RASC Calgary Centre - Recurring Events

Page last updated November 5, 2018


General Meetings (the third Thursday monthly except June, July, August, and usually not in December)
  • See our Events Calendar for dates and times
  • Come out to the Kerby Centre in Calgary and find out more about the activities and great people in the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada! Meetings through most of the year include diverse interesting presentations by professional astronomers, amateurs, as well as various society items.
  • General Meetings are free, and open to the general public
  • The meetings start at 7:30 PM and usually end by 9:30 PM
  • For those who like, there is also a post-meeting meeting! at a local restaurant.
  • watch the StarSeeker or our Events Calendar for details
  • On rare occasions a general meeting may have a special date, so watch for updates
  • The June meeting is combined with a BBQ and is on a Saturday at our Wilson Coulee Observatory (WCO)
  • The November Meeting is a "Members' Night" with diverse presentations and annual Elections


Annual Peter Sim Lecture (public welcome!)
  • The Annual Peter Sim lecture is scheduled at the General Meeting during February, March or April
  • Watch the StarSeeker or this web site for details


Council Meetings (monthly except July and August)
  • Council Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month at the University of Calgary
  • Council Meetings are open to non-council members of the RASC who may attend as "guests"
  • The meetings start at 7:30 PM and usually end by 9:30 PM
  • There is a small parking fee at the facilities
  • For those who like, there is also a post-meeting meeting at a local restaurant.


Observers Group Meetings (monthly except July and August)
  • Chaired by Jack Milliken
  • Held at the Wilson Coulee Observatory (WCO)
  • Meetings are held whether it's clear or cloudy
  • The meeting itself starts at 20:00 so be sure to come out even if the sky is cloudy, but observing may start earlier depending on when twilight occurs.
  • The dates vary from month to month depending usually on moon phase or other major society events.
  • Often, O.G.s have been held the first Saturday on or after the New Moon, but that is not always so - please check the latest postings.
  • March - O.G. / Messier Marathon / NOVA combined
  • June - Each June, the O.G. meeting is often combined with a Saturday General Meeting and BBQ at the Wilson Coulee Observatory (WCO).
  • October - O.G. OctoberQuest (a Fall event similar to a Messier Marathon)
  • For detailed directions to the WCO please see a Council Member at a General Meeting, or contact the Calgary RASC webmaster.
  • If your don't know the gate code for off hours please ask a council member at a general meeting at the Science Centre.
  • New to the site? Remember, during dusk or dark, turn any headlights and running-lights OFF to save astrophotographers and others considerable viewing problems, thanks. (If your headlights can't go off, please park at the parking lot and walk in.)
  • Dress warmly even when daytime temperatures seem mild; standing at telescopes can get chilly - try layering of clothes, a warm hat and warm footwear. Happily, the Sid Lee building (open on O.G. nights, etc) is heated!
  • During any dry spells when the ground is bare and grass fire risk is high, please NO SMOKING outdoors, around the WCO or adjacent school grounds.


NOVA Observing (monthly except July and August)
  • NOVA Calendar
  • Chaired by Jack Milliken
  • NOVA sessions are held at the Wilson Coulee Observatory (WCO)
  • This site offers a number of advantages, including dark skies, a heated clubhouse with classroom, a library and bathrooms (not to mention access to the C14).
  • Meetings will be once a month , and will typically be held on the Friday night before the Observers Group meetings
  • The time varies during Daylight Saving Time - see the NOVA web page for times
  • March - combined O.G. / Messier Marathon / NOVA at WCO
  • June - O.G. / Nova / Summer BBQ at WCO
  • September - scheduled during the Alberta Star Party
  • For detailed directions to the WCO please see a Council Member at a General Meeting, or contact the Calgary RASC webmaster.
  • If your don't know the gate code for off hours please ask a council member at a general meeting at the Science Centre.
  • New to the site? Remember, during dusk or dark, turn any headlights and running-lights OFF to save astrophotographers and others considerable viewing problems, thanks. (If your headlights can't go off, please park at the parking lot and walk in.)
  • Dress warmly even when daytime temperatures seem mild; standing at telescopes can get chilly - try layering of clothes, a warm hat and warm footwear. Happily, the Sid Lee building (open on O.G. nights, etc) is heated!
  • During any dry spells when the ground is bare and grass fire risk is high, please NO SMOKING outdoors, around the WCO or adjacent school grounds.


