RASC Information

An Invitation For Membership in The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada*

The beginnings of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada go back to the mid 1800's. Then, in 1890, the Society was incorporated within the province of Ontario, received its Royal Charter from King Edward VII in 1903, and was federally incorporated in 1968. The National Office of the Society (containing the business office and library) is located at 136 Dupont Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 1V2, telephone (416) 924-7973 or (888) 924-7272 from within Canada; email: nationaloffice@rasc.ca ; website: www.rasc.ca .

The RASC consists of two employees, Executive-Secretary, Bonnie Bird and Membership and Publications Coordinator Isaac McGillis, plus more than 4900 members. RASC members are from many countries and all walks of life. Members receive the Observer's Handbook (published in September for the next calendar year) and an electronic the bimonthly Journal of the RASC, which contains review articles, researchpapers on historical and contemporary topics, education notes, general notes of astronomical interest, and book reviews, news items concerning the Society and it's Centres, informal articles, and letters. Also included is SkyNews, Canada's popular bimonthly astronomy magazine.

Membership fees are $71 per year (including the $4 St. John's Centre surcharge), or $41 for persons under 21 years of age. There is an additional charge of $16 for members in the United States, and $45 for International members.  All membership fees, outside Canada, are in US currancy   An applicant may affiliate with one of the Centres of the Society across Canada or join the Society directly as an unattached member (some Centres levy a surcharge above the regular membership fee).

The Society currently has 27 Centres located throughout Canada, in every province and in most major Canadian cites. Most Centres hold monthly meetings at which prospective members are welcome.

*Information taken from the Observers Handbook