I
T’S BEEN nearly five
years since The Royal
Astronomical Society of
Canada (RASC) acquired
SkyNews. Over the inter -
ven ing time, we’ve seen
dramatic changes in media
technology, reader interests,
our organization and our relation-
ship with members and subscribers.
SkyNews, which is recognized for first-
rate astronomy features written by expert
contributors, celebrates its 25th anniversary
in 2020. We plan to honour the milestone!
There will be a new look for the magazine.
We’re building a new website with engaging
content about celestial events and exciting
programs at RASC Centres across the coun-
try. Our social channels will be more robust,
providing timely information for all of us
who love to explore the universe. Most im-
portant, each enhancement will create new
ways to engage our followers and showcase
your passion for astronomy.
We’ve also made the decision to alignSkyNewsmore closely with
the RASC, its parent orga -
nization. SkyNews—the mag -
a zine and its new digital ex-
tensions—will be the RASC’s
voice to its community. Each
SkyNewsissue will include
member updates, Society news,
information from our Centres and
highlights from the Journalof the RASC.
The RASC is Canada’s leader in amateur
astronomy. Our ongoing success depends
on engagement with our members and
subscribers. Please share your experiences,
stories and photographs of astronomical
happenings across the country. We look for-
ward to your feedback on what we’re doing.
We also want you to tell us what we could
do better.
It will be an exciting new year for the
RASC and SkyNews. Until then, best wishes
for a joyous holiday season.✦Chris Gainor is the president of The Royal
Astronomical Society of Canada.VOLUME XXV, ISSUE 4
President, RASC Chris Gainor
Vice President, Content J. Randy Attwood
Vice President, Finance Renata Koziol
Vice President,
New Business Development Paula Blacklock
Editor Gary Seronik
[email protected]
Associate Editor Ken Hewitt-White
Contributing Editor Alan Dyer
Art Director Janice McLean
Production Manager Susan Dickinson
Contributors Paul Deans, Glenn LeDrew,
Tony Puerzer, Ivan Semeniuk
Contributing
Astrophotographers Klaus Brasch, Ron Brecher,
Lynn Hilborn, Malcolm Park
Advertising Manager Grant Faulkner
[email protected]
Customer Service 1-866-759-
[email protected]
Editor Emeritus Terence Dickinson
Founding Publisher Canada Science and
Technology MuseumPublished six times a year by
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and SkyNews Inc.,
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Printed in Canada ISSN 0840-
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by CHRIS GAINOR
IN THE BEGINNINGSkyNewsmagazine premiered in May 1995, the brainchild of astronomy
writer Terence Dickinson and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. With the May/June 2016
issue, Dickinson handed over the magazine’s reins to its current editor, Gary Seronik.NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019Magazine of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada✦ANYBODY OUT THERE? SEEKING NEW EARTHS
✦CLUSTERS GALOREENJOY DEEP SKY TREASURES IN PERSEUS
✦TWILIGHT DELIGHTS
TAKE IN THE YEAR’S BEST PLANETARY CONJUNCTIONS 2016 TRANSIT OF MERCURY BY ALAN DYERvisit skynews.ca(^25) SKYNEW
S• 1995 -^2020
THE TRANSITOF
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GREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR STARGAZING ENTHUSIASTS
VIEWING AND IMAGING TIPS
CATCH IT NOW:
YOU WON’T
SEE THIS
AGAIN UNTIL
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YNE
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02
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SEASON’S GREETINGS
Welcome to the 2019 year-end issue of SkyNews
4 SKYNEWS •NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019