Nestled along the gentle curves of Southern Ontario’s Pine River, a waterway that meanders its way into the vast expanse of Lake Huron, lives Brady, the three-toed sloth and a rather unconventional mascot for the Pine River Observatory’s amateur astronomy blog. In the warm and personal tones befitting a seasoned naturalist, let’s explore how Brady, whose lineage traces back to the canopies of the South American rainforests, found his way to the Canadian wilds and into the hearts of stargazers.
Brady’s name, derived from the scientific Bradypustridactylus, hints at both his physical nature and his metaphorical journey. The Latin roots, meaning “three-toed” and “slow-footed,” perfectly encapsulate not only his methodical movements but also his gradual immersion into the world of stars and skies. Originally from the dense, lush rainforests where the canopy serves as both home and protection, Brady’s path to Pine River was as serendipitous as it was unusual.
The journey began when a Canadian biologist, specializing in tropical fauna, undertook a conservation project in Brady’s native habitat. Captivated by the gentle nature and peculiar charm of this particular sloth, whom she found endearingly perched and peering curiously at her night-sky observation equipment, she named him Brady. As her project concluded, she arranged for Brady to be brought to Canada under a special program aimed at raising awareness about the rich biodiversity of the rainforests and the dark skies initiative.
Upon arrival at Pine River, a community known for its robust conservation efforts and its burgeoning interest in astronomy, Brady was instantly a local sensation. His tranquil demeanor and unhurried pace resonated with the community members, who themselves were accustomed to the slow and rewarding pursuit of celestial phenomena.
Settling into his new home, Brady’s curiosity about the night sky, sparked under the dense leaves of his original rainforest, grew under the expansive, clear skies along Lake Huron. The observatory, situated near the banks of Pine River, provided the perfect vantage point for Brady to indulge his fascination with the cosmos. The astronomers, in turn, were delighted to have a mascot who exemplified the virtues of patience and contemplation—essential qualities for any stargazer.
Brady’s presence at the observatory became a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of all things. As a blog mascot, he not only attracts attention to the mysteries of the universe but also serves as a gentle ambassador for the conservation of his distant, lush green homelands and the dark, starlit skies of his new Canadian haven.
Thus, in Brady, the folks at Pine River Observatory found not just a mascot but a symbol of cosmic and earthly stewardship, his slow-footed, contemplative approach to life a model for both naturalists and astronomers alike.
Story and images created for Pine River Observatory by ChatGPT 4.
When I took this shot of the moon on 9 PM 18 May 2021 from my balcony in Hamilton, Ontario (with a Nikon CoolPix P950 at 2000 mm zoom) I was pretty happy with the detail along the terminator – the zone between sunlight and shadow. Lots of lovely craters, some clear enough to see central peaks. Contrast is important: when I took the photo the sky was still blue to the unaided eye. The moon is so bright that to photograph it for surface detail usually means tricking the camera to under-expose the shot; automatic camera settings are not designed for this kind of thing. I always shoot astronomical subjects with the camera on manual. This photo was taken at ISO 560, 1/150 sec, f 6.5, hand-held with on-camera image stabilization. Normally you should only try hand-held shots with the shutter speed at the reciprocal of focal length (for example, 1/500 of a second if the focal length is 500 mm), but the stabilization in this camera is very good.
A nice photo of the moon. taken with a Nikon Coolpix P950.
What I did’t notice until pointed out by John Gavreau of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers is that I accidentally captured the famous Lunar X in the photograph.
The Lunar X is visible in the middle of this cropped frame.
The Lunar X is a transient feature caused by oblique sunlight falling on the rims of adjacent craters.
This is the second blog post about the April 8th 2024 total solar eclipse that was witnessed by hundreds at Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada) in Hamilton, Ontario. I had the privilege of being the interpretive lead for the event, and was able to provide my own telescope for people to view the partial phases of the eclipse in safety. A previous blog post described the preparations for the event.
Monday 8th April started out as an inauspicious looking day. The weather forecast was largely for cloud in the Hamilton area, and everyone was feeling a little pessimistic as to whether we would see anything other than a great big shadow in the afternoon. I arrived at the RBG Arboretum around 11:00 AM to start setting up my telescope and to get a feeling for the space in which the audience would experience the event.
One of the wonderful RBG volunteers taking a turn looking at the partial solar eclipse through the 5″ telescope.
