Lending Library (members only)
Meetings of Halifax Centre are from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM on the FIRST SATURDAY of the month (except July and August). There may be exceptions if the date falls on a holiday weekend.
In lieu of face-to-face meetings, we now host Members' Meetings using Zoom. All meetings and special sessions are recorded and are accessible on the RASC Halifax Centre YouTube channel.
June 4, 2021 - Halifax Centre Members' Meeting
Time: 1:00 PM Atlantic (12:00 Noon, Eastern)
Pre-Registration for the meeting is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Included in this month's Member's Meeting are:
Paul Gray - Photo Montage
Paul Heath - Food for the Soul
David Hoskin will present the What's up in June Skies?
Judy Black - News from the Board
Special Presentations:
The Past, Present and the Future
Peter Jedicke (London Centre) - Urania Has Lead Us Here: a Personal History of the RASC
We are in the fourth phase of the RASC's evolution from a local organization to a 21st-century NGO. This presentation will focus on the fun & enjoyment of astronomy and completely ignore the squabbling & the headaches of decades past.
Karim Jaffer (Montreal Centre) - Using Robotic Telescopes for Student Engagement
Prof. Karim Jaffer will detail several activities and projects that the Introductory Astronomy Science students engage in at John Abbott College using Remote Telescopes and databases, including some with RASC mentors providing assistance in image processing and hands-on night sky excursions...and will share student feedback on the impact of these experiences.
Chris Young (Halifax, Centre) - Sky Lore
Astro-Chat:
Following the Members' Meeting, there will be 60 minutes in which members and guests can stay online for social time. An opportunity to catch up with each other, ask questions, etc. Join us! NOTE: This segment is informal and will not be recorded!
Heads Up! Mark your Calendars! 2022 Meeting Dates & Events
August 26-28: Nova East Star Party @ Smiley's Provincial Park
Dr. Donald Beddard (Ottawa Research Centre) + Jim Johnston (Volunteer, NL): Topic - Photometric characterization of satellites and space debris objects.
Dave Chapman - What’s in a Name? How celestial objects are named.
Chris Young - Sky Lore
December 3, 2022 (Meeting + AGM) - TBD
Members may be found observing at the St. Croix Observatory on almost every clear, dark night. Once a month, we encourage members and their guests to congregate at SCO, at which time new members are particularly welcome.
Members are advised to sign up to the email discussion list to keep up to date on gatherings of fellow observers.
For over 30 years, the RASC Halifax Centre and other local groups have hosted the Nova East Star Party. It was originally established as the camping and observing weekend for the Halifax Centre and has grown to include participants from other astronomy clubs in the Atlantic region, and a number of attendees from the northeastern United States.
All participants come to enjoy dark skies on a weekend near the new Moon phase towards the end of summer. Nova East is held at Smiley's Provincial Park, near Windsor, Nova Scotia. A limiting magnitude of +6 is the norm.
Nova East registrants have access to all events, including all talks, workshops and presentations, three nights of observing (weather permitting!), the potluck BBQ, the astronomers' breakfasts and the door prizes draw. Nova East Registrants have onsite parking (if camping) or adjacent site parking (if not camping).
In 2019, the RASC Halifax Centre revised the structure and criteria of the astrophotography contest that had traditionally been part of Nova East. There are now 3 categories to enter favourite photos - Deep-Sky, Wide-Field and Solar System. The 2019 winners can be seen here.
One of Halifax Centre’s objectives is to stimulate interest and to promote and increase knowledge in astronomy and related sciences. Consequently, members of Halifax Centre are active in promoting astronomy education in Nova Scotia and are proud of the outreach events they hold every year.
The Centre participates in numerous activities throughout the year. For example, if there is an astronomical event, such as an eclipse, the Centre attempts to organize special public sessions for all to enjoy. Every year, our Centre provides Galileo moments (instances of personal astronomical experience or discovery) to more than 4,000 Nova Scotians. It’s wonderful to hear “oh, wow” when someone looks up to see something in our Universe for the first time.
Upcoming Outreach Events:
If there any questions about outreach or you would like to have your outreach event known, please contact our Outreach Chair.
