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The Harbour Sky Astronomical Club is a local astronomy club for the rural area in and around Antigonish Nova Scotia. The club is free of charge and open to people of all ages and experience. Our membership is currently comprised of individuals from all walks of life who share an interest in astronomy, space science and the natural world.
Fall 2011 Program Schedule:
The club meets at the Clarke Dome every Wednesday night from 8:00 - 9:00 pm
starting on September 21st until December 21st, 2011. Additional evening and a winter schedule will be announced on this web-site link as they become available.
WEATHER CONDITIONS UPDATE - Dec. 14th No observing.
From time to time we'll need to reschedule due to poor weather conditions for observation. We will update this web-site link the day of observation. Please check it before heading out.
Program Flyer - Please print off and post within the community
Site Map - Directions to the Astronomy Dome in Lanark, Antigonish County
Collaborative Partnership:
The Harbour Sky Astronomical Club is a shared partnership between the Fresh Air Society and the Physics Department at STFX University. The mandate of the club is to facilitate awareness of astronomical topics by establishing and maintaining a resource center, observatory and library and by creating and running various educational programs and opportunities for students at STFX University and the citizens of Antigonish and area. The facililties, equipment and programs are all funded by the efforts of a small group of volunteers. The main activity of the Society is to serve as an astronomy resource for the community and to help people stay connected to the natural world. The Society has an astronomy dome and a presentation centre located at the Fresh Air shelter in Lanark, Antigonish County. The dome houses a telescope funded through the STFX Service Learning Faculty Development and Research Support Fund via a grant from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation.
Presentations to groups such as scouts, cubs, girl guides, schools, 4H, service clubs and the like are arranged by the Society's Education Coordinator Jamie Powell. These are usually offered on Wednesday evenings. Further information about our viewing and our education programs please contact Jamie at 867.2302 or jpowell@stfx.ca
History of the Rev. E.M. Clarke Astronomical Observatory Dome
The Ash Manufacturing Company 10.5 foot dome was purchased by Reverend Ernest M. Clarke in the early 1970s and was installed on the roof of the former Science Hall on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University in 1979. Father Clarke, then quite ill, saw the dome erected but, unfortunately, passed away without ever setting foot inside the finished structure.
A Celestron 10-inch Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope (SCT) was used in the Rev. E.M. Clarke Astronomical Observatory dome for public viewing sessions held by the late Dr. Yogi Joshi and by Mr. Jim Holmes in the 1980s until the early 1990s when Mr. Jamie Powell took over the duties. A new telescope was installed in 1996 (A Meade 10-inch SCT). The telescope was removed from the dome in 2004 when the Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering departments moved into the new Physical Sciences Complex. The dome sat unused until 2009 when it was removed and donated to the Fresh Air Society.
The renovated dome now houses a new Celestron 11-inch aplanatic SCT purchased with funds awarded through a St. Francis Xavier University Service Learning Faculty Development and Research Support grant. Under the terms of the grant, the telescope will be used by students enrolled in the St.F.X. Physics department astronomy courses PHYS171 Introduction to Astronomy I, and PHYS172 Introduction to Astronomy II who participate in the Service Learning component of each course. These students will operate the telescope and run public viewing sessions throughout the academic terms.
The Clarke Astronomical Observatory Dome is currently located on the land of Frank Gallant and Heather Mayhew on Terratory Dr. in Lanark, Antigonish County.
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