The Beginning
My interest in astronomy started all the way back in 1986 when I took a two week summer program at the Royal Ontario Museum and the McLaughlin Planetarium. The course itself took part in the planetarium’s star theatre. On the first day, I was hooked. I took the course every year for the next few years. As a teen I joined the staff of the Programs Department with the Saturday Morning Club and Summer Club. I had the honour of working with that very teacher who sparked the interest all the years ago, Brian Beattie, who was a staff member at the David Dunlop Observatory for the University of Toronto.
I also joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Toronto Centre. During my time there, I started and ran the Member’s Night West observing program, which at the time was held on the shore of Lake Ontario in Humber Bay Park West.
University and RASC
During university, I went to the University of Western Ontario, taking the Astronomy Program. When I finished, I returned to the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, but this time the London Centre. I spend spent most of the 2000’s and 2010’s as the Treasurer for the Centre. Post covid, I also held the positions of Vice President and President for single year terms. As a member of the RASC, I have completed the Messier Observing Certificate and both the Wide Field and Deep Sky Imaging Certificates.
Wide Field Images: https://rascastroimaging.zenfolio.com/p309162164
Deep Sky Images: https://rascastroimaging.zenfolio.com/p276590879
During the summers, I become involved in the Astronomy Outreach Program at Killarney Provincial Park. When I started, there was no program. I volunteered a night during our stay. Another former ROM associate, Bruce Waters, started an official program, through donations of telescopes and even PODs. I transitioned to being the “Astronomer in Residence” for several years, running a weekly observing program for the camp visitors. My involvement in that continued until COVID. The program has been modified since then and I moved on.
Minor Planet
I have also been honoured with the naming of a minor planet after myself. Minor Planet 21350 is officially named billgardner. To see the data for the minor planet, see link here.