The
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and allied 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 ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a major tourism destination seeing more than 3.65 million visitors a year who inject more than one billion dollars into the local economy. Victoria is a cruise ship port where...
.
The RASC is the
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
equivalent of the
British Astronomical AssociationThe British Astronomical Association, BAA, is the senior national association of amateur astronomers in the UK.It was founded in London in 1890. It encourages observational astronomy by non-professionals in areas which cannot be covered by professional observatories...
. It was founded informally in the 1800s, but received a
royal charterIn medieval Europe, royal charters were used to create cities . The date that such a charter was granted is considered to be when a city was "founded", regardless of when the locality originally began to be settled.At one time a royal charter was the only way in which an incorporated body could be...
in 1903 from
King Edward VIIEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910...
.
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The
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and allied 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 ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a major tourism destination seeing more than 3.65 million visitors a year who inject more than one billion dollars into the local economy. Victoria is a cruise ship port where...
.
The RASC is the
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
equivalent of the
British Astronomical AssociationThe British Astronomical Association, BAA, is the senior national association of amateur astronomers in the UK.It was founded in London in 1890. It encourages observational astronomy by non-professionals in areas which cannot be covered by professional observatories...
. It was founded informally in the 1800s, but received a
royal charterIn medieval Europe, royal charters were used to create cities . The date that such a charter was granted is considered to be when a city was "founded", regardless of when the locality originally began to be settled.At one time a royal charter was the only way in which an incorporated body could be...
in 1903 from
King Edward VIIEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910...
. The society incorporated nationally in 1968, prior to which its incorporation was limited to
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
. The headquarters is in
TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
.
There are about 4200 members from coast to coast to coast, and internationally. The membership, composed primarily of amateurs, also includes numerous professional astronomers and astronomy educators. Many members are relatively new to astronomy as a hobby. Introducing members and the general public to astronomy and the social aspects of the hobby is a big part of the Society's activities.
Each of the Centres of the Society conducts 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 in astroimaging.
Most Centres have public education programs, including special star nights during the summer months when thousands of people are given an opportunity to look through a telescope courtesy of an RASC volunteer.
The RASC also publishes a number of books and periodicals. These include the annual Observer's Handbook, now in its 101st edition (2009), which is found in observatory control rooms and astronomer's reference shelves worldwide. Also published is a six issue per year magazine called the Journal and an annual astronomical wall calendar, called the Observer's Calendar, featuring photos by members.
The current president is Dave Lane (2008-2010). His term will expire at the 2010 Annual Meeting to be held in Fredericton, NB.
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