Do you know someone who has done outstanding work in the RASC? Do they qualify for one of the RASC’s national awards? A list of national awards is given below. Please look within your Centre, and among our unattached members, for those bright and shining stars that deserve recognition. Go to rasc.ca/rasc-awards to check the requirements for these national awards, think about the contributions of those hard working RASC members that you know, and nominate them for an award. Now is the time!

Many in the amateur astronomical world now know the story of how a young David Levy was nearly expelled from the Society 45 years ago. Familiarity with the tale is due in no small part to Dr. Levy's candid retelling of it, and the unexpectedly happy outcome of the event; he continued to observe, he became famous, and he refused to repudiate us. Now one of the prime surviving documents shaping that affair has gone online.

The International Astronomical Union has confirmed the naming of Asteroid (260235) Attwood in honour of RASC Life Member Randy Attwood. Among his many accomplishments Randy is a Past President of both the Toronto and Mississauga Centres, a Past President of the Society, and winner of the Society's Service Award. He is currently editor of Space Quarterly magazine and Past President of the Mississauga Centre.

The Hamilton Centre Banquet is still on, but at a new location - Burlington Holiday Inn on the South Service Road.

Unfortunately the Oakville Holiday Inn where we are hosting our Swap Meet and Banquet suffered a catastrophic electrical transformer failure. It actually exploded and took out several load bearing walls.

We've had to postpone the swap meet as we can't find a new venue in time.  The new banquet location is:

Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre
3063 South Service Road, Burlington, ON L7N 3E9
 

Watch RASC members Jay Pasachoff, Ralph Chou, and R.A. Rosenfeld talk about the upcoming transit of Venus on https://www.youtube.com/user/UTSIC/videos. These presentations were videoed at the recent symposium on the transit presented by the Dunlap Institute, UTSIC, the RASC, and other sponsors.

Buy, sell or trade all things astronomy? An honored speaker and a great meal! Meet astronomers from all over. Get your tickets now for the Canadian Astronomy Swap Meet and Banquet at http://www.astrocasm.com before they are all gone.  June 9th, 2012 in Oakville, ON.  Hamilton Centre is bringing in Terrence Dickinson, and hosting this event, open to everyone.  Rent a table space and bring your astro-goodies that you want to sell, or come and browse commercial and individual sellers. Door prizes and friendship await you.

The transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes across the disk of the Sun. Since the invention of the telescope, only 6 transits have occurred, and the seventh will take place on 5 June 2012. This will be only the fourth transit since astronomical photography began, and the second in which digital imaging will be the rule.

Members of the Society were saddened to learn of the passing of E. Cliffton Carr, Society Life Member and benefactor. A tribute to Mr. Carr was delivered at a meeting of the Toronto Centre on January 8, 2012. The text and photo tribute is now available on-line at toronto.rasc.ca/content/TributeCliffCarr.shtml.

Today's Globe and Mail features an article on the David Levy Logbook project by Ingrid Peritz entitled "A lifetime pressed to a telescope building an archive of epic discoveries". The article is an excellent summary of Mr. Levy's experiences along with his growth and development as an amateur astronomer.

Mr. Levy is a Life member of the Society and Honorary President of the Kingston Centre. To see the collection visit: