There is not much to report this month, aside from confirming that the hum you hear in the background is Victoria Centre’s 2014 General Assembly committees working away as the June date nears. Remember too, that we have decided to proceed with our annual Astronomy Day, this year to be held at the Royal BC Museum on May 10. This “double booking” of events will lead to a bit more work on our part, but with Paul and Mark at the helm of the GA, and Sherry heading up the our day at the museum, and our usual cadre of energetic volunteers, we should have a Spring to remember.

On the observing front, I would like to urge all of you to make this your “Messier” year. Start keeping a record of the “M” objects that you observe, and before long you will have one of those little round pins. Messier Certificate

The long-awaited meeting of November 23, organized by Lana Popham (and her assistant, Samuel Godfrey, whom she has committed will stay on to help the “stakeholders”), occurred as scheduled. I suppose that one does not want to be overly optimistic, but it seemed to me to have been a success.

In attendance from RASC Victoria Centre were Chris, Lauri, SId, Roy, Malcolm, Jim and Betty Hesser, and me. In a nutshell, we early-on stated our position, as understood had been decided by counsel, to be that we would continue to provide volunteers for Saturday night viewing, with the understanding that 1) we could not provide security, and 2) only if the Plaskett was open for tours by the public, given that the large telescope is what draws most people up the hill.

The NRC VP from Ottawa also stated his position early on, and clarified and reiterated it a number of times, it being this: NRC has “no appetite” for spending new money on the CU, but neither does it have any plans to “decommission” the CU building, or turn off the heat, or empty it, or stop providing security for it. This led everyone to conclude that the CU could be used by any of the parties there, subject to terms being negotiated, so long as NRC did not have to spend anything on it, a conclusion with which he did not disagree. He seemed to say specifically that NRC providing security on the hill, and for the CU building itself, was the same as providing security for our Saturday night endeavors. How the Plaskett would be tended to on Saturday nights was left for discussion with local NRC staff.

Each of us from Victoria Centre had something to say. Insurance, advertising, and other issues were all discussed. I felt our participation was much appreciated, and we seem in the driver’s seat insofar as what has been our traditional role is concerned, no matter who or what it is that may have something to offer beyond night-sky viewing and a tour of the mighty Plaskett.

Everyone seemed to think that night-sky viewing could resume next spring. Both long and short-term committees were set up to make sure that our momentum is not lost: Lauri and Chris are on the short-term committee, and I am on the long-term committee. A meeting of the short-term committee is in the offing, and I’m sure the long-term group will be meeting after the holidays.

The closing of the Centre of the Universe remains a big disappointment for members of Victoria Centre, to say nothing of its former staff, supporters within the NRC, kids, science-minded parents, teachers, schools, and other members of this community.

Lana Popham, MLA from South Saanich, is spearheading an effort to see if the CU can somehow be saved. Toward that end, she is hosting a meeting of “stakeholders” at the Observatory on November 23 to discuss what might be done. Several members of Victoria Centre have been invited, as have representatives from the local staff of the NRC and the University of Victoria, as well as from local schools, non-profits and businesses.

Hopefully there is a way forward for the CU, which events since the announcement of its closing have shown to be so important to this community. We shall see what develops.

About the only thing to report to have happened since last month is that Jim Hesser and Eric Chisholm, on behalf of the NRC/DAO, UVic, and RASC Victoria Centre, submitted a proposal to the Royal British Columbia Museum seeking the creation of an exhibit to highlight the history of astronomy in British Columbia. It was hoped that the opening of the exhibit would coincide with GA 2014, and that it would feature artifacts, photographs, and history relating to First Nations, contributions to modern astronomy by astronomers at the DAO and UVic, and public outreach efforts by the Centre of the Universe, UVic and the RASC Victoria Centre.

Unfortunately, in spite of the fine efforts of Jim and Eric, we were told that the museum was “full up” for next year, and strapped for funds.

The conversation during the two months that were our summer break was dominated by the announcement of the NRC that the Centre of the Universe was closing at the end of August, supposedly for what could be called “budgetary reasons.” In response to this closure, an online petition drive was launched, followed by a paper version, all amongst numerous stories in the media. For a nice summary of what has taken place, Joe has collected some of the stories, and some images, on our website (Final Night at the Centre of the Universe – Aug 24, 2013), and you are invited to look through them. Thanks to Joe and to those who attended and photographed the last few weekends that the Centre was open.

