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<\/p>\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ background_enable_image=”off” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Members in Memoriam” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Poppins|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”40px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Poppins|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”22px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Poppins||||||||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
RASC Calgary Members who made an impact on the centre or\u00a0 expanded the publics knowledge of astronomy<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”|0px||0px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” text_text_color=”#212120″ text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”10px|25px|10px|25px|true|true” text_font_last_edited=”off|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
This page honors the dedicated members whose passion for astronomy helped shape our group and deepen our understanding of the universe. These individuals are no longer with us, but their curiosity, discoveries, and countless hours of observation continue to inspire our work today. Each name listed below represents a unique contribution to our shared journey among the stars \u2014 a lasting legacy written in the night sky.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”30px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”List of members with direct links.” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_color=”#1C3E70″ title_font_size=”35px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true” custom_padding=”5px|5px|5px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Phil Johnson” url=”#philjohnson” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Nicholas (Nic) David” url=”#nicdavid” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Dave Watson” url=”#davewatson” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Blair Colborne” url=”#blaircolborne” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Don Jasper” url=”#donjasper” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Dick Lowndes” url=”#dicklowndes” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Kerby Eccles” url=”#kerbyeccles” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Sid Lee” url=”#sidlee” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Peter M. Sim” url=”#petersim” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Father Lucian Kemble” url=”#luciankemble” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_font_size=”18px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”0px|2px|0px|2px|true|true” custom_padding=”2px|2px|2px|2px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”philjohnson” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/phil-johnson-tabletop-dob.jpg” title_text=”phil johnson tabletop dob” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Phil Johnson 1939-2023″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Long-time member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Calgary Centre member Phil Johnson passed away on September 4, 2023 at age 84. Affectionately known as “Uncle” Phil to Centre members, he was a regular fixture at nearly all Centre events. The following section is largely drawn from his Celebration of Life, which was held on September 24, 2023.<\/p>\n
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Phil was born on April 15th, 1939 in Edberg, Alberta. His father was a farmer. At age 6, Phil’s family moved to Creston, BC, where his dad took up logging. Phil graduated in 1957 from Prince Charles High School. He helped his dad with his logging business while enjoying the outdoors. In 1961 Phil moved to Calgary to attend SAIT and completed the electronics program in 1963. After graduation he started working for AGT. Phil and Joan were married in 1964 in Creston. They made their home in Calgary where their two sons Orrin and John were born.<\/p>\n
Phil worked for AGT (and its successor TELUS) for 32 years. During that time he scratch built a computer in 1975, etched copper clad circuit boards, built dozens of helpful gadgets and fixed countless TV sets and VCRs for friends – it seemed that there was nothing he couldn’t fix or build from scratch. His basement workshop always had a project or two on the go. Phil found an active inner peace when creating, building or making, and the workshop was always his favourite place.<\/p>\n
Phil took a package and took early retirement from TELUS in 1994 in his mid-fifties, shortly thereafter joining the Calgary Centre, and in the 20 years that followed became a very active Centre member. Phil attended meetings, star parties, and public outreach events, built camera tracking platforms to compensate for the rotation of the Earth while photographing stars, and travelled to Mexico, Australia, and Idaho to chase and photograph total solar eclipses. He also hosted telescope-making workshops in his own home.<\/p>\n
Calgary Centre member Richard Bailey was a close friend of Phil’s for many years and graciously provided the following anecdotes about some of his experiences with him for this article.<\/p>\n
HOW PHIL BECAME UNCLE PHIL<\/p>\n
Years ago, the Calgary Centre met at the Calgary Science Centre (at its former downtown location on 7th Avenue SW). There was a small room there called the Circle of Discovery where meetings were held. One night, one of the Centre members said that if they ever had an uncle, they would want it to be Phil. After that, someone else produced a t-shirt that said UNCLE PHIL. From that point on. Phil Johnson was known affectionately as Uncle Phil and helped anyone who asked for help. They don’t make people like that anymore.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/phil-johnson-truss-dob.jpg\")
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THE 12 INCH PROTOTYPE TELESCOPE<\/p>\n
Most of us knew Uncle Phil from his telescope building classes. At the last SSSP (2023) there were at least five “Johnsonian Dobsonian” telescopes on view. Many people in the Calgary Centre started on Uncle Phil home-built telescopes and they still work beautifully.<\/p>\n
Uncle Phil wanted to build a large aperture telescope. He wanted to make a 12 inch and it required some adjustment in design. He invited me over to help him build a 12 inch for “a guy who’s having a tough time right now”. I had some time right then and I was happy to go play with Uncle Phil. We worked on the scope, made adjustments as necessary, found a way to rebalance the telescope and finally finished the big beautiful thing. He had found a way to make it portable; heavy, but portable. Those mirrors weigh a lot. That telescope was the prototype for all the subsequent 12.5 inch telescopes that Uncle Phil made, some of which were the “Johnsonian Dobsonians” on display at SSSP. When it was all done, he gave it to me. I’ve enjoyed many a night viewing with that telescope.<\/p>\n
THE AWARD-WINNING FIRST-TIME TELESCOPE<\/p>\n
My teenage daughter expressed an interest in astronomy. We saved our money and got her into one of Uncle Phil’s Saturday morning telescope building classes. By the time we got the mirror and the tube, funds were running low. We still had no viewfinder. So Uncle Phil and I went to garage sales. We found a pair of binoculars for one dollar and scooped it up. With some of his design adjustments, we took the binoculars apart and mounted one half on her scope. We had our viewfinder! She did a beautiful paint job on it with ivy climbing the stand and tube. That year (1997) we went to the Mt Kobau Star Party and she won best first-time telescope with that telescope. She got a plaque which she proudly mounted on her telescope. She still has it and it is a source of pride and success for her.<\/p>\n
THE COUCH POTATO OBSERVERS CHAIR<\/p>\n
Uncle Phil saw plans in a magazine for a couch potato reclining chair with a Lazy Susan under it so you could sit, relax and still move around to observe the sky with binoculars. We thought it would be a good idea to build one and worked on it really hard. Our prototype worked beautifully until we sat in it. The Lazy Susan part worked well. The problem it had was a vibration in the binoculars so you couldn’t keep the view steady. The more excited we got about it, the worse the vibration. Finally, we figured out that the mount was sensitive to a heartbeat. We never did figure out how to dampen that minimal vibration and still keep the binoculars mounted to the chair. We abandoned that project, but it was fun.<\/p>\n
FISHING FOR METEORITES<\/p>\n
Phil loved to fish. We went to a few mountain lakes and enjoyed them, but sometime the fish just don’t bite. We used to smuggle in our licorice without our wives knowing and enjoy the lakes. Kananaskis Lake has a beautiful waterfall at one end. We liked to sit by the waterfall, breathing in the fresh pine scented mountain air, eating our lunch and our licorice.<\/p>\n
This waterfall is glacier fed. Uncle Phil thought that maybe there were meteorites under that waterfall that had fallen on the glacier and been washed down. So we attached rare earth magnets to a rope and went fishing for those meteorites that were escaping. We did this for hours and got really bored. So the idea of meteorite TV was born. If we put an underwater camera down, and a TV monitor in the boat, we could watch ourselves finding these meteorites. There was a lot of reality TV back then. Surely the History Channel or National Geographic would pick us up and we would become millionaires. We could buy a bigger boat and a bigger screen television. But no such luck. After several hours of boredom and persistence, we gave up. No luck with finding a meteorite!<\/p>\n
Calgary Centre member Steve Donaldson was lucky enough to have taken one of Phil’s telescope making classes and adds a few thoughts to end this article.<\/p>\n
I am the proud owner of a 12.5 inch “Johnsonian- Dobsonian” telescope that I made under Phil’s direction in one of his telescope-making classes many years ago. Even today, the scope still works like a dream and I am grateful to Phil for allowing me the opportunity to build it. A highly intelligent person, Phil always had the knack of being able to figure out solutions to mechanical or electrical problems when he was building or repairing things. He was always able to figure out a workaround, or build a jig to improve a process or to make something easier. As a person who is not that mechanically inclined, this seemed almost miraculous to me! Phil was generous with both his knowledge and his time, opening his home to the bi-weekly telescope making classes for so many years.<\/p>\n
