RASC General Assembly 2010
New Brunswick Centre
A special thanks to Paul Gray and the GA Committee for a wonderful time with great food, great talks and great downhome hospitality. This pictorial report is the personal view and experience of Debra and Peter Ceravolo. This GA was very special for me (Debra) as I grew up in New Brunswick and going to this GA was like going home. We only wish that we took more photos.
Hope you enjoy.
We started off with a whale watching tour on Canada Day aboard the Jolly Breeze.
We launched in St Andrews by the Bay, the Bay of Fundy that is.
The boat launch pier shows the effects of high and low tides. The highest range in the world!
Which one is the pirate? Peter or the guy with the hat?
Waiting for the whales.
You had to be quick with the camera but they were there!
I was usually on the wrong side of the boat but managed to capture a couple of the graceful black Minke whales.
We also encountered seals, bald eagles, porpoises and salmon farms. Wonderful!
The next day we traveled to the famous Hopewell Rocks. This shot from above during low tide.
Walking around on the ocean floor. The park conveniently offered a shoe and foot washing station for those who ventured near the water. It can get very mucky.
Patrick Kelly with Peter and Dianne Jedicke
This is what high tide looks like.
The tides were also the subject of Roy Bishop's talk for the GA Banquet.
Roy outlined the many variables that effect the tides including the position of the Moon and the Sun on the ecliptic, the Moon at perigee, apogee, and the Moon's phases coupled with resonance effects caused by the ocean floor's terrain. Roy effectively explained away the many myths about the high tides of the Bay of Fundy that even the tour guides perpetuate. This was a great talk on the astronomical influences that makes this part of the Maritimes so unique!
The food was amazing. A lobster feast was one of the highlights.
Newspaper tablecloths and a bucket, that's how it's done. And of course the wine.
Peter's lobster had a little life left in it :)
University of Montreal Professor Rene Doyon (amused by the lobster) was the Helen Sawyer Hogg Public Lecturer.
Rene is a member of the science team
who recently obtained the first images of a multiple planetary system outside our Solar system and spoke about the many recent discoveries. Rene is also the leader of an international science team which is developing the tunable filter imager, one of the four science instruments aboard the James Webb Space Telescope.
Lunch with David Levy. David gave us a heart warming talk about comet hunting and the Moon's connection to all of us.
Other talks included a group of young astronomers from rural Mirimichi called the Star Troopers. These kids were really impressive!
Jim Hesser, our Honourary President, gave a talk on continuing the efforts of IYA.
A Discussion Panel about the future of the RASC.
This discussion was taped live and aired on David and Wendee Levy's show.
"Let's Talk Stars".
Perhaps the most interesting comment was made by Roland Dechesne (second from the right). The Calgary Centre has a very active youth outreach program but has low youth membership. That doesn't stop them from doing more public outreach. The belief is that the young people exposed to astronomy will come back as adults. Peter and I both agree that the principal role of the RASC should be to expose young people and adults to astronomy and not worry so much about turning public outreach into a membership drive.
Most of the presenters of the General Assembly 2010.
The Closing Banquet with guest speaker Roy Bishop.
A parting gift for David Lane, outgoing President, by the incoming President Mary Lou Whitehorn.
Mary Lou is the fifth female National President for the RASC and the first in 25 years.
Way to go Mary Lou! You are already great!
In turn, Mary Lou is presented with the RASC Voodoo doll. Let's hope she doesn't need it.
Recipients of the Ken Chilton Prize for their significant participation in IYA.
The GA Volunteers (wish I could name them all)
The New Brunswick Centre gave us a really great time to remember. Loved the tartans.
GA Chair Paul Gray led the wonderful team of volunteers of the New Brunswick GA 2010. This Centre is extremely unique in the RASC as its membership spans the entire province.
You guys are the best!
A job well done. Time to relax, you deserve it. Cheers!
Thank you New Brunswick Centre!