StarSeeker Newsletter
  • StarSeeker article submission deadline - submit by the third Thursday of the following months: January, February, March, April, June, August, September, October, December in order to get into the next issue.
  • On-line StarSeekers (public)
  • Previous StarSeeker editions are archived to the Members Only section of this web site.


CBC Radio - Astronomy Segment - with Don Hladiuk (monthly)


RAO Open Houses (monthly)
  • The University of Calgary's Rothney Astrophysical Observatory holds monthly Open House nights each year
  • RAO link


Fish Creek Park Sky Nights (twice a year - Spring and Fall)
  • Free - open to Public
  • watch the StarSeeker or this web site for details
  • Usually 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM at the Environmental Learning Centre, west end of Fish Creek Provincial Park
  • Telescopes manned by RASC volunteers - please show up early to set up, 6:30 PM, before we block off the direct access to the Learning Centre
  • Public Event, many activities, cloudy or clear come out for fun and bring the whole family
  • Dress warmly!


Alberta Star Party (annually)
  • The Calgary Centre hosts the Alberta Star Party in August or September
  • ASP page


Star-B-Q (annually)
  • The Calgary Centre hosts a STAR-B-Q in June or July
  • Star-B-Q page


New Member's Night (annually)
  • Held in November at the Wilson Coulee Observatory (WCO)
  • watch the StarSeeker or this web site for details


Member's Banquet (annually)
  • Held in January or February at the Best Western Village Park Inn (Motel Village), starting at 5:30 PM
  • watch the StarSeeker or this web site for details


Messier Marathon (annually)
  • held annually around March during a New Moon
  • watch the StarSeeker or this web site for details
  • alternate dates are scheduled if we get clouded out
  • click on this link to help you plan your Messier Marathon


RASC General Assembly (annually)


Meteor Showers

There are several meteor showers per year. Also note that the peaks of a few showers may be hard to predict and may vary from what appears in various calendars.

The table below lists the "better" meteor showers (those with a ZHR (Zenith Hourly Rate) of 20 or above)

Meteor Shower Activity Max Date U.T. ZHR
Quadrantids Jan 01 - Jan 05 Jan 04 01h 120
Lyrids Apr 16 - Apr 25 Apr 22 22h 20
η-(eta) Aquarids Apr 19 - May 28 May 05 11h 60
South.δ-(delta)Aquarids Jul 12 - Aug 19 Jul 28 13h 20
Perseids Jul 17 - Aug 24 Aug 13 05h 100
Orionids Oct 02 - Nov 07 Oct 21 22h 20
Leonids Nov 10 - Nov 23 Nov 18 04h 15+
Geminids Dec 07 - Dec 17 Dec 14 17h 120

For much more info, the annual RASC Observer's Handbook has a detailed discussion and a table of meteor showers.

On-line resources may be found by Googling "meteor showers" or the names of specific showers. Verify that you are looking at times and dates, etc for the current year, as some web pages may have older information. Also check several different sites, not just one, as different sites may cite different predictions or resources - this way you can get a more accurate range of possible observing times and expectations.

Calgary members can also obtain recent information on upcoming meteor showers through the Observing Group or NOVA meetings. If you are a member of the public, be sure to visit us at one of our general meetings and ask about meteor shower details and recommendations.



Canadian Holidays

Month Event Occurrence More Information
January New Year's Day January 1 Government of Canada web site
February Family Day in Alberta 3rd Monday in February Government of Alberta web site
March Good Friday / Easter Sunday varies Government of Canada web site
April Good Friday / Easter Sunday varies Government of Canada web site
May Victoria Day the Monday before May 25 Government of Canada web site
June      
July Canada Day July 1 (The Holidays Act provides that
July 2 is Canada Day when July 1 is a Sunday)		 Government of Canada web site
  The Calgary Stampede July - varies (not an official holiday :-) The Calgary Stampede
August Heritage Day 1st Monday in August (optional) Government of Alberta web site
September Labour Day 1st Monday in September Government of Canada web site
October Thanksgiving Day 2nd Monday in October Government of Canada web site
November Remembrance Day November 11 Government of Canada web site
December Christmas Day Dec 25 Government of Canada web site
  Boxing Day Dec 26 Government of Canada web site

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