Richard Huziak
Encyclopedia
Richard Huziak is a Canadian
amateur astronomer
for whom the International Astronomical Union
named main-belt asteroid 4143 Huziak
. A former president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Saskatoon Centre for six years and a prominent member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers
, Huziak has over 165,000 observations of variable stars to his credit. He received the Chant Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2001, the Service Medal from the same organization in 2009, and Janet Mattei presented Huziak with the AAVSO's Director's Award in 2003.
Huziak is also an environmentalist addressing light pollution
concerns in Saskatchewan. His work here prompted the Saskatchewan Eco-Network (SEN) to name Huziak a Saskatchewan Environmental Champion. That organization awarded him the Environmental Activist Individual Award in 2007. He was instrumental in the designation of the Cypress Hills Dark Sky Preserve
in September 2004, then Canada's largest dark-sky preserve. His work with Parks Canada
led to the designation of Grasslands National Park
as a dark-sky preserve in October 2009, overtaking Cypress Hills as Canada's largest dark-sky preserve. Huziak continues to advise various levels of government as well as individuals on light pollution abatement in order to reduce light trespass, energy waste, and environmental degradation.
Huziak was also intimately involved in the discovery of 185P/Comet Petriew in August 2001, namesake of Vance Petriew of the Regina Centre, RASC.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
for whom the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
named main-belt asteroid 4143 Huziak
4143 Huziak
Asteroid Huziak is named in honor of Richard Huziak. It was discovered on August 29, 1981 at Socorro, New Mexico by Laurence G. Taff.4143 Huziak is a Themistian asteroid. It is believed to have a diameter of about 21 km. It has an elliptical orbit, with a perihelion of 2.49 AU and an aphelion...
. A former president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a national, non-profit, charitable organization devoted to the advancement of astronomy and related sciences. At present, there are 29 local branches of the Society, called centres, located in towns and cities across the country from St. John's,...
Saskatoon Centre for six years and a prominent member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers
American Association of Variable Star Observers
Since its founding in 1911, the American Association of Variable Star Observers has coordinated, collected, evaluated, analyzed, published, and archived variable star observations made largely by amateur astronomers and makes the records available to professional astronomers, researchers, and...
, Huziak has over 165,000 observations of variable stars to his credit. He received the Chant Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2001, the Service Medal from the same organization in 2009, and Janet Mattei presented Huziak with the AAVSO's Director's Award in 2003.
Huziak is also an environmentalist addressing light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
concerns in Saskatchewan. His work here prompted the Saskatchewan Eco-Network (SEN) to name Huziak a Saskatchewan Environmental Champion. That organization awarded him the Environmental Activist Individual Award in 2007. He was instrumental in the designation of the Cypress Hills Dark Sky Preserve
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is an interprovincial park straddling the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan border, located southeast of Medicine Hat...
in September 2004, then Canada's largest dark-sky preserve. His work with Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
led to the designation of Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park is one of Canada's newer national parks, located in southern Saskatchewan, and one of 43 parks and park reserves in Canada's national park system...
as a dark-sky preserve in October 2009, overtaking Cypress Hills as Canada's largest dark-sky preserve. Huziak continues to advise various levels of government as well as individuals on light pollution abatement in order to reduce light trespass, energy waste, and environmental degradation.
Huziak was also intimately involved in the discovery of 185P/Comet Petriew in August 2001, namesake of Vance Petriew of the Regina Centre, RASC.