As to what can and should be done by Victoria Centre given its long history on the hill, representatives of Council have met, and have talked with local NRC staff, in an effort to determine whether our Centre has a role in the future of the Centre of the Universe, assuming that there is such a thing. At our next meeting of Council (September 11), we hope to decide for certain if we do aspire to such a role, what that role could be, and what action we should take to pursue it.

The annual RASCals/Metchosin Star Party took place this year over the Labor Day weekend. The event offered three nights of observing, mostly good, albeit with a little dew. Our speakers and workshops were well-worth attending. There were a number of enthusiastic community members in attendance (even Sunday night). Somewhat unfortunately, donations received will not be enough to cover the costs of the event. There are probably a number of reasons for this, including the number of competing activities and events (even within the club), the reliance on the donations of only “campers” with many observers leaving in the wee hours instead of spending the night, and, perhaps, a general lack of interest in astronomical observing. Anyway, to those that attend, the event is something to look forward to, if only to see what the Metchosin weather will offer up for our pleasure.

The next three months could be called the “Star Party Months.” Indeed, there are two of them easily available to us here on the island, and two more a scenic day’s drive away. For the more star-crazed among us, another two more are within day-and-a-half driving reach (the Oregon Star Party, and the Golden State Star Party in Northern California).

I urge you to set aside weekends for the local gatherings, the CVSF Island Star Party, and our own RASCals Star Party in Metchosin Star Party. The CVSF party is August 3-4 at Bright Angel Park near Duncan, a site that has turned out to be quite nice. It is dark (a surprise, since it is so near Duncan), if a bit dewy, and CVSF puts on a good event.

Our RASCals Star Party is August 30 – September 1 at the usual location in Metchosin, a mere thirty minutes from town. Our spot is not quite as dark as Bright Angel, but sports a great view of the Southern sky. We are hosting, this year, a three night event …. And if we start our chants to the weather demons early, perhaps we won’t be blessed with a 30 knot wind!

For the slightly more-determined among us, both the Merritt Star Quest and Mt. Kobau Star Party offer truly dark skies within a reasonable driving distance. Primitive camping is the order of the day for both of these, and each is an hour away from supplies, but hey ………. This is the year to cross the Horsehead Nebula off your list.

I have, in the past, left one or the other of the island parties, and driven straight to a ferry, and spent the rest of the week at either Merritt, or Kobau. It makes for a nice week of high-quality observing, plus you can pick up a few cases of peaches on the way home.

This is the summer to start (finish?) the Messier list, so as to clear the decks for the “RASC Finest NGC” list, surely one of the best around.

Although somewhat modestly attended, our International Astronomy Day 2013 event April 27 at the University of Victoria was a success. It was busy with families and lots of kids of all ages. Pearson College was well represented. University astronomers tended to the “Ask an Astronomer” table. Our own displays were nicely done and informative. Our daylong program of speakers gathered small but attentive audiences. The children’s tables hummed with activity.

As is often the case, the weather was not entirely cooperative during the day, so there was no solar observing. But those that returned for the evening session were treated to a comprehensive update on the search for extra-solar planets, complete with a history of the various projects, and a survey of the latest cutting-edge methods. Late-night clearing allowed for some observing at the University’s telescope for those with the energy to stay.

It certainly can be said that 250-300 enthusiastic visitors is quite satisfying for an event like this. Which is not to say that a larger crowd of the same sort of visitors would not be nice, too.

There is little to report on the observing front other than that two wonderfully clear March nights appeared amidst the cloudy/rainy/windy and moonlit drear that is our winter season. These two nights enabled me to check off two more objects on the RASC Deep Sky Challenge List, a list that is a “challenge” indeed. According to the RASC website, the certificate has been given out six times since its inception, once to our own Bill Weir. It is easy to see why: the pace is usually two or three objects per observing session, assuming the conditions are excellent, and not merely “good,” given that the objects are hard to find and even harder to see. These same two nights led to some amazing imaging by Centre members. Check it out on our website. The comet images are spectacular! Observations & Photo gallery

Next, our own International Astronomy Day is coming up on the 27th, and if the weather and good luck cooperate, it should be a good one, thanks to the efforts of Sherry Buttnor. You should be hearing from Sherry, or Sid, shortly, to get you onto the list of volunteers. The event is at the University of Victoria, which has proven to be an excellent venue for the event.

Last, and certainly not least, is that our General Assembly 2014 planning is now in full swing. There is a subcommittee for practically every field of endeavor, from finance to art direction. Contact co-chairs Paul Schumacher (2014 GA) or Mark Bohlman (NationalRep) to see where you can fit in.