Tag Archives: Awards-2022

Awards for 2022
Franklin Loehde Award for Project of the Year
Richard Covey

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So many discoveries in astronomy these days are the products of expensive advanced technology and complicated coordination of large groups of people—think the first image of a black hole.

But science doesn’t have to be that way.

The awardee of the project we are recognizing this year—a pinhole camera 6 month exposure of the sun–used technology that is positively anachronistic, and he did not require collaboration on the scale of the D-day invasion.

To explain further what we are seeing and how he did it, please welcome this year’s winner of the Franklin Loehde Award for Project of the Year, Richard Covey.

Richard is a relatively new member, having joined in 2020, I believe—but he has now agreed to be the new Astroimaging Café coordinator—he is, btw, one hell of an astroimager—so thank you for volunteering, Richard!

Awards for 2022
Observer of the Year Award
Mike Noble

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This year the Observer of the Year Award goes to Mike Noble—awarded posthumously, Mike having passed away in October. His passing was a shock to us all, if for no other reason than he was still posting Observing reports on Astro in August:

August 12 4:43 am

Hi Folks,
It’s now 4:40am and the NLC RA is now 345 to 040 and the altitude has grown to 10 degrees. The western half of this display has gotten brighter and is quite obvious to the naked eye. There is some dim NLC in the eastern side up to 15 degree altitude, but is a lot dimmer than the western end of this morning’s 37th NLC this season.

Michael Noble

He posted his first NLC observation on June 1st:

NLC #1 June 1, 3:45 am

Hi Folks,
It’s now 3:41 and tonight’s NLC display’s RA is now 320 to 100 and the highest point in altitude is 25 degrees. This an excellent display to start the 2022 season. I will probably go to 3:55 before I finish tonight’s capture of this display.

Michael Noble

Thirty seven sightings and recordings in 73 nights: you do the math.

Mike had previously been awarded Observer of the Year in 2015.

It is my honour to recognize his dedication and skill one last time with this year’s Observer of the Year Award for 2022. Accepting on behalf of Mike’s family is Alister Ling.

Awards for 2022
President’s Award for Service to the Centre
Sharon Morsink

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The President’s Award for Service to the Centre is given for sustained and valuable contributions to the Centre and the advancement of its mission.

Our award winner joined the Centre January 2000. She was a member of the organizing committee for 2012 RASC GA held in Edmonton She has been and Edmonton RASC Council member since 2013. She served as Edmonton RASC President 2017 & 2018 She has been the RASC meeting speakers “committee” starting around 2015 – present: inviting speakers for our monthly meetings, creating web pages advertising the meetings, often introducing the speakers.

But that’s not all:

She is also a respected and popular Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Alberta who has authored or coauthored to date 87 (!) astronomy papers. So in addition to her many tangible contributions to the Centre, she also contributes an important intangible: credibility.

And finally, may I add that, having first really got to know her when we travelled down to Idaho to see the eclipse in 2017, that she is one of the nicest persons you will ever meet. It is my honour to present the 2022 President’s Award for Service to the Centre to Dr. Sharon Morsink.

Awards for 2022
Bryce Heartwell Memorial Award for Excellence in Astroimaging
Alan Hobbs

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We are lucky to have a sizeable group of experienced and talented astroimagers in our club. So picking the astroimager of the year is always a difficult decision for the awards committee.

However, after consultation with Abdur, and based on the frequency of submissions to Astroimaging Corner, quality of work, and variety of subjects, the Bryce Heartwell Memorial Award for Excellence in Astroimaging goes this year to Alan Hobbs.

Alan’s images are so well processed they don’t look like they have been processed. Everything about the images: the colour, contrast, sharpening, positioning, noise—is so balanced and well controlled that the images just look natural. The imager is behind the image, not in front of it. Which is how it should be.

Congratulations, Alan!

Awards for 2022
George Moores Memorial Award for Excellence in Public Education
Rick and Susan Bramm

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The Mission of the RASC, is to enhance understanding of and inspire curiosity about the Universe, through public outreach, education, and support for astronomical research. So, public education is central to the Centre’s mission. From 2004 to 2019, the Northern Prairie Star Party was a fixture on the RASC Edmonton Centre Calendar. Originally organized by Warren Finlay, our awardees, the members of the NPSP Committee, took it over in 2005 and ran it after that.

However, as everyone is aware, the pandemic took hold in 2020 and resulted in the cancellation of the NPSP in 2020 and again in 2021.

But our awardees never gave up on the idea of holding it, and under their leadership it came roaring back this year. As in years past, they put together a budget, assembled a team of volunteers, arranged camping facilities, recruited guest speakers, solicited guest speakers and door prizes and set up the facilities. And this year, under clear dark skies, there were 67 registrants — and, as they reported in Stardust: “great camaraderie, learning and enthusiasm…”

So it gives me great pleasure to announce that this year’s George Moores Memorial Award for Excellence in Public Education goes to Rick and Susan Bramm.