Paul Comision Award for Observer of the Year

Recognizing RASC Ottawa’s “Observer of the Year”  started in 1965.

In the words of Council’s original  enabling motion, it is “… awarded annually to the member… who has contributed most to the advancement of Astronomy in the Group”.

The purpose of the award, which is symbolized by a nicely-designed small pin, is to stimulate a keener interest in observational astronomy among the members of the Group. In keeping with this purpose, the selection is based primarily on actual observations and their value to astronomy and to our group as observers. Of course, construction of a useful piece of apparatus is also a valuable contribution, but the emphasis should be on the use of such an apparatus to obtain results of scientific value. This includes the communication of the results to the proper authorities in the case of certain observations…”

The award was rebranded in 2018 after the death of one of RASC Ottawa’s legendary observers, Paul Comision. It is in remembrance of Paul’s sterling contributions to the development of RASC Ottawa that is award is made. The Paul Comision memorial Telescope at FLO is also testimony to Paul’s role as an observer.

Paul‘s obituary in the Ottawa Citizen states that he ” . . . was also an amateur astronomer with life membership in the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). He served as President of the Ottawa Centre of the RASC from 1991 to 1993″.

This award is not about the best images or having the most reported observations or having the biggest telescope. It’s about documentation, communication and the utility of the contributed effort to astronomy as a science and a passtime. It recognizes those who make astronomy better through their work. It’s about the “so what?”