Lethbridge Astronomy Society

The Lethbridge Astronomy Society is a nonprofit, charitable organization incorporated under Alberta’s Societies Act. It is composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, all sharing an interest in astronomy and space science.

History and Mission

Established with the aim of promoting awareness and education in astronomy, the society has been active for over 40 years. It provides various educational programs, both in-person and online, for the public, schools, and other organizations. The society's mission includes maintaining a resource center and observatory to support its educational initiatives.

Facilities and Equipment

The Oldman River Observatory, established in 1991 at the base of Popson Park, is one of the best-equipped amateur astronomy facilities in Canada. The observatory features several notable components:

• Library and Presentation Room: The main building houses a library with over 600 titles and a presentation room capable of seating up to forty people.
• Telescopes: The facility includes a 5.5-meter dome housing a 35.5 cm Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, equipped with a CCD camera for astronomical imaging. Additionally, there are permanently mounted 14-inch and 8-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes for visual observations.
• Rick Ponomar Astronomical Laboratory: This separate building houses a presentation room used for live astronomical image viewing, captured using a Mallincam video astronomy camera.

Community Initiatives

The Lethbridge Astronomy Society engages in several community-oriented projects. Recently, the society has created a model of the solar system in Lethbridge to educate the public about the scale and distances within the solar system. The model uses notable city landmarks to illustrate the relative sizes and positions of the planets.

Operations

The society operates entirely through volunteer efforts, with no paid staff. As a registered charity in Canada, it accepts donations to support its activities and programs. Membership in the society provides access to its facilities, equipment, and mentorship from experienced astronomers.

Partnerships

The society maintains important relationships with the City of Lethbridge, the Province of Alberta, and the University of Lethbridge, which support its ongoing activities and programs.