroute 20, whether eastbound or westbound, at 32nd Avenue (Exit 60). Drivers may also access 32nd from Autoroute 13. It’s a short couple blocks drive south on 32nd to the intersection with Provost. Turn east onto Provost, then promptly south onto 31st Avenue, which lets out onto Henri-Dunant. Turn east again and find the Legion Hall about 50 metres from the intersection on the south side of the street.

The Legion maintains a parking lot adjacent the building; there is no charge to park one’s vehicle. Free parking is also available on Henri-Dunant.

See You This Saturday!

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.

His fascination with spaceflight has also allowed him 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.

Paul Simard has been interested in astronomy for over 30 years and has been into video editing for at least 10 years. He has been using his knowledge to combine the two interests in helping people understand the night sky and the universe we all live in.

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.