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The Oakville BeaverGuest Column467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on theIn search of the Messier Listcondition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be chargedfor, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of theOakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.very year, amateur astronomers around the globe participate in the MessierNEIL OLIVERVice-President and Group Publisher,MARK DILLSDirector of Productionmarathon to test their observing abilities.Metroland WestMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerELike athletes of the night sky, endurance, fortitude and astronomical knowl-DAVID HARVEY Regional General ManagerCHARLENE HALLDirector of Distributionedge are prerequisites to participate in this all-night event. The goal is to spot as manyJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. Managerof the 110 Messier objects as possible. Some objects include galaxies, nebulae, stars andROD JERREDManaging EditorWEBSITE oakvillebeaver.comclusters. All are visible through backyard telescopes and some can be seen with bin-DANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofoculars and the naked eye. However, its a real challenge to see all of them that few haveRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography Directormastered. Astronomy clubs like the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers, also use theSANDY PAREBusiness Managerevent as a fundraiser to help promote astronomy in the community. RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY:Early spring is chosen to hold the marathon since the Earth is at the right positionOntario CommunityCanadian Community Suburban NewspapersNewspapers AssociationNewspapers Associationof Americaand the nights are long enough to see the objects. The list was created by comethunter Charles Messier in 1771. Initially, there were only 45 objects on it, but it grewTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:over time. It was actually a list of objects to avoid that might be mistaken as comets.Here are some important events for March stargazers.United Wayof OakvilleMercury will be low in the western sky during evening twilight, and Venus will beATHENAlow in the southeast sky at dawn. Mars, unfortunately, is behind the sun and cannot beAwardseen this month.Jupiter is very low in the western sky at dusk and will be lost in twilight later in themonth. Saturn rises mid-evening and will be high in the south after midnight.Uranus appears low in the western sky at dusk, but is lost in twilight by mid-month.Neptune is difficult to see since its low in the southeast during morning twilight.March 4 New moonMarch 6 The moon is at apogee or farthest away from us this month at 406,582kmMarch 11 Hamilton Amateur Astronomers meeting at 7:30 p.m., HamiltonSpectator building, 44 Frid St., Hamilton. Featured speaker will be Robert Godwinfrom Apogee Books. He will discuss science fiction space flight and energy. Admissionis free with a non-perishable food donation for local food banks.March 12 First quarter moonMarch 13 Daylight saving beginsMarch 19 The full moon, known as the Worm Moon, will appear larger thannormal because its closer to the Earth than at any other time in 2011. It will be atperigee at 356,577 km away. The Worm Moon received its name from First Nationspeople, who noticed worms coming up from the mushy soil. Its also known as the FullCrow Moon, Full Crust Moon and Full Sap Moon. March 20 The Vernal Equinox marks the long awaited first day of spring. Thesun will be directly over the equator. Night and day will also be equal lengths. Fromnow on the days will become longer. This day also marks the first day of fall in theMICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVERsouthern hemisphere.DREAMIN' OF SCHOOL:Levi Bennett, 6, enjoys a plate of spaghetti at a Community Spaghetti DinnerMarch 26 Last quarter moonevent held recently at New Central Public School. It was in support of the school's commitment to raise $8,500 toFor more information, visit www.amateurastronomy.org or call 905-627-4323.build a school in Kenya through Free the Children's Me to We Brick by Brick campaign. It was one of numerousMario Carr is the groups director of public education and can be reached atin-school fundraising initiatives led by New Central's student Global Voices Team. The event raised $3,500 to bemariocarr@cogeco.ca.added to the $3,200 already raised, making the dream a step away from becoming reality. How he became known as the human plague to houseplantsor Valentines Day, I bought each of the lovely ladies in my out and buy anew bring fresh, fabulous ineptitude in this area and the fact that she never came withinlife a healthy, hardy houseplant from a local flower shop. life home to brighten our abode for the a country mile of actually catching a squirrel she admirablyFSince I inevitably end up looking after the plants in our holidays. Two poinsettias were on life sup-never gave up hope. When it comes to plants, Im like Franny.house, I insisted to the sales person that my purchases be idiot port by New Years. The leaves on a third Naively, unrealistically, perhaps moronically, I cant help but thinkproof that is, particularly hardy, and not at all temperamental, plant are now browning and curling up the next plant I bring home will inexplicably flourish under mygiven my history and the dismal survival rate of plants in my care.like a Billy Idol sneer, mocking me every care.Upon receipt of the beautiful botany, my wonderful wife and time I pass by. Others apparently arent so sure. We recently renovated a fewour darling daughter giddily gushed over my largess. Last summer, my wife desired fresh rooms. After a load of labor, the rooms were done save for the fewTwelve days after Valentines Day, we were feeding the remains herbs to plant on the balcony and use to finishing touches that would offer additional homeyness. To thatAndy Juniperof the dearly departed once-healthy, and allegedly hardy, plants to spice up our cooking. These outdoor end, my wife returned from a shopping trip armed with (gasp)the compost.herbs were to replace the indoor herbs artificial flowers. At first I thought it was a joke. Seriously: plasticToo much water. Not enough water. Too much light. Too little that Id recently killed in the kitchen. I went out and bought all the plants?light. Who the heck knows what killed these pampered princesses? usual suspects: basil, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Oh, I also You know, I said, plants real plants can help us live aWho knows what makes plants tick? Hey, I once had a boss who bought some tomato plants that, miraculously, would survive the healthier life. They convert carbon dioxide to oxygen and they trapritually fed his ficus the remains of milky, sugary tea. And it summer but, alas, only yield a few hard, green tomatoes. As for the and absorbs pollutants.thrived.herbs: the hardier ones lasted a month, but most were dead within Yeah, she replied. If they liveAlas, around here, the post-St. Valentines Day Massacre was a week. Imagine: herbs, pushing up daisies.Ouch. Around here, I have become known as the man who isnot an isolated incident. It was more like a pattern. One you can I know youre thinking that I should just give up on purchasing the plague to all plants.bank on.plants, admit defeat, and quietly move on with my life.Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, found onBefore Christmas, I looked around our home and saw assorted We used to have a dog that hunted squirrels in our backyard. Facebook http://www.facebook.com, or followed at www.twitter.com/house plants in various states of rueful decline and I decided to go Her name was Franny and, despite her enduring and endearing thesportjesters.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, March 3, 2011 6