Amateur Astronomy in Canada

Astronomy - more than any other science - benefits enormously from the
active contributions of volunteers. These individuals are called "amateur
astronomers" - an unfortunate term, considering the high degree of skill,
experience, and dedication which they bring to astronomy.

Amateurs contribute to astronomical research through the discovery and
measurement of variable stars; the discovery and observation of comets; the
study of sunspots, aurorae and meteors; the timing of lunar, planetary, and
asteroidal occultations; the development of observational and computational
techniques.

The largest amateur astronomy organization in Canada is the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), with 28 centres across the country. Founded in 1890, its membership comprises 4700 members world-wide.The society hosts events, lectures, and provides access of resources and observing facilities to its members. Many professional astronomers found their beginnings in the RASC, including Clarence Chant and Helen Sawyer-Hogg. One of their publications - the annual Observer's Handbook, one of Canada's oldest scientific publications - is used extensively by amateur and professional astronomers around the world.

The RASC preceded its professional equivalent - the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) - by over 80 years. To this day, the RASC works closely with astronomical institutions and universities to promote astronomy and engage in outreach activities, bringing astronomy to the public.

Amateurs also contribute to the observation and measurement of variable stars, making at least 500,000 visual measurements each year. The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) - the largest organization of its kind in the world - has archived almost 10,000,000 such measurements in its electronic database.

The AAVSO now receives over 300 requests a year for data and services - some of the requests being major collaboration with space astronomers.

Canadian amateurs have also been known for their discoveries of comets, a full listing of which can be found here: Canadian Comet Catchers. David Levy, co-discoverer of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 which crashed into Jupiter in 1994, is one of Canada's leading amateur comet-hunters and a popular writer of books and articles on astronomy. You can read more about his work at the website Comets for Canada.

Amateurs also make thousands of precise measurements with photoelectric or CCD photometers, and these contribute to dozens of research papers each year. With the closing down of small telescopes at national observatories, the role of small amateur telescopes is crucial. The development of simple, inexpensive CCD cameras enables amateurs to contribute to new fields, such as the discovery and
measurement of faint asteroids and comets, and the search for extragalactic
supernovae.

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created by John Percy ( University of Toronto)
and the CASCA education Webteam, (2007)