Astronomers stream lunar views on internet

Astronomers in Ottawa and around the world turned their telescopestoward the moon Saturday and streamed their images live on the internet.

Gary Boyle, one of three Ottawa amateur astronomers taking part in International Observe the Moon Night,uses a huge research telescope of his own.

"It's really my oasis at night when ever it's clear," Boyle said of his backyard observatory in Barrhaven, an Ottawa suburb.

Boyle has been fascinated with astronomy since he was eight years old and discovered a book on the subject in the school library.

"[I enjoy] just reading [about the] dimensions, size, colours of stars and the vastness of the galaxy," he said.

Boyle enjoys sharing his passion, so on Saturday he joined amateur astronomers around the world who focusedtheir telescopes on the moon.

Theystreamed close-ups online for the world to see as a tip of the hat to successful lunar missions conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States.