Astronomy Cafe – Jan 8, 2024

Video transcript of meeting

• Intro – Jeff Pivnick
• Galileo – Jeff Pivnic
  • Today is the 382nd anniversary of his death in Florence in 1642
  • Taught at Universities of Pisa and Padua
  • Patron of the Medici family
  • Conducted experiments
  • Developed first telescopes based on Lippershey optics
  • Observed the Moon, Venus, Jupiter & 4 moons, Saturn, stars, Sun
  • Sidereal Messenger (1610) documenting his discoveries
  • Planetary motion theories
    • Ptolomaic model – Aristotle, Ptolemy, Aristarchus, Copernicus, Catholic Church
    • Heliocentric model – Galileo, Kepler and Copernicus
  • In 1630 published “The Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems”
  • Inquisition in 1633  found Galileo a heretic – put under house arrest
  • Review of his contributions to science
• APOD for Dec 26, 2023 – Jellyfish Nebula photo by Dave Payne
  • Explanation of the formation of the nebula and the resulting structure
  • Composition and appearance based on materials
  • Stellar Supernova resulting in a Neutron star
  • Well-deserved recognition!
• Astrophotos – Dave Payne
  • Bird’s Nest / Rice Hat Supernova Remnant – SN remnant
  • SH2-240 / Simeas 147 – SN filaments 4x diameter of the Moon
  • Flying Dragon of Cygnus – filaments from stellar winds
  • Barnard’s E (B142, B143) – dark nebula – all stars vs reduced stars
• Ravensberger puzzle of the solar system – Randy Enkin
  • Planets and moons
  • From Lee Valley – now sold out
  • Fun to put together with numbered pieces in separate bags
• Victoria Centre Awards – Reg Dunkley
  • Please nominate a member to Reg by mid-January pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
  • Newton-Ball Award – service to Victoria Centre
  • Ernie Pfannenschmidt Award – telescope making or other self-made astro gear
• Revealing the Invisible Universe with Radio Telescopes – Dr. Jennifer West, NRC – presentation at UVic – Wed Jan 10, 2024 at 7:30pm
• AGM – Feb
• Lauri Roche
  • Victoria Centre social at Four Mile Pub – Feb 26th
    • Please register secretary@victoria.rasc.ca
    • Awards
    • A-la-carte menu and no-host bar
  • Astronomy Day – May 18, 2024 Royal BC Museum
    • Need a team to form soon to take leads in the volunteer tasks
    • ⁃ Contact Lauri for more info roche.lauri@gmail.com
  • Games night at the FDAO Star Party – Jan 27 6:30-10PM
    • NRC vs RASC vs FDAO teams
    • Randy Enkin needs team members for RASC president@victoria.rasc.ca
    • Tickets available 2 weeks before event