RARE DOUBLE NAKED-EYE NOVA EVENT: An extremely rare event is underway in the southern hemisphere. Two stars have exploded at the same time, producing simultaneous naked-eye novas (V462 Lupi and V572 Velorum). Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
Above: Eliot Herman photographed V572 Velorum on June 28th using a robotic telescope in Chile.
TH 88r From Nic Farey (USA) “Do you love me enough that I may be weak with you? Everyone loves strength, but do you love me for my weakness? That is the real test.”
PurrMew94 from R-Laurraine Tutihasi (USA) Photos of critters we never see in our region, and her husband takes wonderful astrophotos.
Here’s finally some good news! Astronomers and sky enthusiasts have been waiting a long time for the Vera Rubin to come on line. The resolution of this camera is such that it can see a golf ball on the moon! — CPL
First celestial image unveiled from revolutionary telescope
Ione Wells, South America correspondent
Georgina Rannard, Science correspondent
NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory The first image revealed by the Vera Rubin telescope shows the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae in stunning detail
A powerful new telescope in Chile has released its first images, showing off its unprecedented ability to peer into the dark depths of the universe.
In one picture, vast colourful gas and dust clouds swirl in a star-forming region 9,000 light years from Earth.
The Vera C Rubin observatory, home to the world’s most powerful digital camera, promises to transform our understanding of the universe.
If a ninth planet exists in our solar system, scientists say this telescope would find it in its first year.
RubinObs Three large white buildings stand on top of a dry mountain in a desert. One has a domed roof. In the background the sky is blue and looks dry. A yellow crane is in front of the three white buildings which are the Vera Rubin observatory. A dusty road leads up to the buildings.RubinObs
Rubin Observatory and the Rubin Auxiliary Telescope in Cerro Pachón in Chile
It should detect killer asteroids in striking distance of Earth and map the Milky Way. It will also answer crucial questions about dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up most of our universe.
In a press conference on Monday, the observatory revealed that in 10 hours, the telescope detected 2,104 new asteroids and 7 space objects close to Earth.
All other space and ground surveys combined usually find about 20,000 asteroids in a year.
This once-in-a-generation moment for astronomy is the start of a continuous 10-year filming of the southern night sky.
2025 Club Field Trip – Tomorrow, Saturday, June 14
We remind club members that, as our 2025 club field trip, MonSFFA will be visiting the new exhibition on knights at Old Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière museum. Mark tomorrow, Saturday, June 14 in your calendars!
This exhibition recently opened at “Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex” (the Pointe-à-Callière museum). The standard adult admission charge is $29, with various discounts available for seniors, students, etc.
Getting to the Museum
The nearest Metro station is Place-d’Armes; from there, it’s a 10 minute walk to the museum via rue Saint-Francois-Xavier. Also, the 50 bus, running along rue de-la-Commune, stops at the museum. Paid parking is available in the area, primarily in the Old Port.
Note: for those travelling by bus and Metro, a transit strike is expected to begin this week, however, regular service is promised by the striking union over the weekend of the 14th-15th. As such, buses and the Metro will be running, as usual.
MonFFen to Meet-Up at Museum
Our plan is to meet tomorrow, Saturday, June 14, in the museum’s main entrance lobby at 1:00PM (don’t be late!). We will then enter together at about 1:30PM. As always, each individual is responsible for their own entrance fee and any other expenses incurred, such as lunch or gift shop purchases. For any interested, we will make our way to a nearby restaurant after our visit to enjoy a post-field trip dinner.
Information on the Exhibition
Reads the museum’s promotional text, “Delve into the heart of history with ‘Knights,’ a fascinating exhibition that stirs up the spirit of chivalry. From the battlefield to the royal court, this exhibition explores the various aspects of the life of knights.” The world of knights is fully explored, including “their training, their place in society, and their code of honour.” Exquisite examples of European weaponry and armour, sourced from Italy’s prestigious Museo Stibbert, are among the over 250 pieces on display, showcasing the skill of the period’s craftsmen.
