RASC Beginning Observation Programs Video: This is a Halifax Centre RASC introductory video to astronomical observing for beginners programs such as Explore the Universe, Explore the Moon, and the Messier Observing Program.
RASC Intermediate Observation Programs Video: This is a Halifax Centre RASC intermediate program video that will introduce you to observing for programs such as the Finest NGC program and the Double Stars Program
RASC Advanced Observation Programs Video: This is a Halifax Centre RASC advanced observing video to introduce you to observing programs such as the Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program, Deep Sky Gems and Deep Sky Challenge.
Explore the Universe—a beginner’s observing program
Explore the Universe is the first RASC observing program aimed at the novice astronomer. Those who complete the program may apply for a certificate and pin—this is open to all, RASC members and non-members alike. First offered in 2002, this program is designed to:
- Stimulate an interest in observational astronomy.
- Introduce good observing practices and techniques.
- Provide an introduction to all aspects of visual astronomy including stars and constellations, lunar, planetary, deep sky, double stars and several optional activities, including variable stars.
- Encourage active observing programs in Local Centres like ours.
One of the special features of this program is that it can be completed entirely using binoculars and the unaided eye. A choice of objects is provided so that you can start the program at any time of the year and easily complete the requirements in three to six months time. Handy recording and application forms are available from a link at the bottom of this page.
Here is a summary of the Explore the Universe program requirements:
| Observing Objective | Required | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Constellations and Bright Stars | 12 | 24 |
| The Moon | 16 | 32 |
| Solar System | 5 | 10 |
| Deep Sky Objects | 12 | 24 |
| Double Stars | 10 | 20 |
| Total | 55 | 110 |
RASC Explore the Universe Certificate
Once you have completed your Explore the Universe observing program you can apply for your certificate and pin either through the RASC Society Office or through your local RASC Centre, if it is one of the Local Certification Centres or the RASC Observing Committee Chair at observing20010@rasc.ca . The Sunshine Coast Centre is one of the authorised Local Certification Centres.
Want to get started? Download the Explore the Universe program requirements (English) from the RASC site and start your observing program today!
NOTE: In March 2021 we started an Explore the Universe Challenge to help members work their way through the program. Check out the introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMMBO5UtFks&t=4s
RASC Explore the Moon Program:
The Explore the Moon (EtM) surfaced in 2011–12 during casual conversations
between RASC members Dave Chapman (Halifax Centre), Patrice Scattolin (Centre francophone
de Montréal), and Kevin Dunphy (New Brunswick Centre). They were looking for a more
elementary introduction to lunar observing than the more daunting RASC Isabel Williamson
Lunar Observing Program directed at intermediate-to-advanced observers. They also identified a
general need for a beginner’s observing program one step up from the novice-level Explore the
Universe. Such a program would provide an opportunity for observers to gain experience
operating their binoculars and small telescopes and hone their observing skills. We combined
theses goals and decided to base EtM on the list of lunar features and maps that have been
available for some time in the RASC Observer’s Handbook.
An innovation of EtM is the Q-Day method of locating and observing lunar features,
which is explained in detail in the text. This method distinguishes the RASC program from other
lunar observing programs available to the public.
The initiators represent an anglophone, francophone, and bilingual centres, so we decided
that EtM should be offered in both English and French. We also decided to offer two versions: a
complete version of 94 features that require a small telescope to complete, and an abbreviated
version of 40 features that can be identified in binoculars.
We now present Explore the Moon as an official RASC Observing Program with
certificate—we hope you start observing soon! You’ll find all of the downloadable features here.
Messier Observing Program:
The Messier Catalogue was developed in the 1700s by Charles Messier (1730–1817). Messier was a comet hunter working with speculum metal reflectors and small refractors that were the equivalent of a modern 80–100 mm reflector. As a result of the limited tools that he had to work with, he could not see the true nature of many of his “faint fuzzies” that are revealed in today’s modern instruments.
If Messier were alive today, he would no doubt be astonished at the size, distance, and complexity of the various objects that he catalogued. As a comet hunter, they were often nuisances, since they “got in the way” of his search for new comets.
