RASC London Centre held its Annual Banquet on Saturday, July 28th, celebrating its 90th Anniversary with the special tribute to its founding President, Dr. Harold R. Kingston (1922—1930), whose antique brass telescope was on display, donated to the London Centre by his grandson, John Kingston. Also celebrated was our recent outgoing and longest serving President (1999—2011), Dave McCarter. David Levy was our main speaker and Guest of Honour. However, a few members paid a visit to the Cronyn Observatory after the banquet.
Faculty member, Dr. Pauline Barmby, greeted Adam Priestap-Suttis and his mother, Cheryl, and Adam set up his 20.3cm Sky-Watcher Dobsonian on the Observatory’s roof patio to show a few visitors the two-day-past-first quarter Moon. Bob Duff arrived shortly thereafter around 10:18 p.m., followed by Dave and Jan McCarter. Pauline advised Bob that there had been about 40 visitors, including Richard Gibbens, that evening for her digital slide presentation, “What’s New in Astronomy.” Graduate student Tony Martinez operated the big 25.4cm refractor in the dome, which was directed at the Moon first (52mm Erfle eyepiece, 84X) and then Saturn (28mm Meade Super Wide Angle eyepiece, 157X). Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Kim Chang-Goo assisted.
Bob Duff showed Adam and Tony the Observatory’s 20.3cm Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain and 90mm Coronado solar telescope stored in what was formerly the Observatory dome photography dark room. The Cronyn was closed down around 11:00 p.m. after a successful evening with an interesting slide presentation and clear sky with some clouds.
Bob Duff
Higher Education Liaison
RASC London Centre