My little 5” Meade Terabeam Maksutov Cassegrain telescope went together very quickly, and I did an approximate north alignment of the German equatorial mount, but on a completely cloudy day that kind of thing is iffy at best. I must admit that as an amateur astronomer I’m not terribly interested or capable of doing alignments. I have never been really able to get a good alignment on my telescope mounts. I have a lovely EQ 6 mount that is currently underutilized, and the smaller, beaten-up black mount (is an EQ4? I don’t know) that I use for the Mak-Cas. I set everything up, and was satisfied that it was going to be a workable telescope for public viewing. Unlike most 5” Meade telescopes, this telescope has a custom 2” optical back, which allows for 2” eyepieces to be fitted, as well as full frame DSLR cameras. For the eclipse I set up a 2 inch eyepiece so that the public could view the eclipse through the telescope when safely fitted out with an aluminized mylar solar filter
Shortly after noon I got a call from our communications specialist Cassandra who wanted to see if I could come to a different part of RBG and do an interview with the CBC. RBG owns and manages a large set of properties, and the prospect of having to drive for 15 minutes from site to site just before the eclipse started did not necessarily appeal. However, I thought I had better do my duty as Director of Science, responsible for science communication. When I reached the gardens in Hendrie Park, I found that the Ontario Science Centre had set up an interpretive table and were working with grade 12 students on interpreting the eclipse for the public. A CBC video crew was also there to transmit their impressions of the eclipse and the Ontario Science Centre efforts. I did two short interviews with the CBC crew about 20 minutes apart, and then popped back into my car and headed back to the Arboretum. While I was on the road to the Arboretum the eclipse had started. I was back at the Arboretum about 10 minutes later. At this point things were still completely cloudy.
I started working with the telescope to see whether I could catch any kind of glimpse of the eclipse, and I was also equipped with eclipse glasses. It was some time before the clouds started to show some blue and break up, but they did. About 10 or 15 minutes before totality we started seeing good views of the sun through light, high cloud. There were even breaks where some parts of the sky were completely clear. The clouds were moving quickly, and it made for a very dramatic atmosphere, would we or would we not see the eclipse in totality?
People started to line up to view the partial eclipse with the telescope, and there were a lot of very positive comments about that experience. A couple of nice sunspots made the view of the sun more interesting than a non decorated solar disk would appear.
The partial solar eclipse digiscoped through the 5″ telescope with an iPhone 12. The green object is an artifcatual internal reflection.
Just before totality, the clouds opened up and while there was high cloud during totality from our point of view we had a pretty good view of totality. It only lasted 87 seconds in the arboretum, a very short experience. But, it was thrilling, and I was able to get a few good photographs using a handheld Nikon camera and a fifth 150 to 500mm telephoto lens without filter out totality.
After totality and the sun burst through again there was just a lot of ooohs and awwws, and some applause, as everyone put their eclipse glasses back on and thought about the experience they had just had. Over the next hour I continued to offer viewing through the telescope, which was convenient but did need to be realigned manually every couple of minutes, as I did not have a motor drive working. While someone inconvenient it did work, and it meant I had to be on hand to make sure that people were looking at the sun safely. I should note that I have a nice 60 mm Coronado Solar Max Hydrogen alpha telescope, but without a mount tracking the sun I’ve found it too complicated to used for a public event like this.
Totality in Hamilton, Ontario!
I took a few more photographs of the sun with a 300 mm telephoto lens with a solar filter on it, and as the sky lightened up people gradually started drifting off. By the time the eclipse was completed the vast majority of people had left for home.
Eclipse-watchers in the RBG Arboretum, chilling beside firepits!
This was an exciting total solar eclipse despite the clouds. The crowd was happy, the views were good even with high cloud at times, and it ranks up with the experience I had in 2017 of a total solar eclipse viewed in Missouri. That was a longer totality, but the environment was quite different. Both were worthwhile. I hope that if anyone has an opportunity to view a total solar eclipse they will make it a priority. While not common, these do not have to be once in a lifetime experiences if you are willing to travel.
Brady, our new AI-generated mascot at Pine River Observatory.
Introducing Brady, our new mascot! Brady (short for the Genus Bradypus, or slow foot, the scientific name of the genus of Three-Toed Sloths) is a keen and wide-eyed amateur astronomer in love with the beauty of nature and the mysteries of the universe. The idea of having a mascot came to me when introducing the public to observing the solar eclipse on 8 April 2024. I thought having some way to introduce some humour and warmth to the Pine River Observatory blog would be a great idea.