Here is an overview of the Messier Catalogue:
| Messier Objects | Number | Notes |
| Open Clusters | 28 | Includes many beautiful open clusters like M6, M7, The Beehive, The Pleiades, and The Wild Duck. |
| Globular Clusters | 29 | Includes the showpieces M13, M22, M5, and M3. |
| Bright Nebulae | 8 | Includes the great Orion Nebula as well as the Lagoon, Swan, Eagle, and Trifid Nebulae. |
| Planetary Nebulae | 4 | Includes the impressive Ring Nebula as well as the Dumbbell and Owl planetary nebulae. |
| Galaxies | 40 | Includes the amazing Andromeda Galaxy as well as M51, M33, M81/M82, and many others. |
| Double Stars | 1 | This is M40, an unusual Messier object. |
You can find all of the downloadable forms for the RASC Messier Observing Program here.
Finest NGC Observing Program:
The New General Catalogue or NGC contains 7840 entries and forms the core of most people’s “life list” of observing targets. The NGC was originally published in 1888 by J.L.E. Dreyer and therefore predated photographic astronomy. The Finest NGC list, compiled by Alan Dyer and published in the annual RASC Observer’s Handbook, complements the Messier Catalogue, as there is no overlap. The list of 110 deep-sky objects includes many fine deep-sky treasures as well as a few some mildly challenging objects.
Here is an overview of the Finest NGC Observing List:
| Type | Number | Notes |
| Open Clusters | 12 | Including the famous Double Cluster in Perseus, NGC 7789 in Cassiopeia and NGC 6633 in Ophiuchus. |
| Globular Clusters | 2 | NGC 5466 in Bootes and NGC 6712 in Scutum. |
| Bright Nebulae | 14 | Includes the great Veil Nebula as well as the North American and Rosette nebulae. |
| Planetary Nebulae | 24 | Includes many fine PN’s like the Ghost of Jupiter, the Cat’s Eye, the Blinking Planetary, the Helix, and the Blue Snowball nebulae. |
| Galaxies | 58 | Includes the amazing NGC 4565 in Coma Berenices, NGC 253 in Sculptor and NGC 5907 in Draco. |
| Total | 110 |
You can download the Finest NGC Observing program documents here.
Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program
The Moon is by far the most detailed astronomical object to observe through a telescope and the comprehensive Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program (IWLOP) will guide you through a complete tour of our nearest neighbour’s incredible surface. The program includes many outstanding craters, mountains, valleys, scarps, ridges, and more, not only showing you how they appear, but also describing the history of their formation over four billion years. The RASC Observing Committee created the IWLOP in 2006 as a certificate program for intermediate observers. The 4th edition came out in 2019.
The IWLOP is an educational experience, including a detailed guide with key information about the lunar surface and how to observe it. The guide begins with an overview that outlines the required objectives for earning the certificate (268), and includes extra optional activities such as challenge objectives (178), lunar sketching, lunar astrophotography, craters with Canadian connections (7), and the Lunar 1000 Challenge. A detailed history of the Moon follows, including the various eras that have shaped its surface. Several types of lunar surface feature is described, along with their unique observable characteristics. Optional targets (12) are suggested, visible only during favourable libration periods. The Foreword by David Levy is a testimonial to Isabel Williamson herself, a mentor to David and many other RASC observers, and for whom the program is named.
This is a program that will allow you to do some daytime observations of the moon.
You can download the documents for the IWLOP program here.
Deep-Sky Gems
During a lifetime of comet hunting David Levy has swept up many unique and interesting deep-sky objects and through this observing program he shares with us 154 of his Deep Sky Objects (Prometheus Books, New York 2005). Leo Enright (1943–2009) invested a great deal of time on the project, selecting objects that did not overlap with other RASC observing programs. The certificate has been awarded since 2013.
