11 February 1958 Synoptic Auroral Map

By early 1958, under the auspices of the International Geophysical Year, the National Research Council had compiled a list of amateur contributors to an auroral research program. The period of maximum solar activity in an 11-year cycle had peaked in late 1957, and Helen Sawyer Hogg reported in her Toronto Star column of June 7th, 1958 that the relative sunspot number for December 24th and 25th was 355. This was the highest value ever observed, exceeding the value of 353 on May 17th 1778.

Kuiper Public Lecture at AAS Toronto Meeting 1959

Spring 1940 was the first occasion the American Association of Variable Star Observers held their meetings outside of the United States. The meetings were held at the University of Toronto, and included a paper session at the David Dunlap Observatory and a garden party (by special invitation) at Don Alda Farm hosted by Mrs. Dunlap. The meetings concluded with a formal dinner in the Great Hall of Hart House jointly hosted by the AAVSO and the RASC.

400th Anniversary Copernicus Event

On April 26th, 1943 the University of Toronto sponsored a Convocation Hall event to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the death of Nikolas Copernicus, the discoverer of the heliocentric model of the solar system. The event was supportive of Toronto's Polish community in the darkest days of the Second World War. Members of the RASC were encouraged to attend, and Prof. Chant participated in the event.