The Beyond IYA (BIYA) committee is pleased to announce that our Discover the Universe / À la découverte de l'Univers online astronomy webinar program has been awarded a $3500 grant through the Saint Mary’s University SEEP (Student Employment Experience Program). This will enable the program to hire a SMU student on a part-time term basis to expand the reach and scope of the exisiting program, making it even more successful.

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 National members, for those bright and shining stars that deserve recognition. Go to 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 2013.

Interested in occultation astronomy? Plan now to attend the 31st Annual Meeting of the International Occultation Timing Association in Toronto from October 4-6th at the David Dunlap Observatory. Occultation enthusiasts from across North America plus remote participants from around the world will be participating in series of informative presentations, a live occultation event in Muskoka and more.

There is no admission charge for this event.

TORONTO, CANADA (Aug. 2, 2013) – On June 28, 2013 the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) officially designated North Frontenac Township (NFT) as a new RASC Dark Sky Preserve through its National Certification Program. NFT is the 16^th Dark Sky Preserve in Canada, and the first Municipality to be designated by the RASC.

North Frontenac Township is in eastern Ontario, southwest of Ottawa and northwest of Kingston.

RASC Designates Wood Buffalo National Park as a New Dark Sky Preserve

TORONTO, CANADA (Aug 2, 2013) – On June 28, 2013 the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) officially designated Wood Buffalo National Park as a new RASC Dark Sky Preserve through its National Certification Program. Wood Buffalo is the 17^th Dark Sky Preserve in Canada, and the first northern park, to be designated by the RASC.

A sizeable portion of famed astronomer Sir John Herschel's library has turned up in Toronto! Thanks to the dedicated sleuthing of RASC historian Peter Broughton, hundreds of volumes from William Herschels' son's Collingwood library have been identified in the University of Toronto library system. Many of the volumes contain Sir John's own annotations.

Dear Colleagues,

I'm very happy to inform you that the Transit of Venus event we organized at Varsity Stadium last year won two awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The news item is here:

This July, the University of Alberta’s Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology (ISSET) is please to offer week-long Space Academy Camps for space enthusiast in grades 3-9.

ISSET’s innovative high-tech programs provide opportunities for students to explore space science concepts through activities in hands-on exploration, discovery, and critical thinking right alongside our experts from the U of A’s Institute for Space Science, Exploration and Technology.

Toronto, Canada (May 17, 2013) – Join members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) when they host a rare lecture tour by famous Canadian astronomer and comet-discover, David H. Levy.

David H. Levy, internationally renowned Canadian astronomer and science writer is famous for his co-discovery in 1993 of the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994. Levy has discovered 22 comets, and written over 34 books. The asteroid 3673 Levy was named in his honour.

Here is Dr. Levy’s tour schedule: