Members and their guests are invited to attend the Annual BBQ & Observing night to the St. Croix Observatory (SCO).
 
Date: Saturday Sept. 7 2024
 
Time: BBQ start time to be determined, but it was last at 5:00 PM ADT, observing sometime after 8:00 PM when the stars begin to shine

Place: St. Croix Observatory
 
Burgers (beef, chicken and veggie), hotdogs, condiments, veggie tray, chips, cookies and a special cake will be provided to those in attendance. Hot (tea, instant coffee, hot chocolate) & cold (pop, water) beverages will also be provided.
 
Reminder: Any headlamp or flashlight you bring must be a red light or be covered with red cellophane.
 
Members are invited to stay (skies be willing) for an informal observing session following the BBQ - bring your astronomy gear. Representatives from Minas Energy will also be in attendance for us to show them why we appreciate this site.
 
For those new to astronomy and/or are visual observers, bring your binoculars (and telescopes if you have one) - you can see some wonderful objects in the sky. The Astroimagers in our Centre will be there taking pictures of the night skies that I am sure they would love to share. 
 
Bring layers of warm clothing to ensure you stay warm from the time of the BBQ through the observing session. There is a Warm Room and warm beverages will be available throughout the evening should anyone get cold, but be prepared for a cooler evening outdoors.
 
If you have any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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RASC, Halifax Centre Members' Meeting 

Charles Ennis “The Importance of Ethnoastronomy” (open to the public)

Meetings of Halifax Centre are from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM on the FIRST SATURDAY of the month (except July and August and OCT 2023). There may be exceptions if the date falls on a holiday weekend. All meetings and special sessions are recorded and are accessible on the RASC Halifax Centre YouTube channel. 

Time: Jan. 11th, 1:00 PM Atlantic (12:00 Noon, Eastern)
Place: Room AT101, The Atrium, Saint Mary's University or by Zoom

Saint Mary's University encourages masks to be worn in classrooms.

We would love to see you at Saint Mary's University. However, if you are a distant member or would prefer not to attend at this time, you can attend via Zoom. If there is a change in location at SMU, we will notify members beforehand.

Register for the Zoom meeting using this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

 

Member's Meeting

  • Welcome & Introductions - David Hoskin
  • Photo Montage - David Hoskin
  • ETU Guides for sale
  • Charles Ennis - “The Importance of Ethnoastronomy”

    This World Asterisms Project is a living project started in June 2021 by the Inclusivity and Diversity Committee of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as a celebration of the sky cultures of the world: It continues to grow as the process of naming the stars above is an ongoing process. It is also growing as ethnoastronomers and researchers investigate old records and interview elders and recover previously lost sky cultures. We are stewards of these records and are using the “Two Eyes Seeing” approach pioneered by members of our Halifax Centre of the RASC in their ongoing partnership with the Mi’kmaq people to recover their sky lore: the shared perspectives of astronomers and knowledge keepers. We are identifying the asterisms here and whenever possible directing people to representatives of the cultures involved for information on the sky stories or dream lines related to those asterisms. So far we've got over 16,000 asterisms!  

  • Food for the Soul - Paul Heath
  • What's Up in Dec? -  David Hoskin
  • News from the Board - Tony McGrath
  
Charles Ennis
Paul Heath
David Hoskin
Tony McGrath
 
Upcoming: General Meeting Dates 

February 1 
March 1- Robin Foret - RASC Awards
April 5
May 3
June 7
  (no meetings July/August)
September 6
October 4
November 1
December 6 (+ AGM)

 
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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.

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The viewing field at Nova East

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).

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  1. Outreach

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