A sloth seemed appropriate. Not only are they very endearing animals but as there have sometimes been many months between posts on my blog the pacing seems a good fit. Slow foot indeed.
LiveScience contributor Brandon Specktor took in the 8 April 2024 total solar eclipse at the Arboretum at Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada). After the event he requested some of David’s images from the event and wrote up an engaging account of his experience:
Observing the 8 April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse at the Arboretum of Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada) in Hamilton, Ontario.
The total solar eclipse of 8 April 2024 that swept across North America caused an enormous public and media sensation. Millions of people were able to take in this beautiful natural phenomenon.
Here at Pine River Observatory (which is both virtual and portable) I’m going to post a couple of blog entries about my experience with the 2024 eclipse. I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in preparation for and leading the programming of a visitor experience for the eclipse at Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada), in Hamilton, Ontario, where I serve as Director of Science. In this first blog post describe the preparations for the event, which was held in the Arboretum of Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada) on the afternoon of April 8th.
Preparations for the event actually began about three years ago. I had traveled to the United States to witness the 2017 total solar eclipse that was sometimes called the Great American Eclipse. I joined friends south of St. Louis, MO, and experienced my first total solar eclipse. I also had the honour to serve as interpreter and observation guide for the group, which included members of The Explorers Club, St. Louis Chapter.
Members of the St. Louis Chapter of the Explorers Club and my little telescope set-up watching the 2017 total solar eclipse in Missouri.
The 2017 eclipse was a chance to prepare solar observation telescopes and some camera equipment to record the event. That event went pretty well, and I was excited to capture a variety of images. I also demonstrated that my small telescope, a 5 inch Meade Terabeam Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA with a two inch Jim Weggat optical back, performed very well for visual observations and photography when equipped with a mylar solar filter from Kendrick.
One of my telephoto images of totality in 2017.
In 2021 I first started bringing the 2024 eclipse to the attention of the interpretive and planning staff at Royal Botanical Gardens (Canada), with information about the path of totality and its duration. The Arboretum at University of Guelph was just inside the path of totality, with eclipse websites indicating 87 seconds of totality could be expected there. It was not hard to work with online ephemeris sites and get the direction and the elevation expected for the sun and moon at totality. This would be just about southwest, at 45° elevation.
Serious planning for the event at the Arboretum began in mid 2023, when our director of business development and I started to discuss just what was practical and possible on the day. While the astronomical portion of the eclipse was very predictable, the wildcard in all of this was the weather. We were expecting a 60% probability of being clouded out on the day of the eclipse. Historical weather information, however, is proving to be somewhat unreliable in the era of climate change we are now experiencing. The two days before the eclipse the weather turned out to be cloudless and beautiful. Of course, we did not know this in our planning.
Prior to the eclipse itself RBG organized a presentation by eclipse chaser David Makepeace, of Toronto, a videographer who has identified himself as The Eclipse Guy. David has traveled the world many times to take in eclipses, and gave a wonderful presentation on eclipse chasing at RBG two weeks before the event itself.
We also teamed up with two other institutions in preparation for the eclipse. The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto included RBG in some of its own planning, and sent a team to RBG for the day of the eclipse. This was done in part because the Ontario Science Centre was to be outside of the path of totality. The other partner was McMaster University, which made the wonderful donation of several thousand eclipse glasses to RBG for distribution during our programming. In total McMaster University had over 600,000 pairs of eclipse glasses prepared and distributed free in Hamilton to give people a chance to observe the eclipse in safety.
To set up for the eclipse, it was decided that the Arboretum on the North Shore of Cootes Paradise Marsh would be the best place for an RBG eclipse viewing. It’s not that the Arboretum is anything particularly special, but it does present a large grassy area with a good view to the southwest. Our food services department set up a food truck, and our operations and events people set out chairs, tables, and even fire pits across the Arboretum so that visitors could relax and enjoy the event in style.
I decided to set up a couple of cameras and my five inch telescope 5 inch telescope so that people could take a look at the eclipse in its partial phases through the filtered telescope. On 7th of April, the day before the eclipse, I set up all of my equipment in the Arboretum and did a practice run with solar imaging, producing a decent visual light image of the solar disk.
The sun’s disk on the afternoon of 7 April 2024, just 24 hours before the total solar eclipse was to begin. Taken at the RBG Arboretum with the Terabeam telescope and a Nikon D5100 at prime focus.
