Our Feature Story: RASC Toronto Centre Update

Of course, one of the biggest news stories from the autumn of 1995 was the closure of Toronto's McLaughlin Planetarium. One of the side-effects of this closing was the Toronto Centre's loss of a meeting place. Happily, the Ontario Science Centre stepped in and offered the Toronto Centre a meeting room...

According to dome agent Paul Markov, "The Toronto Centre will have better facilities _ better audio/video equipment, a larger auditorium, free parking, will be closer to home, and has a Pizza Hut not too far away!" Upon hearing this, Tony Ward replied: "Tell me more about this Pizza Hut....does it have full planetarium facilities?"

However, there may be a cloud in the silver lining, according to Paul: "...not everyone is happy with the new arrangements. I would not expect that people from Etobicoke and Mississauga would come out to the Science Centre for 7 pm on Wednesday nights. That's why there are rumors floating around that a splinter group will form, called RASC _ Mississauga Centre. I imagine that Randy Attwood and Ralph Chou would lead this new Centre. Of course, this is just a rumor!!"

Prominent NYAAer Doug Clapp adds: "For more information on Mississauga Centre, just email them at their new address: Mississauga_Centre Obviously the new group will be nothing to sneeze at!"

Around the NYAA

Doug Clapp is still drilling holes. Recently he has reportedly been seen wandering around in Home Depot looking for more durable drill bits. Unconfirmed reports say that Doug would like to drill more holes in less time, thus maximizing his "holes per day" capacity...

Sal Merola has confirmed that he is selling his C-14 scope. Although Sal does not own a C-14 yet, he will as soon as he sells his current 16-inch scope. In an interview Sal said "... You know, I always like to be two steps ahead of the game!"

Tony Ward managed to get some observing in during a trip to Manitoulin late last summer. Although he wanted to take his 15" Dob with him, he did not, because his "...wife and kids [were] sick of being strapped to the wagon roof, and scraping the bugs off them at the end of a day's driving cuts into observing time too much..."

NYAA's Tangled Web Site Woven

As you all know, the club's home page is now online (http:// www.unicom.org/~nyaa/nyaa0.htm). Tony Ward checked it out within hours of its startup and telegraphed back to Webmeister Walter: "Looks terrific. stop. Have alerted Mirsky. stop. Like the suggestion we meet in members homes...looks up-market, and conceals the fact most of us live under grates or in fruit boxes. stop."

As the Dome Turns... welcomes contributions from NYAA members and AstroTent subscribers. Just send your tidbit to the editor (it doesn't even have to be true!).