According to the Calgary Centre website, the first telescope built was a 6 inch f\/8 Sonotube Dobsonian, which was later given to the Centre’s Youth Group to use. The class of 2000\/2001 saw the first truss tube style Dobsonians with 10 inch mirrors, patterned after Phil’s famous blue “coffee table” scope that he had built earlier. In later years, the design was more minimalist and the most common primary mirror size was around 12 or 12.5 inches. The largest mirror was 16.5 inches. It is estimated that over 100 telescopes were built under his guidance! It is difficult to overstate the positive effect that Phil had on the Calgary Centre.<\/p>\n
I will end with a final anecdote. In the March 2009 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine, Editor Gary Seronik put out a challenge to find the most compact 8 inch travelscope. As outlined in the August and September 2009 issues of the magazine, StarSeeker editor Carole Benoit came in as first runner up with a scope designed by Phil. I know that Phil was really pleased by the mention in Sky & Telescope. As Gary Seronik said in the article: “Every astronomy club should have a Phil Johnson!” We could not agree more.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Phil_Johnson_Memories3.jpg\")
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[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”nicdavid” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nicholas-David-2.webp” title_text=”Nicholas-David-2″ show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Nicholas (Nic) David 1937-2023″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Nic made a significant impact on our Centre, being a friendly face and contributor for the past 15 years. Joining the RASC Calgary Centre in 2008, he became an active member immediately and didn’t hesitate in getting involved with the RASC community in a big way and leaving his mark.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Nic_David_2.jpg\")
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A year after becoming a member, he joined a telescope building workshop led by Phil Johnson in the autumn of 2009. Not only did Nic build his own telescope, but also documented the process and published a handbook for members titled, “Building a Johnson-Dobsonian- Newtonian Reflector,” detailing the telescope construction experience under the tutelage of Phil Johnson. His interest in visual astronomy was insatiable, and soon he and his wife Judy Sterner were well known for acquiring quite an impressive collection of telescopes.<\/p>\n
The two of them were especially fond of attending many star parties, namely the Alberta Star Party, Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, and the ultra-rugged Mt. Kobau Star Party. The experiences and friendships made under the night sky last beyond years, made evident by the wide circle of chairs and smiling faces that Nic was always part of as he reunited with old friends.<\/p>\n
With an eagerness to give back to the RASC community, Nic volunteered to be the coordinator of the Alberta Star Party from 2013 until 2017. His enthusiasm at the event was always contagious. He was the first person I had ever met from the RASC Calgary Centre. When I approached the ASP registration table, he inquired whether I was a member of the RASC yet. When I had confessed that I was not, he absolutely lit up and said with the biggest and most genuine smile, “Well, you should join!” How could I not!<\/p>\n
In addition to his involvement with observing and star parties, he was also keen to share his knowledge with others. He gave many lectures for our General Meetings, including in January 2017, September 2018, and in November 2019. He also had a real passion for helping at public outreach events, sharing the joy and wonder of visual astronomy with everyone he met.<\/p>\n
Despite the increasing challenges this past year, both Nic and Judy continued touring the star party circuit in western Canada, hiking and camping along the way. Even while battling mounting health obstacles, Nic still attended the Alberta Star Party with Judy, savoring and enjoying the company of old friends.<\/p>\n
Nic radiated a quiet light. Whether in the backcountry, on his skis, in a lecture hall, or at his telescope, his desire for understanding the universe and our place within it was electric. Lead on!<\/p>\n
Sic itur ad astra: This way to the stars!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Nic_David_1.jpg\")
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[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”davewatson” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WATSON-David-OB.jpg” title_text=”WATSON-David-OB” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Dave Watson 1931-2016″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Longtime Member of the Calgary Centre, Dave Watson passed away peacefully at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre on Friday November 4. Dave joined the Centre in 1986 and has been an active member and volunteer throughout. Those of us who knew him can attest that Dave was a very young 85.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”blaircolborne” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Blair.jpg” title_text=”Blair” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Blair Colborne 1945-2016″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Blair was a long-time member of the Calgary Centre starting about 1986.<\/p>\n
Blair also created the Calgary Centre’s Youth Group in 1991.<\/p>\n
Prompted by then Centre President, Ruth Lewis, Blair took a deep plunge into astronomical education by starting the Calgary Centre’s Youth Program, initially learning the materials during the week prior to the twice-a-month Saturday classes. Careful not to underestimate his young charges, Blair systematically covered topics ranging from star hopping techniques to telescope selection to basic astrophysics. The program blossomed under Blair’s guidance to eventually include three class levels and as many as six instructors. Blair’s stated goal was never to create a legion of young astronomers, but to teach critical scientific thinking in the hopes that this would make the students better able to cope in an ever more technological world. In spite of Blair’s more pragmatic view of what astronomy could mean to his classes, one of his students did go on to get their Ph.D. in Astrophysics, and worked with the Hubble Space Telescope.<\/p>\n
Blair also had an interest in protecting the natural dark night for astronomy and was a founding and long-time member of the Calgary Centre’s Light Pollution Abatement Committee which started in 1988.<\/p>\n
Blair created SkyVue Telescopes to provide a source of “real” astronomical telescopes to Canadian amateur astronomers.<\/p>\n
Blair’s prior experience operating a tire store was good grounding for his foray into a retail telescope store that he ran from his home in order to keep his overhead down and his prices affordable. His credo was to never sell the wrong piece of equipment to anyone, especially beginners. In this quest he would spend one or two hours on the telephone, getting to know the level of expertise, skill level and interests of potential customers, before inviting them over to see actual equipment. Even so, his love of astronomy and his wish to make sure everyone had a chance to experience it meant that he would sometimes forgo a profit in order to make a transaction happen. He also ran a no-charge telescope “borrowing” program for the Youth Group members.<\/p>\n
Blair was also a strong supporter of our Star-B-Qs and Alberta Star Parties through his SkyVue Telescopes and an important cog in the telescope-building classes, as most people purchased their optics through him.<\/p>\n
Blair was awarded the Calgary Centre’s Peter Sim Public Education award in 2002 for his never-ending efforts to inform people of all ages about the night sky.<\/p>\n
Blair will be sorely missed by all of us who had the pleasure and privilege to know him and work with him or learn from him.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”donjasper” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/JASPER-Donald-obit-1.jpg” title_text=”JASPER-Donald-obit (1)” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Don Jasper 1936-2015″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Don Jasper, beloved husband of Margaret Jasper of Calgary, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at the age of 78 years.<\/p>\n
Don and his wife immigrated to Calgary from England in 1967 with their two young children. Don then worked as a chemist and manager at Western Cooperative Fertilizer and later Monenco. Through his determination and will power, Don overcame great difficulties arising from childhood polio and a serious stroke at the age of 52. Don had a wide variety of hobbies and interests: he was member of the RASC (Astronomy), sang with the Calgary Opera Chorus, Christ Church Choir, Festival Chorus, Barber Shop, and played the trumpet in the Concert Band. He was an avid photographer and proficient linguist, speaking over twenty languages. His computer was his lifeline for the last twenty six years. Don cherished his family in his role of husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa. He will especially be remembered for his joke telling.<\/p>\n
Don was very active at RASC public star nights and was a Centre Councillor and Secretary for many years.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”dicklowndes” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/richard-dick-lowndes.jpg” title_text=”richard-dick-lowndes” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Dick Lowndes 1939-2012″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Dick and his wife Marg were long time members and regulars at almost all of the Calgary Centre’s events. In addition to his regular volunteering at public outreach events, Dick was an active member of the Calgary Centre’s Council for years, including a role on the Executive as our Treasurer. He and Marg had also been distributing our newsletter, the StarSeeker, for years; first in print form mailed out to every club member, and more recently the notice of the electronic editions to our entire membership.<\/p>\n
Dick was an avid hiker and camper and Dick and Marg continued to pursue an active lifestyle throughout their retirement. A Memorial for Dick was held on January 5 and was attended by family and friends exceeding the capacity of the venue; a small reflection of the number of people he touched.<\/p>\n
Dick will be sorely missed by all of us who had the pleasure and privilege to know him.<\/p>\n
The Dick Lowndes Sky Mentorship Award<\/p>\n
In his memory, the Dick Lowndes Sky Mentorship Award was created by Council in 2012 to be presented annually to a Calgary Centre member that exemplifies the assistance given to new members wanting to know the night sky.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”kerbyeccles” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Kerby1T.jpg” title_text=”Kerby1T” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Kerby Eccles 1926-2012″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Kerby was a Canadian born geologist and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He obtained his PhD from the University of Illinois in 1956 where he met his late wife Priscilla. Kerby and Priscilla retired to a ranch near Caroline, Alberta and donated a portion of their land to the RASC, Calgary Centre which is now known as the Eccles Ranch Observatory. Kerby and Priscilla enjoyed birding and chasing total solar eclipses. Kerby will be dearly missed by friends and family. Kerby leaves behind one son (Fred) and daughter-in-law (Marie) plus 3 grand children.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”sidlee” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/sidlee.jpg” title_text=”sidlee” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Sid Lee 1947-2001″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sid Lee was one of those amazing people who become the lifeblood of our Centre. It is difficult to think of a Centre activity that Sid wasn’t involved with! In addition to being the site director at the Wilson Coulee Observatory, Sid served as Observing Group chair, ran the observing sessions at the Alberta Science Centre, attended all public events, the Calgary Home Show and helped to keep our Council in line. If that wasn’t enough, he was a volunteer at the Alberta Science Centre during the day in addition to being a volunteer at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory run by the U of C.<\/p>\n
Sid took over the care and feeding of this web site after Mark Kaye returned to the Kingston area. It was a huge loss to many of us personally and to the Centre when Sid passed away suddenly April 21st 2001. Until Sid passed away, many of us were unaware of how much Sid actually contributed to the Centre. Many of Sid’s contributions to this web site are still coded into these pages. A tribute was paid to Sid in the July 2001 edition of the StarSeeker, and the Calgary Centre’s building at Wilson Coulee Observatory was named the Sid Lee building in his honour. We miss you, Sid.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/S_sidleescope2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Sid Lee Telescope<\/p>\n
Sid’s telescope was a large 13.1 inch F\/4.5 Dobsonian from Coulter Optics. He really liked the scope but was frustrated by the sheer bulk of it. He owned a long body minivan and loaded the tube through the side door and the base through the back door. No one could get to the third seat once the tube was loaded. Sid signed up for the first scope building class just to get a really good look at my new truss tube scope. He spent quite some time measuring and sketching my scope. Although we talked about rebuilding his scope from time to time nothing was ever done.<\/p>\n
After Sid’s passing in April 2001 the scope was given to the Centre and located at the Wilson Coulee Observatory. In the fall of 2004 the scope was transferred to the Calgary RASC Telescope For Rent Program. I approached Council with the idea to finally rebuild the scope. The Council agreed and work on the the scope started. Many thanks to Jim Weisert for the many Saturday afternoons spent helping. The finished telescope weighs 45 pounds and retains the red and black colours of the original.<\/p>\n
The scope was finished in time for the 2005 Spring Star Night at Fish Creek Park but was displayed inside as it was totally overcast.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”petersim” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/S_Peter_Sim_Colour.jpg” title_text=”S_Peter_Sim_Colour” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Peter M. Sim 1943-1999″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A former drama teacher, Peter reigned as the king of volunteer school science visits for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Calgary Centre. Originally contacted through his network of school contacts and the old RASC-Calgary Hotline, Peter’s later involvement as a joint RASC-Calgary and Science Hotline volunteer kept him very busy. Recognised as the premier volunteer by the Science Hotline coordinator, Peter’s efforts through the Science Hotline represented a commitment of hundreds of hours and over 100 school visits with well over 2000 students benefitting from his special brand of astronomical education. Counting his days prior to the Science Hotline, Peter estimated the total number of school children with whom he discussed astronomy was over 13,000.<\/p>\n