I disassembled the equipment and packed it back up into my car for the overnight wait, and then arrived at the Arboretum around 11:30 on the morning of 8th April. It took a while to set up the equipment, but I decided to do a very simple thing with my telescope. Critical to any observed observations with a telescope is the telescope mount. In my case I have an old mount of about an EQ3 size (I’m not even certain), and I decided I was going to use it simply as a manually-moved German Equatorial manual mount. I made a rough north alignment, and then set up the optical tube assembly, the mylar solar filter, and eyepiece.
For camera equipment I had a Nikon D 7000 with a 150 to 500mm telephoto lens and yellow plastic solar filter. I used the handheld camera to take pictures of the sun and moon at various times. At totality, I removed the filter so that I could get photographs of the totality event.
And that was about it. I set up my relatively simple telescope, and during the day I was aided by several RBG volunteers, a wonderful group who come out to help at nearly every event. The wait was on to see if we would get an eclipse, because early on the morning of the 8th of April the weather forecast did not look very good. We had solid cloud until at least 1:00 PM, with totality scheduled for about 3:20 PM.
I’m going to pick up the story of the actual eclipse event in our next blog post. I’ll review the programming and experience of eclipse day, observations and the interactions with all of the public who joined us on the event, and share some photographs. We had at least 400 people attend. It’s not giving anything away at this stage to say that we did see a wonderful eclipse, the clouds cooperated in a rather dramatic fashion, and it was my impression everyone was very excited and satisfied that day.
A time-series of the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse I photographed in south of St. Louis, Missouri.
The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for amateur astronomers in Canada to witness an extraordinary celestial event. By planning ahead, selecting the right equipment, following safety guidelines, and keeping an eye on weather conditions, you can maximize your chances of experiencing this breathtaking phenomenon. Remember that the memories and awe-inspiring moments you’ll capture during the eclipse will be cherished for years to come.
This blog post gives you general suggestions about viewing or photographing the eclipse, based on my personal experiences with the August 2017 total solar eclipse that I saw in Missouri.
1. Where Will the Eclipse Be Visible?
The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will be visible across a large portion of North America, offering Canadians an incredible opportunity to witness this phenomenon. The path of totality—the region where the sun is completely covered by the moon—will stretch across several provinces, allowing observers to experience the eclipse in its full glory. In Canada, the path of totality will traverse regions including Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, southern Quebec, southern Ontario.
Totality – the period when the sun is completely blocked by the moon – varies from place to place. It will cover a narrow band of about 160 km across. The differences can be stark. Totality will not be visible in downtown Toronto, but will be in Hamilton. Even if you are not in the path of totality the sight of the moon obscuring the disk of the sun can be very dramatic.
A 5″ Terabeam telescope (the white ETX-125TB Catadioptric Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope on the left) and a Nikon digital camera and telephoto lens on an Eq-5 tracking mount, both equipped with mylar solar filters suitable to photograph a solar eclipse.
To fully appreciate the grandeur of a total solar eclipse, it’s crucial to have the right equipment on hand. While a total solar eclipse is a mesmerizing sight to behold with the unaided eye, using proper eye protection is essential to avoid permanent eye damage. A pair of certified solar viewing glasses or eclipse glasses are an absolute necessity during all stages of the eclipse, except for the brief period of totality when the sun is completely covered.
For those looking to capture the eclipse’s stunning moments, a digital camera or smartphone can be used to take photographs, but it’s important to use appropriate solar filters to prevent damage to the camera’s sensor. Solar filters designed for cameras or telescopes can help capture the intricate details of the eclipse’s corona.
If you’re an amateur astronomer with access to telescopes, consider using a solar telescope or a telescope equipped with a solar filter. These devices allow you to observe the eclipse in even greater detail, revealing sunspots, prominences, and the solar corona during totality.
There are also some very simple ideas that can make for a fun viewing experience. These include pinhole “cameras” that project an image of the sun onto a white panel or card from a small hole in a solid sheet.
3. Viewing in Safety
Safety should always be a top priority when observing a solar eclipse. Even a partially eclipsed sun can cause permanent damage to your eyes if proper precautions are not taken. Follow these safety guidelines:
Use Certified Solar Viewing Glasses: Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not sufficient for observing the sun. Only use certified solar viewing glasses or eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. Check for any damage or scratches on the glasses before use.
