Toronto Photography Meetup Group

THIS THREAD HAS BEEN UPDATED; NOW AN OFFICIAL AD-HOC EVENT.
Scroll down to see where/when details.


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Original post:

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The Leonid meteor shower is supposed to be good this year.

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8774

Of course, it's a weeknight, and the best viewing (as always) is after midnight.

It'd be fun to observe, but I don't wanna freeze...

Anyone have a condo penthouse party room, with a glass ceiling?

(So this would be the wee early morning hours of the 17th.)

It would be interesting if we can capture it in long exposure, best to be done on a park where not so much of the street lamps glare.

but I guess it is not safe to be alone on a park on a dark area.

Yes, I'm interested. Is this still a go? Where are we supposed to meet

im interested, any specifics on the event? if it even is an event??

i'm also interested. this may sound dumb, but would it be visible to the naked eyes? and can it be observed anywhere as long as there isn't too much lights around us?

dont underestimate our eyes ^^ im more worried about whether our cameras will be able to pick up the meteors.......

There will be some members of the RASC observing from the grounds of the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill.

Would you guys be interested in having an event up there? Maybe arrange a carpool thing?

I imagine they'll be there in the evening (i.e., the evening of the 16th) -- we could hang out until we just can't take it anymore, and then call it a day... (I'm guessing, realistically, people won't want to stay up past midnight...?)

Anyway, if there is enough interest in this, I can update this thread to make it into an actual (ad-hoc) event...

(Oh, and of course, this is all weather-dependent.)

i thought the cameras will only be able to capture streak marks? and may be a lot of over exposure and under exposure hehehe

but i think merging the photos into HDR images may do the trick?

I want to go.
So do we just show up there or are there some sort of fees?
Wont there be too much light pollution there?

I'm Interested too... Should we set a date so we can start planning

well if anything, it'll have to be monday night, right? unless anyone wants to hop on a place and fly to asia to see it over there ^^ but i agree, lets start planning etc

Ok, let's do it!

So, this is for Monday evening...

May I suggest we meet at Finch station park-n-ride?

Please post below whether you have a car and can offer rides, or if you are car-less and require a ride.

And we need to pick a meetup time. Kind of a compromise: The later you stay, the better the viewing; but of course it's a "school night"...

Maybe meet up at 7:00? (Taking into account delays and set-up time at the site, we might be shooting by around 8-ish.)

No admission fee. Officially, this is for RASC members; but I think there will just be a few of us, and I am in fact a member, so you can be my "guests" or whatever.

I need a ride.

i can offer rides, but i prefer to meet at 8pm at finch stn? and i'll likely be taking off by 10pm (its gonna be cold, and its a work night...)

IF i get a ride..
I am in for this event ....
Thanks
Yeshwanth

i MIGHT be able to drive. If I go I'll probably bring my telescope, so I'm not sure how many people + gear I can bring.
I'll know for sure by tomorrow.
Thanks.

i m interested too, but got questions

we are able to view the Leonid Meteor Shower from Richmond Hill DDO? it is within the city!!

according to NASA http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/10nov_leonids2009.htm?list1012199 the meteor shower will come around 4am 17.11.09!!! are we staying up that late??? (if i am wrong, please correct)

I'm interested too if I can get a ride, especially back home (If anyone is going as far south as Lawrence or Eglinton after, I would appreciate being dropped off nearly anywhere along either of those streets East of Yonge (only if we end up staying there past regular TTC service at 1am)

If the Nasa post Simon spotted is correct, wouldn't it be fairly pointless for us to meet up to just look at the sky?

There's absolutely nothing stopping everyone just to be where you are and look up. In a back yard, on a rooftop, wherever just find "Leo" and the shooting stars should be coming out of there. But it can be a long, dark, and cold night. Company is always nice

heh, i agree but wouldnt it make more sense to meet up at 4am instead of 8pm? but i dont think there would be too many ppl willing to crawl out of bed for it at such an hour.

if only the city was willing to make an annual astronomical observation day where they turn off the lights... kinda like earth hour but make it mandatory... would be awesome if everyone within the city can just step outside and tilt up.

actually from what i understood, the 4am viewing time is for Asia..... in Canada, the best viewing time is around midnight on the night of nov 16/17....

so like... what we see is just the beginning of the meteor shower.... but by the time we (Earth) hits the core of the metoer..... "cloud"?..... it'll be daytime for us... but night in asia....... thats how i understood it, but i may be wrong :S

oh, ps. im down for the event, but would need a ride..... i can meet whenever and will probably stay as late as i can....

Taking into account "anitoxident"'s post up above, I'd be happy to make the meetup time 8:00 p.m.

Does that work for people? In the worst-case scenario, we may have more people than cars, in which case we can take York regional public transit up to Hillcrest Mall, and then share a cab(s) from there up to the site of the observatory.

Re: The location -- yes, it's in the GTA; yes, there is light pollution. It's all about compromise. You'd see more meteors from the Torrance Barrens, but that's a loooong drive from TO, and many of us have to get up the next morning... Also, as another poster mentioned, it's nice to have company, and the nice folks from RASC will be there with their telescopes, so we can have a peek at Jupiter and perhaps one or two other celestial objects while we're there. (For the meteors, you just need your eyes; lay back and look up.) Those of you attempting to photograph the meteors, you basically just need a tripod and the ability to do long-time exposures; if you're lucky, some meteors will streak through the frame. (Wide-angle lens is a plus.)

Depending on the time, I am up for it since I live 10 mins away.

I am in, but since I am just 15minus away, I will meet you there.

How should I meet up with the group?

Jen

I'll be at finch stn passenger pick-up at 8pm.

Look out for a green toyota corolla (i can fit 4 ppl). PM me to reserve a seat, I'll update the car vacancy accordingly.

I'm not going to make it.
I've had a couple of changes. I'm not even sure if I'll get a chance to see the skies tomorrow
Enjoy!

I will be there ~9pm... got to drop off my gf at finch/yonge.