Star Data Update: • Magnitude: 11.509 ± 0.025 • Color: ⬤ • Class: Subdwarf • Spectral Type: B • Color Index (B-V): 0.1 • Temperature: 9028K Observed at: 2026-02-06 17:13:21 UTC #Astronomy #TCrB

NOTICE: Our member Potpourri tonight is cancelled due to weather. Join us on Friday, Feb 27 for our AGM and of course there is another Potpourri meeting scheduled in March!

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the Challenger Disaster. Many of us saw it live, and it became a moment that stood out in the memories of all who saw it. This tragic explosion brought on important safety changes that almost certainly saved lives in the future. May they never be forgotten.

LDN 1622: Dark Nebula in Orion apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap26012... The silhouette of an intriguing dark nebula inhabits this cosmic scene. Lynds' Dark Nebula (LDN) 1622 appears against a faint background of glowing hydrogen gas only visible in long telescopic exposures of the region

SpaceX's Starlink dodged 300,000 collisions in 2025. That's nearly 40 maneuvers per satellite, and it's rising fast – possibly hitting 1 million maneuvers in 2027. "If they make a mistake, we’re in really big trouble.” Story by me in @newscientist.com www.newscientist.com/article/2512...

From Brandon Pries: Stars shed material as they shine, and today’s authors think this may be enough to power X-ray emission from a massive black hole! ⚛️🔭☄🧪 astrobites.org/2026/01/22/m...

And of course you can also hear Mr. Sawyer speak for free in person tonight on the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. Details here: mississauga.rasc.ca/event/robert...

Tomorrow!! It's a free event that will be interesting, so we hope you'll join us. You don't even have to be a member -- just show up :)

Two more days! "...Hugo Award-winning science fiction novelist Robert J. Sawyer will introduce you to intriguing fictional extraterrestrials and share the techniques SF writers use in crafting alien biology and psychology." Details here: mississauga.rasc.ca/event/robert...

Please note there will be no RASC Speakers Night tomorrow. For more events: https://rascto.ca/events

Star Data Update: • Magnitude: 10.229 ± 0.024 • Color: ⬤ • Class: Subdwarf • Spectral Type: B • Color Index (B-V): 0.1 • Temperature: 9028K Observed at: 2026-01-21 15:33:32 UTC #Astronomy #TCrB

Artemis II is unleashed and on its way to the launch pad. Just incredible.

We love to see it!

Star Data Update: • Magnitude: 11.596 ± 0.003 • Color: ⬤ • Class: Subdwarf • Spectral Type: B • Color Index (B-V): 0.1 • Temperature: 9028K Observed at: 2026-01-18 01:53:52 UTC #Astronomy #TCrB

#mississauga folks:

🌟 Potpourri Meeting — This Friday! Free & open to the public 🥳Talks include: the Observer’s Handbook, a Northern Lights story + tabletop Dob review, insights from the Bennu sample return, and resources to help school astronomy clubs thrive. Details here: mississauga.rasc.ca/event/new-me...

We're wishing the ill crew member the very best.

Star Data Update: • Magnitude: 9.7558 ± 0.0088 • Color: ⬤ • Class: Subdwarf • Spectral Type: B • Color Index (B-V): 0.1 • Temperature: 9028K Observed at: 2026-01-08 19:21:15 UTC #Astronomy #TCrB

We had a quiescent #aurora last night, and then clouds showed up. :-( #astronomy

Why the discovery of hot gas between galaxies is exciting Canadian researchers www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #space #astronomy #physics #science

The ambitious plan to spot habitable moons around giant planets. Via @sciencex.physorg #Space #Astrophysics #OrbitalMechanics #Astronomy 🚀 🌌 ☄️ 🛰️

Check out this account tracking T Coronae Borealis, which is due to go nova sometime soon. "Soon" being a relative term, of course.

Deadline is soon!

Very cool animation of the motion of nebulae over time.

New paper alert! tl;dr: the seafloor of Europa is probably tectonically inert, meaning little to no active fracturing that could expose fresh rock to seawater. Without such water–rock reactions the prospect for there being life within Europa just took a big hit. A thread:

😂

What does one of Canada's most accomplished science fiction authors say about alien life? Join us Jan 23 from 8-10pm to find out. Free/open to the public, so share this anywhere! Details (including @robertjsawyer.com's impressive biography): mississauga.rasc.ca/event/robert... #canada #mississauga

What does one of Canada's most accomplished science fiction authors say about alien life? Join us Jan 23 from 8-10pm to find out. Free/open to the public, so share this anywhere! Details (including @robertjsawyer.com's impressive biography): mississauga.rasc.ca/event/robert... #canada #mississauga

pro-tip, when in hospital, spy on #telescopes as often as possible, love this #moon over domes from last night! FYI, anyone who needs the link the scopes for @AllanICarswellObservatory can be found at: https://www.yorku.ca/science/observatory/observers/ […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

@pbarmby.bsky.social Hi Pauline! I am @beverlybambury.com with the Mississauga Centre of RASC. I would love if we could be added to your starter pack. It was a big help to me in starting a new account today. Followed everyone. Thank you :)

Thrilled to share that we're hosting renowned Mississauga sci-fi author @robertjsawyer.com for a free talk on Jan 23, 2026. It's called "New Life and New Civilizations: A Science Fiction Perspective on Exobiology" and we can't wait! Details here: mississauga.rasc.ca/event/speake... (please share!)