Inspect Your Equipment: Ensure that any equipment you use to observe the eclipse has the appropriate solar filters in place. Telescopes, binoculars, and cameras all require specialized filters to prevent harmful sunlight from damaging your eyes or equipment.
Monitor Children: If you’re observing the eclipse with children, make sure they also have proper eye protection and are aware of the importance of not looking directly at the sun without it.
4. Weather Considerations
While regions of Canada offer prime viewing opportunities for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, weather conditions can play a significant role in determining whether you’ll be able to witness the event. It’s crucial to keep an eye on weather forecasts in the days leading up to the eclipse and to have a backup plan in case the weather takes an unfavorable turn. As the eclipse is taking place in early spring, for example, the chance that it will be obscured by cloud in Ontario runs about 50%.
If you’re planning to travel to a specific location to view the eclipse, consider selecting a spot with a history of clear skies during the month of April. Coastal areas may be prone to fog or marine layer clouds, so it’s wise to research local climate patterns before finalizing your viewing location.
5. Potential Challenges
While parts of Canada are fortunate to be within the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse, there are a few challenges to keep in mind. The farther you are away from the path of greatest totality, the shorter the duration of totality will be. Be prepared for a potentially brief but incredibly intense experience. At most it will be about three minutes. During that period the entire landscape will become dark – not quite night, but very dramatic none-the-less. You may also experience a distinct cooling during the eclipse as the warming rays of the sun are cut off. Also, if you are in a popular area during the event traffic may be heavy!
6. Final Thoughts
I travelled from Hamilton, Ontario to St. Louis, Missouri in 2017 to view the total solar eclipse with friends from the area. This was one of the most moving experiences I can remember. It was well worth the time and travel. And, I prepared for the photographic experience by reading and practicing with my equipment before I left for the trip. If you can take in the 2024 eclipse I highly recommend it.
When this blog was started in 2012 it was long after someone important to it had died. Bill Galbraith, my father, passed away in the mid-1990s. Everything about the idea of observing the night sky at Pine River/Lurgan Beach can be traced back to him. Bill was a chemical engineer who had broad scientific and nature interests. In the 1960s he bought a 4.5 inch reflecting telescope for the family, in part to inspire me to be interested in science at the same time that the American Apollo program was pushing toward the 1969 moon landing.
William Galbraith as a student.
Bill Galbraith became well known to his neighbours at Lurgan Beach for bringing the telescope out for looking at the moon and the brightest planets. While not a great telescope it did a decent job on the moon, and even now, 50 years later, I often hear from friends in the area who recall dad and his “huge telescope.”
The telescope itself was a common model – a Tasco 4.5 inch. There’s a detailed review of this scope on line at: http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2008/07/good-tasco.html. I still have the telescope, in its original, somewhat beaten-up box.
Dad inspired me to follow science as a career, and I still love astronomy, although my career choice was biology. The idea of a Pine River (Virtual) Observatory and this blog are dedicated to his memory.
Since the outbreak of a new respiratory disease was first reported from Wuhan on 31 December 2019 the world has been beset with the effects of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Everyone is now regrouping, and if you have any concern at all for other people, you are taking on the social distancing model, restricting your voluntary travel, and following all the recommendations about sanitation, hand-washing, and keeping in touch with others who may have a hard time staying in for a while.
I can only extend my very best wishes to you in this difficult time, and hope that you are able to see this as an opportunity to regroup, look at everything afresh, and embrace positivity in this very difficult time.
As we are being encouraged to take things easy and stay inside, a bit of positive news is that it’s possible to do some interesting astronomy – and always learn more – on-line. In terms of connectivity we’ve never been in better shape to weather this storm by using the information tools now available.
In the coming weeks I will be looking into astronomy from the kitchen table once again. While our physical site on the shore of Lake Huron south of Kincardine remains closed up for the cold weather, Pine River Observatory will be working on what a “virtual observatory” can do.
The Ontario shore of Lake Huron looks west-north-west at Lurgan Beach, the site of Pine River Observatory’s physical base of operation. As of 21 March 2020 it’s still a pretty cold place! Photo by Andrea Becker of Toronto, ON.
I suppose it’s not really news to anyone, but I haven’t posted in a while. Too many reasons to try to explain it. I thought though that a note of acknowledgement was long over due. This blog has been by no means forgotten. To bring it back to life I need to do some homework. Stay tuned. Or not. Happy New Year!
Pine River Observ-atory 