SUNSHINE COAST ASTRONOMY CLUB
DECEMBER / JANUARY
Hello Members
Our Christmas Social held at St Hilda’s church hall was a tremendous success as some thirty club members and friends turned out for a great social evening. The food was outstanding and some of the photographs of that evening can be seen on our website at www.sunshinecoastastronomy.com
Our thanks to Debra MacWilliam and Dave Devitt for organizing a great night
The Executive Committee met in early January and began laying the groundwork for the year ahead.
The January meeting will be held on Friday January 28th at Halfmoon Bay Elementary School starting at 7.30pm.
After a short business meeting Ed Hanlon will present a slide show of “Visions in the Night Sky” Many of these slides were taken on the Sunshine coast and are quite amazing. Outside viewing will take place immediately after the slide show
(Weather Permitting)
Neil Sandy and Dave Devitt will be heading up a committee that will revive the “Astronomy in the Park” program that was so popular some years ago. The basic idea will be to set up a number of Scopes and Binoculars in Porpoise Bay park on a nice summers evening and combine good viewing with a Picnic or Barbecue. This event will involve the entire club and families so get set to help out.
Brian Lucas is working on a presentation to the International Commission responsible for the naming of objects in space. “The Sechelt Crater or “Land between two waters “ will be our nomination for a crater on Mars.
The Executive Committee approved the SCAC joining a Sunshine Coast Association of like clubs for the improvement of amenities such as Dark Skies.
Our Website is running smoothly and is updated twice per week by web master Bob Darcy. Please direct comments or requests on the site to Bill Clark or David Thompson
Neil Sandy has received a key to the Shirley Macey Park lighting system in Gibson’s giving us another venue for our club members to gather. Neil will address this at the general meeting.
The March Meeting will include a report on a club constitution and a membership fee schedule. Philip Sawkins and Debra MacWilliam are currently working on this presentation.
Congratulations to Linda Smith’s husband Clifford who was recently elected President of Elder College. Now, if we could only find some person or persons who would like to teach an Astronomy Class………………………??
Jack Pope who done such a wonderful job of obtaining his classroom at Halfmoon Bay primary school for our meetings has announced his retirement from teaching. This will necessitate our moving the Club meeting venue and this is underway. In all probability we will be moving to the Sechelt area but more about that as soon as we have something definite.
Now if only the fog and rain would move away from my house I might be able to see something????????????. See you on the 28th
Bill Clark, Brian Lucas and Ryan Logtenberg attended the groundbreaking ceremonies at Ruby Lake on Saturday January 22nd. About 60 people turned out for the Ceremony conducted in pouring rain but with enthusiastic voices raised in appreciation spurred on by bottles of Champagne. Lunch was served to the guests at the Ruby Lake Resort Restaurant after the Ceremonies.
Phase 1 of the project begins on Monday, January 24th and will be completed to lock up by April 1st. The planned Observatory, which is included with the Interpretive center, is in Phase 2 of the project.
Note – Ryan told me that he leaves next week for his visit to South East Asia and he will return to Canada in April this year…….. We wish Ryan and his wife Bon Voyage
Happy Viewing
Bill Clark