Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Abbreviation	RASC
Formation	1868
Type	Organizations based in Canada
Legal status	active
Purpose	advocate and public voice, educator and network to advance astronomy and allied sciences
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Region served	Canada
Membership	4200 members, 29 centres
Official language	English, French
President	Glenn Hawley
Staff	3 at national office
Website	http://www.rasc.ca/

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and related sciences. At present, there are 29 local branches of the Society, called centres, located in towns and cities across the country from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia. There are about 4200 members from coast to coast to coast, and internationally. The membership is composed primarily of amateurs and also includes numerous professional astronomers and astronomy educators. The RASC is the Canadian equivalent of the British Astronomical Association.

History

The RASC has its original roots in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where in 1868 a group of friends began meeting as part of the "Toronto Astronomical Club". The club was formally incorporated as "The Astronomical and Physical Society of Toronto" in 1890, and this is considered the founding date of the Society. The club grew over time, and by 1900, surrounding communities were affiliated with the group. On March 3rd, 1903 the club was renamed to the "Royal Astronomical Society of Canada" after petitioning King Edward VII to use the prefix "Royal" in the group's name. At the time it had 120 members. In the more than a century since its formal incorporation, the RASC has expanded across Canada with Centres in 29 cities, reaching every province of Canada.

Organization

Mandate

The RASC mandate is five-fold:

1. to stimulate interest and to promote and increase knowledge in astronomy and related sciences;
2. to acquire and maintain equipment, libraries and other property necessary for the pursuit of its aims;
3. to publish journals, books and other material containing information on the progress of astronomy and the work of the Society;
4. to receive and administer gifts, donations and bequests from members of the Society and others;
5. to make contributions and render assistance to individuals and institutions engaged in the study and advancement of astronomy.

National Office

The national office of the Society in Toronto employs three staff. Executive Director Deborah Thompson, National Office Administrator Renata Koziol, and Membership and Publications Coordinator Kate Fane.

National Council

Honorary President

• Non-voting member of Council

Executive

• President (2 year term)
• 1st Vice-President (2 year term, Chair of Publications Committee and member of Constitution Committee)
• 2nd Vice-President (2 year term, member of Finance Committee)
• Treasurer (3 year term, Chair of Finance Committee)
• National Secretary (3 year term)
• Executive Director (Appointed - non-voting)

Past Presidents

• Immediate two Past Presidents

Appointed Officers

• Observer's Handbook Editor (5 year term)
• Recorder (up to 3 years)
• Journal Editor (5 year term)

Staff (Non-voting)

• National Office Manager

Standing Committee Chairs

• Awards (Past President)
• Constitution
• Education
• Executive (See above)
• Finance (Treasurer)
• History
• Membership and Promotion
• Nominating (One Past President)
• Observing
• Publications (1st V-P)

Special Committee Chairs

• Green Laser Pointer
• Information Technology
• Light-Pollution Abatement

Conduction of Business

The RASC conducts business between the National Council representatives and the Centres in four quarterly meetings. At a meeting, each Centre is represented by one or more voting members. The annual general meetings is traditionally held on the May or July long weekend, and is called the General Assembly (GA). The GA is hosted by one of the Centres, with annual meetings usually altering between eastern and western Canada. Meetings follow Robert's Rules of Order and are governed by the bylaws of the Society.

Members of Note

The RASC has many prestigious and well known members. Some are well known for their accomplishments, and others for their recognition with the Order of Canada.

Current Honorary President Dr. James (Jim) Hesser (2009-2013)

The Director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory at the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Victoria, British Columbia. Jim led the Canadian team of amateur and professional astronomers and educators that made International Year of Astronomy so successful.

Charles M. Good, President of the Montreal Centre, was the first Canadian President of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), from 1971 to 1973. <www.aavso.org/officers-aavso-1911-2011>

Centres

Each of the centres of the Society conduct a variety of activities of interest to its members and to the public. At regular meetings, well-known professional and amateur astronomers give lectures on a variety of topics of current interest. In addition, there are study and special-interest groups. Most centres publish their own newsletters and hold their own group-observing events. Some members take part in regular observations of variable stars, lunar occultations, sunspots, meteors, comets and other phenomena; others develop special skills such as astroimaging at workshops.

Outreach

Most centres have public education programs, including special outreach star nights when the public is given an opportunity to look through a telescope courtesy of a RASC volunteer. In 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, many centres were instrumental in organizing events of educational astronomy outreach for their local communities. The RASC's Light Pollution Abatement Committee also administrates Canada's Dark-sky preserve program, working with provincial and national parks to create management agreements to preserve the darkness of the nighttime sky.

Resources

Many centres have observing equipment, libraries, and observing locations. For example, the Victoria centre has telescopes and a large library of books and periodicals available to members in good standing. Additionally the Victoria centre built and operates the "RASC Victoria Centre Observatory (RASC VCO)" which is located at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory.

Publications and Awards

The RASC publishes a number of books and periodicals, and issues awards to recognize accomplishments in astronomy and outreach activities.

Recurring Publications

The annual Observer's Handbook (ISBN 978-0-0913292-1-5) can be found in observatory control rooms and astronomers' reference shelves worldwide. Published in the autumn of the year, the 352-page handbook contains detailed information on astronomical events in the upcoming year and is an in-depth reference of significant astronomical data such as observing techniques, physical constants, and optical properties of telescopes. The 104th edition was published in 2011, covering events in 2012.

The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (ISSN 0035-872X) (bib. code - JRASC), continuously published since 1907, is a bi-monthly periodical that features articles about Canadian astronomers, activities of the RASC and its Centres, and peer-reviewed research papers.

The Observer's Calendar (ISBN 978-0-9813292-4-6) features photos of an astronomical subject taken by amateur astronomers using CCD and other camera equipment on amateur instruments. Each photograph is given an informative caption along with comprehensive astronomical data for dates throughout each month.

The Beginner's Observing Guide; An Introduction to the Night Sky for the Novice Stargazer (ISBN 0-9689141-5-2) is an in-depth guide for beginning astronomers and features a look at the sky using modest telescopes, binoculars and the naked eye. Six bi-month foldout constellation maps are featured.

See also

• Société d'astronomie de Montréal

References

• Broughton, R. Peter (1994), Looking up: a history of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Dundurn Press, ISBN 1-55002-208-3

• Scientific and technical societies of the United States and Canada, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, 1961

External links

• Official website
• Links to individual RASC Centres' websites.