The sun is a Star, too From Terrace, June is a poor month for observing most stars. The Sun, of course, is the exception, and it is our position with respect to the Sun that causes our long evenings and bright early mornings, mak- ing the rest of stars so difficult to see. Most people know two important facts about the earth’s motion about the Sun. First, the axis always (at least in a human lifetime) points to the same direction in space regardless of the Earth’s position in its orbit, Secondly, they know that the -Earth’s north pole is tilted toward the Sun during our summer and away from the Sun during our winter. As well, many people ~ amr by Allen Wooton know of the work of the great German astronomer Johan Kepler (1571-1630) who showed that the planets do not follow circular or- bits about the Sun, Instead the orbits are elliptical, that is, oval in shape. , I’m sure that everyone who knows these facts also knows that it is the tilt of the Earth’s axis that causes the seasons and our long June days. Not so many people realize, however, that we are actually closer to the Sun in our northern hemisphere winter than in our summer. Since Kepler’s time this fact has been known and proved, ‘but it can be very satisfying to get one’s own results that show this. This year I obtained some evidence that shows that the Sun is closer in our winter and I am very pleased to be able to share it with you. My evidence is photographic. I took two sets of pictures of the Sun — one in the summer and another in the winter. The pictures were all taken through the same telescope at the same magnification and were all enlarged the same amount when they were developed. Two of the photos are reproduced so you can see the differences for "yourself. If you carefully measure the diameter of each photo you will see that the one taken in the winter is slightly larger than that taken in the summer. I assume that this difference results from the closer Sun position causing a larger image on the- film. You will notice spots on the picture of the Sun that was taken in: the summer. These are sunspots — cooler regions on the Sun’s sur- face. Coolness is all relative of course, the spots are about 4,000 degrees C, about 2,000 degrees C cooler than the surrounding area of the surface. Sunspots are located in particularly active areas of the Sun that are associated’ with very strong magnetic fields. From near these strong magnetic fields high energy blasts of particles often leave the Sun and travel out into space. When these particles arrive at the Earth they excite atoms within the Earth’s atmosphere and cause these atoms to emit light. The effect, called the aurora, (the aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere) is most noticeable near the Earth’s magnetic poles. Our nothern location may make observation of stars difficult in May, June and July, but it does place us in a region of the Earth in which the aurora is sometimes visible. There have been some really nice displays of them in the last month and a half. I really enjoyed seeing them very early in the morning on April 22 and again in the evening on May 5. On that evening in particular there were beautiful streamers that flickered across the sky in tints of green, violet, and pale white. Perhaps we will have more auroras over the next month; if so, I hope you will be lucky enough to see their beautiful displays. I found it especially pleasing to get several good views of Mercury early last month and was disappointed that the weather later in the month was so poor for viewing. Late May marked the end, for now, of our spectacular evening views of bright planets in the west. In- stead other planets will become more and more prominent in the morning sky before sunrise. Saturn will rise in the east about sunset but it will be located quite far south, Mars and then Jupiter will rise, later in the night. Saturn and Uranus will be very close together on June 27, ; June 20 is one other date to remember — 8:57 p.m. on that-date marks the summer solstice, the first day of summer. Best wishes for a good start to the summer. Tuesday, June 21 — Friends & Families of Schizophrenics Support Group will be holding a meeting at Mills Memorial Hospital in the Psych Con- ference Room at 7:30 p.m. For more info. contact Mental Health at 638-3325. Saturday, July 30 — Terrace Oldtimers’ Reunlon Seventh Annual Banquet will be held at the Terrace Hotel Banquet Room. All Terrace residents who lived in ‘Terrace prior to 1958 are eligible. Skeena Valley Rebekah Lodge holds regutar meetings every second.and fourth Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m. in the Oddfellow’s Hall, 3222 Munroe, Terrace. For more information call 635-2470. Terrace Review — Wednesday, June 1. 1988 23 These photos show the sun during two different seasons — the one on the right was taken during summer, the one on the ieft during winter. Both were taken through a telescope us- ing the same magnification. Is there a difference in the diameters, and if so what would ac- count for the difference? New radio service for Stewart KRBD-FM of Ketchikan, Alaska announced May 9 their receipt of (U.S.) $20,000 to in- stall a translator at Hyder for receiving their radio signal. . Depending on the actual siting of the equipment in the coastal community, it is anticipated that Stewart (3.2 kilometers distant) will also receive the 10 watt FM monaural programiming. KRBD is one of innumerable non- - commercial public radio stations located in the U.S. and outlying territories. by Stewart correspondent Tom Taggart In an interview with CBC- CFPR in Prince Rupert, KRBD’s chief engineer stated that it would be much too costly at present to rebroadcast to Stewart-Hyder in stereo, The funding has been in the legislative pipeline for many years, and is specifically designated for Hyder, but is on- ly adequate for providing the monaural rebroadcasts typical for small, isolated Alaska com-_ Observe visiting hours Mills Memorial Hospital re- quests that the public help by observing hospital visiting regulations. Patients need rest in order to recuperate quickly. Medical Surgical Ward: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Children may visit 3 p.m. to § p-m. on Sundays only. Intensive Care Unit: Visitors are limited to five or ten minutes at the discretion of the nurse or physician. . Psychiatric Unit: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m, Pediatric Unit: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., 8 a.m. to p.m, — parents only, Maternity Ward: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — fathers only. Sibl- ings may visit if accompanied by an adult. Please limit visitors to two per patient. Children under twelve years are not allowed to visit except as noted above. Cooperation would be greatly appreciated by staff and pa- tients. munities. The KRBD signal (on the dial at either 90.0 or 91.9 MHZ) will come to Hyder via satellite, and be received at the dish installed beside the highway shop there, one kilometer inside the Alaska border. The satellite dish was erected by the Alaska govern- ment in 1982 for receiving the Learn Alaska and RATNET television stations from Juneau and Anchorage. - KRBD-FM service to the Stewart-Hyder area lends addi- tional.communications versatili- ty to the two communities (Stewart currently receives via satellite television programming from Detroit) and helps mitigate the anticipated downgrading of CFPR by the Canadian govern- ment in 1988. Historically, CFPR has been the only radio programming received at. Stewart-Hyder with any re- liability. It is hoped by many residents of the area that the new American public radio station will complement the CBC pro- gramming so long relied upon and appreciated. KRBD-FM should be in service to Hyder (and possibly Stewart) by late 1988 or sometime in 1989. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is herby given that a Public Hearing will be held on Tues- day, June 7, 1998 at the offices of the Regional District of Kitimat- Stikine commencing at 7:30 p.m. to receive submissions from all persons who deem their interests to be affected by the proposed bylaw: “Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Electoral Area E and Specified Portion of Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 37, Amendment Bylaw No. 268, 1988." in general terms, the purpose of this amending bylaw is to redesignate the parcel described as lot 1, Block 8, Plan 6734, District Lot 989, Range 5, Coast District, from the High Density Rural (R1) zone to the Neighbourhood Commercial (NC) zone. PRESCEAT FR. NW. 1/4 OF LOT 989 \ STAVER Submissions from the public In respect of proposed Bylaw No. 268 will be received up to and during the public hearing. The proposed bylaw may be inspected at the offices of the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, #300 - 4545 Lazelle Avenue, ’ Terrace, B.C. between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m, to 4:30 p.m. from Monday thru Friday. for further infor- mation, phone 635-7251 Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine