the OBSERVER’S HANDBOOK 1978 seventieth year of publication the ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY of CANADA editor: JOHN R. PERCY THE ORIGINS OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA In the mid-nineteenth century, in the bustling Lake Ontario port city of Toronto, there were no professional astronomers. However, many inhabitants of the city were keenly interested in sciences and current developments in them. King’s College, which grew into the University of Toronto, had been started in 1842. In 1849 it had 36 undergraduates attending, and had graduated a total of 55 students in the three faculties of arts, law and medicine. The Toronto Magnetic Observatory had been established in 1840. Its early directors and observers were officers and soldiers in garrison. Some of them, such as Captain J. F. Lefroy, contributed much to the cul­ tural life of the city. Out of this body of interest came the Canadian Institute estab­ lished in 1849 “to promote those pursuits which are calculated to refine and exalt a people” . Besides holding weekly meetings, the Canadian Institute accumulated an out­ standing library. There many hours were spent in study by Andrew Elvins who had come to Canada from Cornwall in 1844. In 1860 he moved to Toronto, with a population then of 44,000, and became chief cutter in a well known clothing store on King Street. While the Canadian Institute held discussion meetings of all sciences, Elvins wished to concentrate on astronomy. For this purpose he gathered together a few like-minded friends. On December 1, 1868 The Toronto Astronomical Club met for the first time, at the Elvins’ home, “having for its object the aiding of each other in the pursuit of astronomical knowledge”. The thousands of meteor sightings of the Leonid showers made in Toronto in November 1867 and 1868 had doubtless encouraged the project. In May, 1869 the word “Club” was changed to “Society”. Written records were kept for the first year, until the secretary moved away. After that, the group met only sporadically, but by the distribution of materials Elvins kept interest alive. As the century wore on, Elvins, who lived till 1918, acquired more kindred spirits, some of them influential and prominent. As a result, on March 10,1890 the organiza­ tion was incorporated as The Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of Toronto. In May, 1900 chiefly through the efforts of one of the important early members George E. Lumsden, the name was changed to The Toronto Astronomical Society. On March 3, 1903 through legal application the name took on its current form, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. For many years the Society had its offices and library in the Canadian Institute buildings, and held meetings there. Early in the 1890’s, Dr. Clarence A. Chant of the University of Toronto became deeply interested in the Society. The impetus which he gave to it until his death in 1956 still lingers. During its first fifteen years the Society published annually volumes containing its Transactions and Annual Report. In 1907 Dr. Chant started The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and this Handbook, called then “The Canadian Astronomical Handbook”. It is a remarkable fact that at the time of his death Dr. Chant had been the Editor of both the Journal and the Hand­ book for exactly 50 years. During this period he received generous assistance from many of the Society’s members. At times the Journal was published monthly, but currently it is bi-monthly. The change of name in 1903 led immediately to the concept that the Society should not be limited to Toronto, but should become national in scope. The second Centre to be established was that of Ottawa in 1906, where the Dominion Observa­ tory was being established. Now the Society has 18 Centres from sea to sea across Canada, as listed elsewhere in this Handbook. The growth in membership to nearly 3000 also shows its flourishing state. H e l e n S a w y e r H o g g PRINTED IN CANADA BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS the OBSERVER’S HANDBOOK 1978 seventieth year of publication the ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY of CANADA 124 Merton Street, Toronto M4S 2Z2, Canada editor: JOHN R. PERCY ISSN 0080-4193 THE OBSERVER’S HANDBOOK FOR 1978 t h e o b s e r v e r ’s h a n d b o o k for 1978 is the seventieth edition. It has now grown to 128 pages: the predictions of total and grazing lunar occultations have been con­ siderably expanded to cover the whole of Canada and the U.S., and about a dozen other sections have been extensively revised and/or expanded. I thank all those who contributed to the preparation of the 1978 edition: those whose names appear explicitly in the various sections, those mentioned below, and especially the editorial assistant, John F. A. Perkins. Among the many people who have given freely of their advice and assistance are: R. C. Brooks (an improved version of the sidereal time diagram), Terry Dickinson (further expansion of the important “Planets” section), Vic Gaizauskas (advice on eclipses and solar phenom­ ena), Ian Halliday (advice on planetary and miscellaneous astronomical data), Janet A. Mattei (predictions of Algol and δ Cephei, as well as other variable star information), P. B. Robertson (revision of the “Impact Craters” section), T. Van Flandern (advice and assistance with the expansion of the occultation predictions) and Joe Veverka (advice on planetary satellite data). I also thank Helen S. Hogg and R. P. Van Zandt for their many comments and suggestions, and Rosemary Freeman and Lloyd Higgs for their assistance and support. Once again, the David Dunlap Observatory and Erindale College, University of Toronto, provided much- appreciated financial, technical and moral support for the h a n d b o o k . My indebtedness to H.M. Nautical Almanac Office, and to the American Ephem- eris, is even greater than in past years. Leslie Morrison and his colleagues at H.M.N.A.O. provided all of the predictions of total and grazing lunar occultations, well in advance of our publication deadline; Gordon E. Taylor provided the pre­ dictions on planetary occultations [I hope that the results of these latter predictions are as exciting as they were in 1977!]. Finally, I must record, with sadness, the death of Dr. John F. Heard in October 1976. He was a major contributor to this h a n d b o o k , a leader and counsellor of the R.A.S.C. for forty years, and an outstanding figure in Canadian astronomy. Jo h n R . P e r c y THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA The history of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada goes back to the middle of the nineteenth century (see inside front cover). The Society was incorporated in 1890, received its Royal Charter in 1903, and was federally incorporated in 1968. The National Office of the Society is located at 124 Merton Street, Toronto, Ontario M4S 2Z2; the business office and astronomical library are housed here. The Society is devoted to the advancement of astronomy and allied sciences, and any serious user of this h a n d b o o k would benefit from membership. Applicants may affiliate with one of the eighteen Centres across Canada established in St. John’s, Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, London, Windsor, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria and Toronto, or join the National Society direct, as an unattached member. Members receive the publications of the Society free of charge: the o b s e r v e r ’s h a n d b o o k (published annually in November), and the bimonthly j o u r n a l , which contains articles on many aspects of astronomy. Membership applies to a given calendar year; new members joining after October 1 will receive membership and publications for the following calendar year. Annual fees are currently $12.50, and $7.50 for persons under 18 years. 2 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING The o b s e r v e r ’s h a n d b o o k is an annual guide to astronomical phenomena and data. The following is a brief list of publications which may be useful as an introduction to astronomy, as a companion to the h a n d b o o k or for advanced work. Abell, G. O. Realm o f the Universe. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1976. Standard, non-technical college text. Becvar, A. Atlas o f the Heavens. Cambridge, Mass.: Sky Publishing Corp., 1962. Useful star charts to magnitude 7.5. Hogg, Helen S. The Stars Belong to Everyone. Toronto: Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1976. Superb introduction to the sky. Mayall, R. N., Mayall, M. W. and Wyckoff, J. The Sky Observer's Guide. New York: Golden Press, 1971. Useful guide to practical astronomy. Mitton, S. ed. The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Astronomy. Toronto: Prentice-Hall of Canada; New York: Crown Publ. Co., 1977. An exciting comprehensive guide to modern astronomy. Roth, G. D. Astronomy: A Handbook. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1975. A com­ prehensive advanced guide to amateur astronomy. Satterthwaite, G. ed. Norton's Star Atlas. Cambridge, Mass.: Sky Publishing Corp., 1973. A classic observing guide. Sky and Telescope. Sky Publishing Corp., 49-50-51 Bay State Rd., Cambridge, Mass. 02138. A monthly magazine containing articles on all aspects of astronomy. ANNIVERSARIES AND FESTIVALS, 1978 New Year’s D a y ....... .Sun. Jan. 1 Memorial Day................ Mon. May 29 Epiphany........................ Fri. Jan. 6 St.