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2010 Perseid Meteor Shower (8/12/2010)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Learn

Event Location:

David Dunlap Observatory

Date(s) & Time:

Thu, Aug 12 2010 9:00 PM (Carpool Departure: 9:00 PM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Tue, Aug 10 2010 8:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

3.5 hours, including travel time

Difficulty Rating:

D1: Easy

Event Coordinator(s):

Alison
Stacy
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, All Ages Welcome

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

30 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

The Perseid meteor shower is an annual meteor shower that is extremely regular in its timing and can potentially be visible for weeks in the late summer sky, depending on weather and location. The Perseid meteor shower is named after the constellation Perseus, which is located in roughly the same point of the night sky from where the Perseid meteor shower appears to originate. The source of the Perseid meteor shower is actually debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Every year, the earth passes through the debris cloud left by the comet, and the earth's atmosphere is bombarded by what are popularly known as "shooting stars".

We'll drive to the David Dunlap Observatory, in Richmond Hill. This will give us minimal light pollution to the north-east, and an open area on which to sit to watch the show.

While mostly viewable to the naked eye, the annual Perseid meteor show may be partially obstructed by the moon, clouds or night mist, so amateur astronomers may want to carry along a pair of binoculars or a camera with a telescopic lens. Even on clear nights, some kind of viewing aid comes in handy for catching sight of even the faintest of falling stars, aptly named "telescopic" meteors. Experts usually just advise to forget the telescope, and simply look up toward the northeast sky.

For photographing the annual event, a digital camera mounted on a tripod helps to steady the images that swiftly move across the sky. A quick trigger finger also helps. Even random clicks during the height of Perseid "prime-time" will guarantee that you'll catch something! Be sure to have the camera focused on infinity and, if your camera permits, leave the shutter open for several minutes for the most spectacular photographic effects.

Observatory staff will be on-hand and will have some smaller telescopes set up on the ground. The two big, permanent scopes will be oriented to view any large, interesting, relatively stationary objects (compared to meteors which are really hard to track...).

We will leave the observatory around midnight and drop people back at Downsview in good time to catch the subway.

Required Items to Bring:

Nothing actually required...

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Cushion, blanket or garden chair
Jacket
Snacks
Water, coffee or tea
Binoculars
Camera and tripod

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Please note: there isn't a lot of parking at the observatory, and a lot of people will probably go so I ask that everyone meet at the carpool so we only take the minimum number of cars. Thanks in advance for your cooperation

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

50Km

Carpool Departure Time:

9:00 PM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $12.90 (calculated at total Km * $0.258, effective Thursday, May 2, 2024). This is based on $0.08/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divide by 9. Your event coordinator will confirm exactly how much money is required from each person.

Notes:

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in TOC events.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@torontooutdoorclub.com.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Stacy, at content@torontooutdoorclub.com.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $1.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!
*Note:

NOTE: This event will be cancelled if the forecast is for cloud cover that evening. Check the TOC Website or your email the morning of the event for the last update - we will NOT be phoning participants in case of a cancellation