May's Night Sky 2015

While Venus and Jupiter dominate May’s early evening sky, glorious Saturn remains visible all night as it reaches opposition and peak visibility. At the top of this month’s list has to be Saturn, which puts on an all-night show as it reaches opposition and peak visibility. Saturn you can see in the east. It may be well above the horizon by 10 p.m.. If you target Saturn through a telescope, you’ll see its 18"-diameter disk surrounded by a ring system that spans 42" and tilts 25° to our line of sight. Close behind are Venus and  Jupiter, a pair of brilliant planets adorning the evening sky. You cannot miss this bright pair after dark toward the north western sky. Outstanding!

An honorable mention must go to innermost Mercury. The diminutive world produces its finest evening display of 2015 early this month. The planetary action gets underway shortly after the Sun sets May 1. Scan the area above the west-northwestern horizon about 45 minutes after sundown, and you should spy Mercury. Be sure to have a near unobstructed view of the horizon. With your naked eye you will notice that orange coloured Mercury does not look like a Star. You will see! The diminutive world produces its finest evening display of 2015 early this month.

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Housing & Mortgage Update Feburary 27, 2014

Still, the consensus contains no house price fall over the next three years. Instead, they are expected to rise 2.2 percent this year, 1.0 percent in 2015 and 0.8 percent in 2016.

Bank of Montreal and Scotiabank both lowered rates Tuesday although, like the Royal Bank, neither issued a news release announcing the changes.

For example, Scotiabank lowered its five-year closed fixed term mortgage 10 basis points to 3.49 per cent on its website Tuesday, down from 3.59 per cent posted on the site Monday.

BMO, meanwhile, lowered a number of its rates between 10 and 20 basis points, including its posted five-year fixed rate to 3.69 per cent from 3.89 per cent, according to Ratehub.ca.

The change follow a move on the weekend by RBC to quietly lower its rates on several fixed-rate mortgages by 10 basis points, bringing its five-year closed rate to 3.69 per cent.

RBC said in an email Monday that it was only matching lower rates offered by other financial institutions.

"Competitors have been pricing at lower rates for several weeks and this rate change now puts us in line," the bank said.

Call Me! I have 5 yr fixed mortgages available at 2.99% with no fees!

The Conjuction of the Moon & Venus February 25th, 2014

Beautiful cold morning watching The Moon and Venus rise in the southeast sky as seen here in the country today!

Comet ISON!

As of today we still don’t know if Comet ISON will put on a good show or a potentially historic one. Either way we are keen to follow as it brightens.  It now comes within range of 8-inch telescopes. By month’s end, you might be able to spot it through a 4-inch scope.  ISON is approaching Earth from the morning side, so potential comet-watchers will need to view it about two hours before sunrise. ISON lies low in the east before dawn, just north of the hazy glow of the Beehive star cluster (M44), which lies in the constellation Cancer the Crab. That nearby bright orange “star” is actually the planet Mars. With the nights getting longer and the air so crisp and clear, autumn is a great season for stargazing.  Venus meets Saturn after sunset this month in the west.  Venus brightness dazzles while Saturn’s magnificent ring system is visible only through telescopes. You can spy the pair low in the southwest during twilight.  September's predawn hours feature excellent views of Jupiter and the passage of Mars through the Beehive star cluster (M44).

Home Sales February 2012, Average Price Up

Greater Toronto Area (GTA) REALTORS® reported 5,759 sales through the TorontoMLS system in February 2013 – a decline of 15 per cent in comparison to February 2012.  
Now the good news for home owners, The average selling price for February 2013 was $510,580 – up 2%  in comparison to February 2012.
However, months of inventory in the low-rise market segment will remain low, resulting in average price growth above 3% for the TREB market area this year. Our current average price forecast is $515,000 for all home types combined in 2013. If you are thinking of buying a home in 2013, lets talk now. Regards!

Comet PannSTARRS

Discovered on June 6, 2011 it carries the name of the telescope and observing program that discovered it.

On March 9 and 10, it passes within 45 million kilometers of the Sun and will stand some 7° high in the west 30 minutes after sunset. It should glow brightest then. A crescent Moon can guide you to the comet March 12 and 13. On the 12th, PANSTARRS stands to the upper left of our satellite; the next evening, the comet lies to the Moon’s lower right.

The first glimpse of this comet occurs tomorrow evening if you check 30 mins after sundown close to due west and close to the horizon. Viewing opportunity until March 17, then the moon interferes and by Easter weekend it will be approx 10 degrees above the horizon, however a telephoto lens or binoculars are required as it fades..The comet should remain visible for a full hour after the Sun sets. This pretty much guarantees that you’ll be able to see Comet PANSTARRS from any location with reasonably clear skies and an unobstructed western horizon. From a dark observing site, you still may be able to see the comet’s tail arcing among the stars even after the comet’s head sets.

Clear skies!

Asteroid 2012 DA14

On February 15th/16th the asteroid 2012 DA14 will fly past the Earth at a distance of only 34000 km (inside the ring of geostationary satellites).

It will not be visible to the naked eye, but should be visible through binoculars if you know where to look. I’ve spent time plotting its course which passes through the handle of the Big Dipper for this coming Friday night. It will be a very difficult to spot.

Scientists say they are sure there is no chance of the 150 ft  wide space rock hitting the planet. Experts have calculated it will stay at least 17,200 miles (27,681km) away - easily far enough to be safe, but a very close shave in astronomical terms. We have never observed such a narrow miss before.

It was detected in February last year by La Sagra Observatory in southern Spain as it fell under the spotlight of the Sun's rays. Travelling at 18,641mph (30,000kph) - around five miles (8km) a second, the astroid will cruise inside the orbits of high geostationary satellites some 22,000 miles (35,406km) above the Earth. Yikes I say!