Looking Up by R. Peter Broughton (Past President, RASC) is a masterpiece of research covering the entire nationwide organization, since its founding in 1868. General readers will be surprised to find out what amateurs can learn from the sky. Leaders of volunteer organizations and educators looking for ways to promote greater appreciation of science will find many useful ideas in the book. Historians will also find interesting facts about the origins and contributions the RASC centres have made in their local communities.
“If you count yourself a Canadian astronomer, this book is part of your heritage; you will be pleased to have it on your bookshelf”
—Don Fernie, Cassiopeia, Canadian Astronomical Society
Availability: Although Looking Up is out of print, many of the Centres of the Society should have it in their libraries. Alternatively, the RASC offers it in digital format from the Looking Up page (which also has links to updates and corrigenda).
Table of Contents
| CHAPTER |
| Preface and Acronyms |
| How I Wonder What You Are The Society, its Name, Objectives, By-laws, Characteristics and Governance |
| The Centre of the Universe The origins of the Society in Toronto, and the headquarters of the RASC |
| Giants and Dwarfs Classes of membership, Women's Issues, and Professional/Amateur mix, Award winners |
| Bright Lights Officers |
| Keeping a Balance Income and expenditure, Grants, Funds and Donations |
| Of Volumes and Space Library |
| The Three-Body Problem The Journal, Observer's Handbook and Bulletin |
| Encounters of All Kinds Public Lectures, Shows and displays, Star Nights, Astronomy Day, Youth Programs, Media |
| The Scope of Observing Star Parties, Light Pollution, Solar System, Stars and Nebulae, Occultations and Eclipses |
| Clusters Members' Meetings at Centres, the Annual Meetings and General Assemblies |
| Satellites and the First Steps Beyond Early Expansion in Ontario, Ottawa, Peterborough, Hamilton and Guelph |
| New Frontiers Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Victoria and Vancouver |
| From West to East Montreal, Quebec, Halifax and St John's |
| The Enterprise Returns The Other Ontario Centres and back to Toronto |
| Final Thoughts, General Bibliography, Notes, Index |