Many deep-sky objects in the list are from the NGC and Index Catalogue (IC) but there are also unique objects, such as Levy 384, Tombaugh’s Cluster, and a dust field. The Deep-Sky Gems list was first published in the RASC Observer’s Handbook in 2008. (Drawing of IC 2197/2196/2194 by Melody Hamilton)
| GEM Objects | Number | Notes |
| Open Clusters | 14 | Including the overlooked naked-eye open cluster NGC 752, Tombaugh’s Cluster, and the Christmas Tree Cluster in Monoceros. |
| Globular Clusters | 14 | “Intergalactic Wanderer” in Lynx and globular cluster NGC 7006 in Delphinus. |
| Bright Nebulae | 7 | Unusual objects such as NGC 1333, the Embryo Nebula, and NGC 7023, the Iris Nebula, along with other “weird” nebulae. Some are associated with nearby star clusters. |
| Planetary Nebula | 1 | This large and bright Fornax planetary deserves to be better known. |
| Galaxies | 112 | Large and small, round and elongated, there is a great variety of galaxies, spiral, elliptical, and unusual. |
| Double Quasar | 1 | This is the remarkable double quasar known to act as a gravitational lens +561A/B in Ursa Major |
| Nebula-Dust-Field | 1 | NGC 2174 known as the Monkey Head Nebula |
| Galaxy Clusters | 3 | IC and Arp clusters visible in medium sized scopes. |
| Asterism | 1 | This is a very special asterism that has gained recognition in observational literature as “Levy 384” in Puppis |
| Total | 154 |
You can download the documents for the Deep Sky Gems program here.
Deep-Sky Challenge
The DSC observing program, compiled by Alan Dyer and Alister Ling in 2001, goes beyond the Messier Catalogue and the Finest NGC objects, and there is no overlap. The observing program features “fringe” deep-sky treasures that are somewhat more challenging objects than what most observers look for. The attraction of observing is not the sight of an object itself but the intellectual contact with what it is.
Here is an overview of the DSC Observing List:
| Deep-Sky Challenge Objects | Number | Notes |
| Open Clusters | 2 | NGC 609 in Cassiopeia and NGC 6791 in Lyra. |
| Globular Clusters | 4 | Includes Palomar 11 in Aquila. |
| Emission/Reflection Nebulae | 13 | Includes California Nebula in Perseus and Barnard’s Loop in Orion. |
| Dark Nebulae | 2 | Includes B33, the Horsehead, and B72, the Snake. |
| Planetary Nebulae | 8 | Includes Jones 1 in Pegasus. |
| Supernova Remnants | 1 | |
| Galaxies / Galaxy Clusters / Quasars | 15 | |
| Total | 45 |
You can download the documents for the Deep-Sky Challenge Program here
The Double Stars Program
The Double Stars Observing Program encourages observers to view a variety of doubles and multi-star systems. As noted in the Observer’s Handbook, 85% of stars are doubles or triples. This program is aimed at the intermediate visual observer. RASC members who complete the program may apply for a certificate.
This program will:
- Nurture interest in double stars.
- Present an array of interesting double stars.
- Reinforce good observing practices and techniques.
- Encourage active observing programs in RASC Centres.
The Double Stars Observing Program may be completed with a small telescope. Using different magnifications is recommended.
Observers may enjoy viewing from urban locales, and during periods with a bright Moon, as double stars can generally be viewed from anywhere and any time. While dark adaptation is helpful, a dark site is not a requirement. Atmospheric seeing can impact double star viewing.
The 110 double star targets are visible from the northern hemisphere in many constellations. The list should present few difficulties for observers between north latitudes 40 to 50. The program can be started at any time and can be easily completed within 12 months.
Typical double star lists show separation, position angle, colours, and magnitudes. The RASC double stars program departs from this convention to help observers view targets without preconceptions. With only coordinates and combined brightness, it allows the observer to “discover” the nature of the double star on their own without any bias.
If the observer prefers to know in advance the details of each target double, they may use the detailed Supplementary list.
A certificate will be awarded to a RASC member who visually observes all 110 pairs on the official Double Stars Observing Program list as published.
You can download the documents for the Double Stars Program here
Sunshine Coast Centre RASC 