photography | RASC Victoria

Astronomy Cafe – Sep 25, 2023

Posted September 25, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Fuelling Galactic Powerhouses – Dr. Mallory Thorp

Mallory is a postdoctoral researcher the Argelander-Institut für Astronomie (AIfA) at the University of Bonn; MSc & PhD at UVic
Hubble Deep Field – how do all those galaxies interact with each other?
Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS)
Galaxy Zoo – internals to galaxies
Baryon Cycle – gas, dust, stars
- Inter-stellar Medium – gas and star formation
Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- huge number of galaxies
- great for big picture studies
Phangs – high resolution studies of individual galaxies covering the complete Baryon Cycle
- Uses multiple telescopes for source data, including both space and ground telescopes – ALMA, JWST, HST, MUSE
- NGC 628 / M74
  - Voids in the galaxy – biggest is The Phantom Void (1kpc across)
  - Recently formed stars on the edge of voids at these “shock fronts”
  - How stars form has now been observed, thanks to JWST
- Out of 74 galaxies only a dozen are mergers
- NGC 3637 – example merger galaxy
Catastrophic events impact interstellar medium
- Strong star formation when the galactic structure is essentially destroyed
- Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) – eventual result of interaction between galaxies
- Jets of gas leave the galaxy
- AGN is likely responsible for star formation
- Galaxies turn off – why?
- Try to reconstruct an interaction of galaxies over billions of years
ALMaQUEST – ALMA MaNGA Quenching & Star-Formation Survey
- How mergers power starbursts?
- Extra stars and extra gas
- Studying post-merged galaxies
- How do mergers trigger the birth of new stars?
- AGN or starbursts when fuel is pulled into the centre of a galaxy
Q&A

Resumption of monthly meetings and speakers at UVic – Reg Dunkley

NEW EARTH Lab – Find Life on Exoplanets | RASC Victoria – Dr. Christian Marois, NRC, UVic
Oct 11th 7:30PM at Bob Wright Centre, Room A104, University of Victoria
Meeting will not be streamed, so please attend in-person
After the meeting, adjourn to the Elliott Building 4th floor Astronomy lounge for coffee, cookies and discussion
Lauri will have solar eclipse glasses to give to members

Annular Solar Eclipse – Oct 14, 2023 – Lauri Roche & David Lee

Solar Eclipse 2023 — Annular Eclipse, October 14 – Time & Date info page
- Start: 8:03AM PDT
- Maximum: 11:00AM PDT
- End: 1:56PM PDT
Event at the Centre of the Universe
- Observe the eclipse
- Breakfast snacks supplied
- Kids activities
- Vignette talks
- Event tickets on sale from FDAO through Eventbrite
- Solar telescopes – dependant on RASC volunteers
- Will supply solar eclipse glasses to attendees and other people hosting events can come to pick up the glasses
- Best observing spot will likely be from the lower parking lot, not the Plaskett or Centre of the Universe parking lot
For observing yourself from other locations, seek a site with visibility to the east, low in the sky
Use solar eclipse glasses to directly observe the Sun, or use telescopes or binoculars with solar filters
Practice ahead of time
Discussion about timing and observing
Solar Eclipse Eye Safety – American Academy of Ophthalmology
RASC National 2023 calendars – Lauri has ordered 35 calendars, so contact her to sign up for a copy – roche.lauri@gmail.com

Victoria Centre Observatory (VCO) report – David Lee

20″ Obsession – guiding working, collimation is near-perfect
12″ Dobsonian also available
Takahashi – available to members for photography and visual observing
Discussion about parking issue at VCO – Garry Sedun

Astrophotos – Dave Payne

SH2-157 Lobster Claw nebula in narrowband
Shrimp nebula
Heart Nebula and beyond

Oct 16th is the next time to attend Astronomy Cafe – in two week’s time.

Astronomy Cafe – Sep 18, 2023

Posted September 18, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Island Star Party report – Dave Payne
- Thanks to all the volunteers
- Need a new leader for the star party next year
- Activities and functions
  - Logistics
  - Coordinating volunteers
  - Coordinating with the Cowichan Valley Regional District & Parks
- Improvements and a new vision for next year’s event
Astronomical Photos
- New 32″ telescope at Black Nugget Lake Observatory (near Edmonton) – Dave Robinson
- Ron Fisher (online gallery)
  - M45 Pleiades Cluster
  - M31, 32, 110 Andromeda Galaxy
  - Cassiopeia’s Ghost SH2-185 – Gamma Cas star
The Hebrew Calendar – Randy Enkin
- Jewish New Year on Friday/Saturday just past – Rosh Hashanah
- Based on a Lunar Calendar
- Review of rules to determine the New Year day
- Year number is calculated to when the human world was “created” on Oct 6, 3761 BCE
- Comparing the lunar and solar calendars
- Necessary and Unnecessary Miracles
- Discussion
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Updates – Mary Beth Laychak, CFHT Communications laychak@cfht.hawaii.edu
- Land Acknowledgements for both Hawai’i and the DAO lands
- Mauna Kea is one of the darkest sites in the world
- Instruments review
- Science Highlights review
- Planning for the future
  - Maunakea Authority
  - Maunakea Spectrographic Explorer (MSE) – Pathfinder construction
  - New capabilities for CFHT
  - Internship offer for opto-mechanical design and production
- Outreach to the community
  - Maunakea Scholars
  - Summer Interns
  - School events
- CFHT Staff
- Q&A
Announcements
- Makers SIG – upcoming
- Mallory Thorpe – next week’s speaker

