Royal College Astronomical Society
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The Royal College Astronomical Society is a student society of the Royal College Colombo, that engages in the study of astronomy.
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[edit] History
The Society was formed in 1967 during the turner principle B.G. Premaratne and received a 4 inch reflector telescope from the optician Eric Rajapakse, an amateur astronomer and a council member of the Ceylon Astronomical Association (CAA). Meetings and actives of the society at the a society room known as The Astro Conference Room, an Astronomy Library was added later with contributions from the Asia Foundation and the American Center. Its current membership includes more than 500 students.
[edit] Programs
The Astronomical Society organizes events to observe planetary transits, Comets and other astronomical events; lectures and workshops conducted by eminent scientist and astronomers annually.[1] H. L. Reed Prize for Astronomy, the only prize for astronomy awarded by a school in the island is presented by the society on the results of a special exam. It was previously held it Prof V. K. Samaranayake as examiner, currently it is held by Prof Kavan Ratnatunga, a past president of the society.
[edit] Associations
- Sri Lanka Astronomical Association (SLAA)
- Young Astronomer’s Association (YAA)
- Astronomy & Space Study Center
- Colombo Planetarium
- Arthur C. Clarke Center
[edit] Notable past members
- Professor Ray Jayawardhana - Astronomer, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, Canada Research Chair in Observational Astrophysics and Steacie Fellow[2]
- Professor Kavan Ratnatunga - Astronomer and Associate Research Professor, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University[3]
