The IKW Lunar Observing Group

Bettina Forget
Director of the
IKW Lunar Observing Group

As many of you know, the RASC Observing Committee introduced the Isabel Williamson
Lunar Observing Certificate last year. This certificate was named after one of the Montreal
Centre’s most outstanding observers.
This observing challenge is a perfect choice for members of the Montreal Centre for two
reasons: first, if you’re a city-dwelling astronomer, the Moon will outshine any light pollution,
so you’ll be able to complete this challenge from your urban back-yard. Second, Montreal
Centre members just owe it to themselves to earn a certificate that’s named after one of its
own members!
However, this certificate is no cake walk. The sixty-page booklet lists a wide variety of lunar
objects, such as carters, mountains, valleys, scarps, dorsa, and more. To make it a little
easier to earn this certificate, I’m setting up the IKW Lunar Observing Group. This group
is open to all Montreal Centre members. All you’ll need is a telescope (a minimum of 3.5”
is recommended) and a copy of the Lunar Program Booklet. You can download a pdf
version of the booklet from the www.rasc.ca website, or obtain one through the Montreal
Centre by getting in touch with me.
Members of the IKW Lunar Observing Group will observe on their own time, and get
together once a month to compare logbook notes and observe together. This means that
there’s always someone available to help you out if you become stuck, you can peek through
another member’s scope to compare observations, and members can encourage each other
to keep going. Never underestimate the power of group dynamics!
To sign up for this group, please get in touch with me via e-mail at bettina.e.forget@bellnet.ca
or call me at 514-878-3663. Deadline for sign-up is September 20, 2006. Our first meeting
will be held on September 27, 2006 (rain or shine).
In this section of our Montreal Centre website reserved for the IKW Lunar Observing Group we’ll publish our observing schedules and dates, astrophotos and drawings, and keep everyone abreast of our progress.
If you’re a beginning observer, and you’re uneasy about embarking on such a challenging
observing programme, the Montreal Centre offers its own Mini Moon Certificate, which is
based on the RASC Explore the Universe Programme.