Not that quantity was Peter’s strength – quoting Peter, his “unique educational background – music\/singing, psychology, science, and philosophy, were all used in the classroom to touch a paradigm that those children haven’t experienced.” This allowed him the chance to readily engage any student in a one-on-one discussion of the process of science. “It’s not the knowledge -it’s the importance of knowing.” Striving to teach “real science”, and getting “away from the ‘whiz-bang’ that sells newspapers”, Peter stressed, for instance, that “Darwin’s ideas are not as important as how he analysed the data and came to his conclusions”.<\/p>\n
Peter’s visits to classrooms all started the same way – he’d set up a slide projector, load a carousel, and start talking with the students about the significance of whatever astronomical image was on the screen. Pretty soon, a free-wheeling discussion would be in full swing. Peter felt his best classes were those when he showed the fewest slides; a 4 or 5 slide class meant things had heated up pretty well, more slides usually meant that it was a Friday afternoon. Part of the paradigm-breaking discussions centred on the everyday; the Sun does not rise and set, it is our little planet that is doing all the work. Other times it was more exotic; the late Carl Sagan’s concept that “we are all stardust.” Nothing was out of bounds. On religion, Peter felt that, “if you believe it, God exists for you. If you don’t believe it, God does not exist for you. It is not something you can prove. If you feel you can prove it, you are misapplying science. You should not place people in the position of having to prove something scientifically that is based on faith. There is truth in religion, in myth, and in science. You can’t deny the existence of God.” Peter wished to be a priest at age 12, but he wanted a “proveable, scientifically proveable, God” and eventually became a teacher. The clergy’s loss was the school system’s gain.<\/p>\n
Self-effacing with regards to his astronomical knowledge and his ability to teach it, when queried on his greatest moment in the classroom, Peter responded with the following anecdote. “I really like the idea of the vastness of space and time. My favourite example is how you can’t take a snapshot of a galaxy that shows it as it is – because of the time it takes light to cross the galaxy. I told them (using a child from the front row), that it’s like taking a photo of (this) man with a 150 year old head, 50 year belly, and infant’s feet.” In the ensuing quiet as this profound thought was sinking in, the short-haired child worriedly questioned, “do you think I’m a BOY?”<\/p>\n
Peter came into astronomy with his armchair, a passion for books and a sense of wonder. Those who knew him can’t forget his sense of humour. Never a much of an observer, he felt he may hold a record of sorts for “the longest-term Calgary Centre member who never made it to a single Observers’ Group meeting” – and with his later illness, he was preparing to set a record that could never be broken.<\/p>\n
Besides his classroom visits, Peter served RASC-Calgary in other important roles. He twice held the post of vice president and was the Centre’s secretary between those stints. Regular meeting attendees relished his antics during the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. Once, when called upon to present the minutes of a meeting he had missed, Peter performed them in mime, finishing with an allusion to a wee sip of beer at the post-meeting meeting. An awed voice in the audience stated, “It’s just like he was there!” His active role in supporting and teaching parts of the RASC Youth Group was also much appreciated.<\/p>\n
Peter Sim’s favourite science books – Bach’s The Myths We Live By and Carl Sagan’s The Dragons of Eden and Cosmos – have a strong philosophical slant to them. Ironically, Peter noted that another of Sagan’s books, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, can be used to discredit the SETI search for other civilizations (a cause in which Sagan was heavily involved).<\/p>\n
Peter leaves behind his wife, Cynthia (“a remarkable lady”) and their two daughters, Valerie and Karen. Peter felt his greatest joy was “the opportunity to father them and to tell them not to believe the negative people.”<\/p>\n
Peter Sim certainly wasn’t a negative person – his wit, insight, hard work and easy-going nature are missed by all the members of the Calgary Centre whose lives were touched by his.<\/p>\n
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The Annual Peter Sim Memorial Lecture is given in March to commemorate Peter – an outstanding public education volunteer for RASC Calgary.<\/p>\n
The Peter Sim Public Education Award<\/p>\n
