Toronto, Canada (April 15, 2013) – Members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and its 29 local RASC Centres will celebrate International Astronomy Day this Saturday, April 20, 2013. Be on the lookout for telescopes and astronomers to pop up unexpectedly on street corners, in shopping malls and other public places, ready and eager to bring the universe down to Earth for everyone!
Spring Astronomy Day occurs between mid April and mid May on a Saturday near or before the 1st quarter Moon. Astronomy Day events take place at hundreds of sites across Canada, England, the United States, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Malaysia, Iran, Ireland, plus many other countries. Astronomy Week encompasses Astronomy Day which starts on the previous Monday, April 15 and ends on the following Sunday, April 21, 2013.
Astronomy Day was first celebrated in California in 1973, when Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, decided that rather than try to entice people to travel long distances to visit observatories, they would set up telescopes closer to busy public locations like street corners, libraries and shopping malls. Astronomy Day is a fantastic way for you to find out about astronomy, look through telescopes and share experiences with both professional and amateur astronomers. Many local RASC Centres, astronomical clubs, planetariums, museums, and observatories will be sponsoring public viewing sessions, presentations, workshops, and other activities to increase public awareness about astronomy and our wonderful universe. Teachers have used Astronomy Day to promote the study of astronomy with their classes.
Be sure to check out the RASC website at www.rasc.ca to get listings of RASC Astronomy Day events across Canada.
Founded in 1868, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is Canada's leading astronomy organization bringing together 4,100+ enthusiastic amateurs, educators and professionals. RASC and its 29 Centres across Canada offer both national and local programming and services. The RASC’s vision is to inspire curiosity in all Canadians about the universe, to share scientific knowledge, and to foster collaboration in astronomical pursuits.
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For more information contact:
Deborah Thompson, RASC Executive Director
888-924-7272 or thompson@rasc.ca