in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | Th ur sd ay , Fe br ua ry 1 , 2 01 8 | £ OPINIO N Join us on Wednesday, February 7 for our Open House to learn how we ignite curiosity and build excitement about learning in students 18-months to Grade 12. Visit our website, or call 905-389-1367, for more information. Hillfield Strathallan College Learn w ith Joy. Live w ith Purpose. H SC.O N .CA /CA N TW A IT The red planet meets its rival Mars isn't the only reddish object in the night sky, writes Mario Carr Mars isn't the only red dish object in the night sky. The star Antares is also red and ancient astrono mers noted how similar both objects looked. Its name literally means "rival of Mars" or "anti-Mars." At about 3 a.m. on Feb. 9, the crescent moon, Mars and Antares will rise together in the southern sky as twi light brightens. Antares is 604 light years away and is one of the brightest stars in the sky located in the constellation Scorpius. The diameter of Antares is about 700 times larger than the sun. If it was at the centre of our so lar system, its diameter would engulf the orbit of Mars. The star is a red supergi ant and is coming to the end of its life since it has M ARIO CARR Column eaten all o f its hydrogen fu el. Now it's burning through heavier elements and is cooler than our sun. That's why it's red. Once it has used up its fuel, it will end its life by collapsing and exploding as a supernova. When that will happen, nobody knows, but when it does it will be spectacular. Here are February star gazing events, which are listed in the 2018 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers cal endar. Feb. 2: Sunlight reflect ing off dust particles in the solar system, known as zo diacal light, can be seen in the western evening sky from a dark location for the next two weeks. Feb. 7: Last quarter moon is near Jupiter at dawn. Feb. 9: Hamilton Ama teur Astronomers meeting 7:30-9:30 p.m., Hamilton Spectator auditorium, 44 Frid St. Free admission, door prizes and everybody welcome. An optional food bank donation of non-per ishable goods will be col lected and appreciated. Feb. 11: Moon is close to Saturn at dawn. Feb. 24: Grouping of Sat urn, Mars and Jupiter in the southern dawn sky. For more information, see the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers website (am- ateurastronomy.org) or call 905-627-4323. The club offers a basic astronomy course for members. - Mario Carr, the author of this report, is the club's director of publicity and can be reached at mario- carr@cogeco.ca or on Twit ter (@MarioCCarr). £ > Teen Drivers 905 -3 3 7 -8 77 6 w w w .a te e n d r iv e rs .c a AAA TEEN DRIVERS, MTO APPROVED BEGINNER DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE *424.77 + MTO FEE + tax = *499.99. ($100 OFF THE REGULAR PRICE) L IM IT E D T IM E O FFER 1 HOUR LESSON 1 HOUR LESSON ANDG2 ROAD TEST AND G ROAD TEST $ 1 5 5 NO TAX * 1 7 0 NO TAX Class Room Instructions on W eekends, W eekdays, School Holidays and Long W eekends Ind iv idual Driving Lessons G2 and G Road Test Packages PLEASE CALL 905-337-8776 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.ateendrivers.ca FOR COURSES INFO AND REGISTRATIONS. 407 Speers Road, Suite 213, Oakville mailto:mario-carr@cogeco.ca mailto:mario-carr@cogeco.ca http://www.ateendrivers.ca http://www.ateendrivers.ca