Across the RASC

Rob Cardinal, an astronomer at the University of Calgary's Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, is the second Canadian observer to discover a comet using a Canadian telescope this decade. The discovery was made on 1 October 2008 with the observatory's 0.5m f/1.0 Baker-Nunn telescope. Cardinal was using this wide-field instrument to search for asteroids at the time of the discovery. Observatory director Phil Langill credits the local community's light-pollution abatement efforts for keeping the skies dark just 35 km outside of Calgary.

The astronomical community welcomes a new book on variable stars by the RASC's most esteemed expert on the subject, Dr. John Percy. Understanding Variable Stars (ISBN 9780521232531) was published this spring by Cambridge University Press. In Dr. Percy's own words:

Hamilton Centre's banquet is fast approaching! You can still purchase tickets or reserve seats to be paid at the door by contacting Centre President John Williamson (john DOT williamson AT sympatico DOT ca).

Saturday, July 29, was the tenth annual star night at the Pinery Provincial Park, located on the Lake Huron shore about 70km northwest of London. With 1000 campsites, Pinery is one of the largest of Ontario's overnight parks. 18 RASC London Centre members participated and there were 13 telescopes set up. A crowd of about 700 sat on the benches in the park Amphitheatre to hear RASC London Centre president Dave McCarter give an illustrated talk called "Tour the Summer Milky Way."

On June 18th David Lane (Halifax) and Paul Gray (Moncton) will be the topic of a special feature on CBC Radio's Maritime Magazine. Taped during the past month the separate interviews have been assembled into a segment about their 10 years of supernova hunting failures and successes.

Come Party under the stars with the members of RASC Winnipeg Centre, at the 2nd Annual Spruce Woods Summer Star Party, Labour Day long weekend, September 1 - 4. Early Registration ends on August 15th, so save a few dollars and sign up now.

One of the best things about the RASC is that we are a national community, but our strength is based on our local presence in our 27 Centres. To participate in this national scene is one of the main reasons I enjoy being National President so much. I've now attended 51 Centre meetings since my term began, and the last two weeks were a hectic highlight for me. I visited these Centres...

RASC London Centre held its 33rd annual banquet on Friday, May 12. About 35 members and guests enjoyed a wonderful buffet meal at Michael's Garden, part of the restaurant complex in the Great Hall at the University of Western Ontario. There was even a cake decorated with the Society's crest.

Congratulations go out to our Astronomy Blog Contest winners as chosen by our President, Mary-Lou Whitehorne:

The 2012 General Assembly Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that the registration for the 2012 General Assembly is now open!