Note that there are also other exhibits of interest at Pointe-à-Callière, including studies of Montreal’s founding and past, the history of the iconic Dow Brewery, and an immersive and interactive family exhibition on pirates and privateers.
Pointe-à-Callière museum, Old Montreal
Museum’s Address and Contact Information
Address: 350 Place Royale, Old Montreal, QC, H2Y 3Y5
As our 2025 club field trip, MonSFFA will be visiting the new exhibition on knights at Old Montreal’s Pointe-à-Callière museum. Mark this Saturday, June 14 in your calendars!
This exhibition recently opened at “Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex” (the Pointe-à-Callière museum). The standard adult admission charge is $29, with various discounts available for seniors, students, etc.
Getting to the Museum
The nearest Metro station is Place-d’Armes; from there, it’s a 10 minute walk to the museum via rue Saint-Francois-Xavier. Also, the 50 bus, running along rue de-la-Commune, stops at the museum. Paid parking is available in the area, primarily in the Old Port.
Note: for those travelling by bus and Metro, a transit strike is expected to begin this week, however, regular service is promised by the striking union over the weekend of the 14th-15th. As such, buses and the Metro will be running, as usual.
MonFFen to Meet-Up at Museum
Our plan is to meet, on Saturday, June 14, in the museum’s main entrance lobby at 1:00PM (don’t be late!), then enter together at about 1:30PM. As always, each individual is responsible for their own entrance fee and any other expenses incurred, such as lunch or gift shop purchases. For any interested, we will make our way to a nearby restaurant after our visit to enjoy a post-field trip dinner.
Information on the Exhibition
Reads the museum’s promotional text, “Delve into the heart of history with ‘Knights,’ a fascinating exhibition that stirs up the spirit of chivalry. From the battlefield to the royal court, this exhibition explores the various aspects of the life of knights.” The world of knights is fully explored, including “their training, their place in society, and their code of honour.” Exquisite examples of European weaponry and armour, sourced from Italy’s prestigious Museo Stibbert, are among the over 250 pieces on display, showcasing the skill of the period’s craftsmen.
Note that there are also other exhibits of interest at Pointe-à-Callière, including studies of Montreal’s founding and past, the history of the iconic Dow Brewery, and an immersive and interactive family exhibition on pirates and privateers.
Pointe-à-Callière museum, Old Montreal
Museum’s Address and Contact Information
Address: 350 Place Royale, Old Montreal, QC, H2Y 3Y5
Marc Garneau has passed away, aged 76. He was Canada’s first astronaut. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice, first at the Canadian Space Agency in St Hubert, and again at an Earth Day celebration in Westmount. Tributes are pouring in. I heard Andrew Fazekas, the Night Sky Guy, this morning on CBC radio speak of how inspired he was by Marc.
SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A CME is heading straight for Earth–see below. NASA and NOAA models agree that it will strike Earth on June 1st. The impact could spark a severe (G4-class) geomagnetic storm with auroras visible across Europe and many US states. This won’t be as big as the famous May 2024 storm, but it could be one of the bigger events of Solar Cycle 25 if a severe storm materializes. CME impact alerts:SMS Text
MAJOR SOLAR FLARE AND HALO CME: Big old sunspot 4100 finally exploded–and it was a doozy. On May 31st at 00:05 UTC, Earth-orbiting satellites detected an M8.2-class solar flare. The explosion lasted more than 3 hours:
A long-duration M8.2-class solar flare recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory
Although the flare was not technically X-class, it was close. Moreover, it was a slow explosion with lots of power “under the curve.” The blast was able to lift a massive CME out of the sun’s atmosphere.
Indeed, shortly after the flare, SOHO coronagraphs recorded a bright halo CME heading directly for our planet:
This is a very fast-moving CME. Type II radio emissions from shock waves within the cloud suggest it is traveling 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph. When it strikes Earth, the CME could spark severe geomagnetic storms with auroras at mid- to low latitudes. Stay tuned! CME impact alerts:SMS Text