The Peter Sim Public Education Award is an honour granted by the Calgary Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to individuals who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the cause of astronomy education to the public in the Calgary region. Offered only in years when a clearly deserving individual can be found, this is the Calgary Centre’s most exclusive award.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”luciankemble” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d3d3d2″ custom_padding=”15px|5px|15px|5px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#162546″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”10px||10px||true|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Lucian_by_cabin_Cochrane.jpg” title_text=”Lucian_by_cabin_Cochrane” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Father Lucian Kemble 1922-1999″ open_toggle_text_color=”#1D3F78″ open_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#162546″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#f7f7f7″ icon_color=”#162546″ toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#1C3E70″ open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#1D3F78″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”35px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” title_line_height=”1.5em” closed_title_font=”–et_global_heading_font|600|||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_font_size=”30px” closed_title_letter_spacing=”1px” closed_title_line_height=”1.5em” body_font=”–et_global_body_font||||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.5em” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” title_font_size_tablet=”35px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” closed_title_font_size_tablet=”30px” closed_title_font_size_phone=”25px” closed_title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” body_font_size_tablet=”18px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Fr. Lucian J. Kemble, OFM was born in 1922 on a small farm in southern Alberta. After spending four years during WW2 as a radio operator, he entered the Franciscan Friars in 1946. Ordained in 1953 after 7 years’ study in Philosophy and Theology, he spent almost all of his priestly life in teaching and preaching. A member of the RASC for over 27 years, he worked with a Celestron 11 on Byers Mount in a shelter at St. Michael’s Retreat, Lumsden, Saskatchewan. His main interest in astronomy was searching out deep-sky objects, of which he had over 5550 observed, drawn and noted on file. His other main interests were photography, music and reading. Lucian passed away on February 26, 1999. He is sadly missed.<\/p>\n
The asterism of stars in Camelopardalis known as Kemble’s Cascade<\/strong><\/p>\n From: Astronomy Picture of the Day, August 14, 2000 Photo by: Walter MacDonald<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An apparent straight line of more than 20 colorful fifth to 10th magnitude stars over a distance of approximately five moon diameters. It was named by Walter Scott Houston in honor of Father Lucian J. Kemble (1922 – 1999), a Franciscan Friar and amateur astronomer who wrote a letter to Walter about the asterism, describing it as “a beautiful cascade of faint stars tumbling from the northwest down to the open cluster NGC 1502” that Kemble had discovered while sweeping the sky with a pair of 7×35 binoculars. Walter was so impressed that he wrote an article on the asterism that appeared in his “Deep Sky Wonders” column in the astronomy magazine “Sky & Telescope” in 1980, in which he named it “Kemble’s Cascade”.<\/p>\n Also See Mikkel Steine’s page at: http:\/\/messier45.com\/guide\/obsguide\/index.html. Mikkel met Fr. Kemble in Norway (he is a member of the Okanagan RASC group).<\/p>\n Some photos of Fr. Kemble from Arild Moland (Norway).<\/p>\n “The reason for Lucian’s trip to Norway was to attend my wedding, and we had a pleasant short week together. It was the last time I saw him, before he passed away.<\/p>\n I got to know Lucian as a pen-pal in early 1992. We were put in contact with each other by a mutual pen-pal in California. We soon wrote at least once a week (this was before email for both of us).<\/p>\n I visited Lucian twice in Canada. First at St. Michaels outside Cochrane for six weeks in July-August 1993, and again for a week in Lumsden in July 1997 together with my future wife Lene. When we deciced to marry the following year, we arranged for Lucian to come and visit, and he stayed with us for almost a week in August of 1998. He would have been my best man at the wedding if the legalities and his presence could have been sorted out, but he certainly was a guest of honour. He brought his Franciscan robe for the wedding ceremony, and there was much talk in the small town we married in, that there had been “a real monk!” in attendance \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n His passing away was terrible, but when you befriend someone 50 years your senior, you can’t expect it to last forever. I’m happy to have known him and learned how much he meant to so many people.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" RASC Calgary Members who made an impact on the centre or\u00a0 expanded the publics knowledge of astronomyThis page honors the dedicated members whose passion for astronomy helped shape our group and deepen our understanding of the universe. These individuals are no longer with us, but their curiosity, discoveries, and countless hours of observation continue to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4003","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4003"}],"version-history":[{"count":53,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4998,"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4003\/revisions\/4998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/calgary.rasc.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/kemblescascade.jpg\")
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