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Astronomy Outreach

Astronomy Outreach

Music for observing the transit of Venus!
Written by RASC Transit of Venus team on Mon, 2012/05/07

The RASC's transit of Venus website now features the web premier of a piece of new/old transit of Venus (ToV) music. Ever wondered where all the 17th-18th century ToV themed music is? There's some evidence that it might have been part of the casual improvisatory musical culture of the time. Wonder what that would sound like? The RASC Archivist has created an example based on the bass pattern of a dance from John Blow's Venus and Adonis (1683).

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Astronomy Outreach

Inaugural RASC Astroketchers' Contest!
Written by Randall Rosenfeld on Mon, 2012/03/05

The entries for the first RASC Astrosketchers' Contest have now been received, and they are of stellar quality!

Images can be viewed at the gallery: http://rasc.ca/inaugural-rasc-astroketchers-contest.

The judging period runs from now till 2012 March 18 inclusive. For details visit the site.

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Astronomy Outreach

Nobel Prize winner funds school astronomy program
Written by Mary Lou Whitehorne on Wed, 2011/12/07

Dr. Brian Schmidt, who won this year's Nobel Prize for Physics (with Dr. Saul Perlmutter and Dr. Adam Riess; see December 2011 JRASC, page 228), is using part of his prize money to fund an astronomy education program discontinued by the Australian government.

For more information see the full story here:

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Astronomy Outreach

New Qilak Award for Astronomy Outreach and Communication
Written by Dave Lane, Halifax on Fri, 2011/09/30

The Awards Committee formally announces and calls for the first nominations for the new Qilak Award for Astronomy Outreach and Communication. This award was developed jointly and is sponsored by the RASC, the Canadian Astronomical Society and la Fédération des Astronomes Amateurs du Québec and results directly from the partnership formed for International Year of Astronomy. Each organization may select only one award recipient each year.

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Astronomy Outreach

IDA Award given to Jennifer West
Written by James Edgar, Regina on Fri, 2011/04/29

Today, the International Dark-Sky Association announce the 2011 award winners. Jennifer West of Winnipeg Centre was one of the awardees in the category "Student Award" under the Dark-Sky Defender banner. Go here for more information: www.darksky.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=443

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Astronomy Outreach

Grow Centre membership and meeting content
Written by MAP, National Office on Mon, 2010/12/20

Below are a couple of links from the Astronomy Society of the Pacific regarding welcoming (an re-welcoming?) members to meetings to help ease some of the awkwardness and assumptions regarding astronomy.

Help make new members feel welcomed and appreciated... we were all new at one time... A nice reminder regarding a mentor 'facilitator' as well.

The link is mentions "clubs" but it is also relevant to EPO activities!

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Astronomy Outreach

Short on volunteers for your Centre?
Written by National Office on Mon, 2010/09/27

Many of us would like to do our little part for the Centre/Society or the hobby in general but where do we find the time??? Or we don't want to feel obligated to commit to a year term (or 2 years!!! or implied... indefinitely if no one else puts their hand up?)...

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Astronomy Outreach

International Observe the Moon Night: 18 September 2010
Written by MAP, National Office on Fri, 2010/09/10

Roland Deschene with support from MAP, Education, Outreach, National Executive Director Deborah, as well as our new President Mary Lou have collaborated on outreach pamphlets for the lunar event.

In the final edits for our first Lunar International event are near completion. This is an initial project and the documents will continue to develop over time with feedback from other Centres and based on feedback from our outreach events.

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Astronomy Outreach

Green Laser Pointers - Smart Use
Written by Randall Rosenfeld, National Office on Fri, 2010/07/30

It's high summer, the season of star parties, and the chance to show the public the Summer Triangle brightly set in the Milky Way, the radiants of outstanding meteor displays, and brilliant planetary conjunctions with your GLPs. With a little care we can all insure that the public remembers the celestial sights, and not GLP operator ineptitude leading to memorable but unplanned law enforcement interventions at star parties. The GLP Committee has prepared a poster to remind Society members of best practice and inform the public about GLP safety.

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Astronomy Outreach

GA 2010 forum -- Future of the RASC
Written by Randall Rosenfeld, National Office on Fri, 2010/07/09

The GA 2010 open forum and panel discussion,

"BOLDLY NAVIGATING WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE:
the future of the RASC in the 21st century"

is now a radio programme on Starizona's Let's Talk Stars, hosted by David & Wendee Levy (http://www.letstalkstars.com/).

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RASC eNews is maintained by the Membership & Promotion Committee. Contact the eNews team to submit a news item at news@rasc.ca