Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Renowned astronomer Terence Dickinson of Yarker passed away on Feb. 1 at the age of 79.
Widely considered to be among North America’s foremost authorities on astronomy, Dickinson published 14 books on the subject while making frequent appearances on the Discovery Channel Canada and CBC’s Quirks and Quarks to talk about notable upcoming events taking place in the night sky.
“He had just a great knack for communicating and translating from the terminology into terms that the layman would be able to understand,” recalled Alan Dyer, who worked with Dickinson on several projects, including the magazine SkyNews. He spoke with the Beaver via phone from Alberta. “He had really a great talent for explaining things in a way that people would understand and make them continue to be interested and grow their interest in star gazing and astronomy.”
A plaque recognizing Terence Dickinson can be found at the Dark Sky Viewing Area.
Locally he played a major role in Lennox and Addington County’s development of a dedicated Dark Sky Viewing Area, a popular attraction for residents and tourists alike that takes advantage of this region’s unique night skies that remain untouched by light pollution.
Along authoring a weekly Toronto Star column, which ran for 30 years, Dickinson’s most recognizable work is NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe. Originally published in 1977, it has undergone several re-issues and updates over the years.
“It remains the most popular in terms of units sold introductory guide to amateur astronomy there is on the market,” said Dyer of NightWatch. “Other books have come and gone, it stays in print and revised and it’s just so accessible, the star charts are easy to understand. He just had a good grasp of not confusing people with unnecessary-he says that even in the introduction-he’s avoided all that unnecessary jargon which other writers seem compelled to include but you don’t really need all that to look at the sky and understand what you’re looking at.”
Occasionally Terence Dickinson would submit photos of his work to the Beaver, such as this spectacular image. Photo by Terence Dickinson.
Dickinson was said to have developed a love for the night sky at the age of five when he spotted a meteor flash across the sky in front of his Toronto home. That chance encounter would morph into a life long passion.
In 1994 his work was recognized by the International Astronomical Union, which named the asteroid 5272 Dickinson in his honour.
Among his long list of awards was the Royal Canadian Institute’s Sandford Fleming Medal for outstanding contributions to science communication, the Order of Canada and honourary doctorates from Queen’s University as well as Trent University.
In a fitting tribute, his ashes will be scattered under a dark country sky. There will be no memorial service.
If desired, donations in memory of Dickinson can be made to a local Humane Society or to a charity of choice in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be forwarded online through wartmanfuneralhomes.com.