Across the RASC

Thanks to new information from the European Space Agency's Planck space telescope, the universe has been revealed to be about 80 million years older than previously thought, is expanding slightly slower, has less dark energy, and contains more dark matter and ordinary matter.

Attention all Nova Scotia members!

Tune in to CBC Radio 1 at 5:50 p.m. today to hear Stephanie Domet chat with RASC member and Observer's Handbook Editor Dave Chapman.

The asteroid 2012 DA14 will make a record-setting approach to earth mid-afternoon on February 15^th, 2013. Recently discovered by Spanish astronomers at the Astronomical Observatory of Mallorca, this 45 metre asteroid is the size of half a football field, and its 130,000+ tonnes will be speeding past Earth at 28,100 km/h. 

 RASC's National Office has recently set up an official Facebook page!

While there's little chance of a collison, astronomers around the world will be watching the skies tonight as asteroid Apophis (which caused a mild panic in 2004 after predictions of its possible impact) passes within 15 million kilometres of the Earth.

The Calgary Centre Council regrets to announce that the Calgary Centre has lost one of its long time members. Dick Lowndes passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 29 in Calgary. Dick and his wife Marg were regulars at almost all of Calgary Centre’s events. In addition to his regular volunteering at public outreach events, Dick was an active member of the Calgary Centre’s Council for years, including a role on the Executive as our Treasurer.

Do you know someone who has done outstanding work in the RASC? Do they qualify for one of the RASC’s national awards? A list of national awards is given below. Please look within your Centre, and among our unattached members, for those bright and shining stars that deserve recognition. Go to www.rasc.ca/awards to check the requirements for these national awards, think about the contributions of those hard working RASC members that you know, and nominate them for an award. Now is the time! Nominations are due on 31 December 2012.