BE A "PARTNER IN ASTRONOMY" IN TORONTO IN 1999!

We are delighted to invite you to attend the first-ever joint meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the American Association of Variable Star Observers. The meeting theme is "Partners in Astronomy" to signify the three partner organizations, the two neighbour countries Canada   and the US , the partnerships between amateurs and professionals and between scientists and educators, and the many facets of astronomy which are on the program. We have carefully arranged the schedule so that you can enjoy an outstanding assortment of astronomical, educational, and social events: tours of the David Dunlap Observatory, the University of Toronto Campus Observatory, and the famous Ontario Science Centre; Universe '99 - two days of exhibits and non-technical lectures on Frontiers of Astronomy (the speakers include people like: Terry Dickinson, Alex Filippenko, Andrew Fraknoi, Edward Kolb, and Dan Weedman); two days of invited and contributed papers on History of Astronomy; a day of RASC meetings, papers, exhibits and displays; a day of AAVSO meetings and papers; a three-day workshop for teachers - something that the ASP is especially experienced in organizing; a Family Fair for the kids; a Project ASTRO workshop on creating partnerships between astronomers and teachers; the Ruth Northcott Memorial Lecture to be given by Professor Geoff Marcy (San Francisco State University), whose research group has discovered most of the score of new planets around other sun-like stars; and a gala AAVSO+ASP+RASC Awards Banquet.

There is also a three-day symposium on "Amateur Professional Partnership in Astronomical Research and Education". Amateurs already make outstanding contributions to astronomy research and education, and they are poised to make even greater contributions, thanks to imaging and computing technology (for research) and an expanding role for astronomy in the Canadian education system. This symposium, and its proceedings, will play a major role in the future evolution of amateur-professional partnership.

Your host, for the meeting, is the University of Toronto, which has been well known for its work in astronomy research and education for almost a century. The meeting will be held on the main campus of the University, in the heart of the city, close to restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, Accommodation ranges from about $52 a night (including breakfast and taxes) in air-conditioned university residences, to $81 a night at the Quality Inn, or more if you want a really upscale hotel. There is lots to see and do in Toronto: museums, galleries, theatres, parks, sports events, restaurants, and shopping. You can get around easily and safely on foot, or on the excellent public transit system. Niagara Falls, and other attractions are just an hour away.

So don't miss Toronto in 1999, for the most varied, interesting, and affordable meeting of the decade! The mayor of Toronto has even agreed to declare Toronto "the centre of the universe" for 1-4 July 1999 (with apologies to the rest of Canada). The bulk of the meeting is on the holiday weekend of Thursday July 1 to Monday July 5. The symposium is July 5-7. Stay an extra week, and enjoy one of the great cities of the world! For information, contact John R. Percy, Erindale Campus, University of Toronto, Mississauga ON, Canada L5L 1C6; e-mail: jpercy@erin.utoronto.ca. As the arrangements for the meeting become finalized, you can find them on the ASP web site (www.aspsky.org), as well as on the AAVSO (www.aavso.org) and RASC (www.rasc.ca) sites. Those interested in participating in the symposium should contact John Percy directly.

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