Terence Dickinson

Terence Dickinson CM (born 10 November 1943 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian amateur astronomer and accomplished astrophotographer who lives near Yarker, Ontario, Canada. He is the author of 14 astronomy books for both adults and children. He is the editor of SkyNews magazine, which he founded in 1995. Dickinson has been an astronomy commentator for Discovery Channel Canada and taught at St. Lawrence College. He has made appearances at such places as the Ontario Science Centre. The asteroid 5272 Dickinson is named after him.

Biography

Dickinson became interested in astronomy at age 5, after seeing a bright meteor. When he was 14 he received a 60 mm telescope as a Christmas present: the first of nearly 20 telescopes he has owned. Past occupations include editor of Astronomy magazine and planetarium instructor. He became a full-time science writer in 1976. The Royal Canadian Institute awarded him the Sandford Fleming Medal in 1992. In 1995 Dickinson was made a Member of the Order of Canada, which is the nation's highest civilian achievement award. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific awarded him the Klumpke-Roberts Award in 1996. He received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Queen's University in 2019.

Publications

• Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
• The Backyard Astronomer's Guide
• Exploring the Night Sky
• Exploring the Sky by Day
• From the Big Bang to Planet X
• Splendors of the Universe
• Summer Stargazing
• The Universe and Beyond
• Extraterrestrials: A Field Guide for Earthlings
• Hubble's Universe

External links

• SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy and Stargazing
• The Backyard Astronomer's Guide