 Proposals for building a planetarium in Toronto date back to 1944 , but serious planning only started in 1962 , thanks to a bequest made by a former member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada ( RASC ) . In May 1964 the Chairman and the President of the University of Toronto gave their support for the idea to the RASC , and suggested a site near the existing Royal Ontario Museum , adding that significant financial support would have to come from outside the University to make it possible . 