Astronomy Cafe – Sep 11, 2023

Posted September 11, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Transcript video

Saanich Fair – Lauri Roche
- Sep 2-4, 3 days
- Thanks to all the volunteers, but we could use more for next year
- 3,500-4,000 people visited the booth and telescopes
- Solar telescopes used to show the public the Sun
- Clear and beautiful weather except for Sunday afternoon rain
- Telescope raffle
Island Star Party – Reg Dunkley
- Very good attendance 70 + 200
- Dave Payne project lead
- Cloudy skies on Friday but some sucker holes
- Pristine skies on Saturday night
- Zero gravity chairs were popular with cheers from the crowd when the Perseid meteors streaked across the sky
- Volunteers from Cowichan Valley Starfinders did a great job
- Two interesting speakers on Friday and Saturday night
- Next year: 1st weekend of August
- Donations more than covered our expenses
- Grand prize of a telescope and mount
CU Star Parties – Lauri Roche
- Weekly events – mid-May to mid-Sep
- Good attendance every Saturday event
- Presentations every week – either in-person or virtual
- Monthly events during off-season
- Saturday FDAO Star Party (Sep 16th) – Mary Beth Laychak, CFHT Outreach will be presenting
Plaskett Observing – Sep 16th
- Contact Dan Posey email
- Starts at 11:30pm
- Must be a member and registered as an Active Observer to participate
Personal Observing Reports
- Brock Johnston – photos
  - Helix Nebula
  - Solar disk in Ha – discussion
  - Jupiter – good seeing on Saturday
  - Saturn – 3 images showing changing ring tilt
- Explore the Universe observing group – Marji & Jill
  - 110 celestial objects
  - Observe and/or draw at least 55 objects
  - There is also an Explore the Moon workbook
  - Group of 6 observing from Cattle Point
- Moon – Randy Enkin
  - Sinus Iridium & Jura Mountains – comparing Mike Nash’s image & Randy’s sketch
- Island Star Party astronomy images review
Announcements
- Teacher’s Workshop – Lauri Roche
  - Mary Beth Laychak, CFHT Outreach will be leading the workshop
  - Monday – 4:30-7:00pm for teachers
  - Monday after the teachers – present at Astro Cafe
  - 2019 AGM presenter
- Council meeting – Randy Enkin
  - Tomorrow night – all members welcome
- UVic Wednesday night monthly meetings restarting – Alex Schmid
Minima of Algol – David Lee
- Eclipsing binary
- Short cycle of 3 days
- Magnitude 3.4 to 2.1
- Dates coming up – ref S&T
Partial Solar Eclipse – Oct 14th – David Lee and Lauri Roche
- Observe from the Centre of the Universe – 8am to 10:30am
- Solar observing glasses
- Safety briefing
- Breakfast beverages and snacks
- Activities for kids and adults
- $5/person – registration through Eventbrite
- Rain or shine event
- Volunteers needed
Blake Nancarrow remembrance – Randy Enkin
- Memories from Bill Weir
  - Black was Chair of RASC Observing Committee
  - RASC Double Star program – designed for small aperture urban observing
  - David Dunlop observatory champion
- Memories from Peter Jedicke
  - Blake retired to St. Thomas, attached to RASC London Centre
  - Blake was the first Astronomer in Residence at York University’s observatory at Killarney Provincial Park
  - Blake’s obituary
- Memories from David Lee and Jill Sinkwich
  - Stellarium courses
- Double stars tribute – Randy
  - Different colours of binaries
  - Splitting the doubles, triples and quads – challenging technique
  - A Tribute to Double Star Observer and Our Friend Blake Nancarrow –The Actual Astronomer Podcast – Chris and Shane
  - Lyra – 3 doubles – Marjie Welchframe

Astronomy Cafe – May 29, 2023

Posted May 29, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Beginner Observers – report by Brenda
- Observing and sketching targets from Cattle Point
- Trying to find another observing spot to get away from the car lights
- Summer targets are next
- Four observers at Pearson College two weeks ago – liked it!
- Island View Beach may be a good observing location
- Most of the group are working on Explore the Universe observing certificate
Special Interest Groups – David Lee
Beaveree and Seniors event at the Centre of the Universe – solar observing – Lauri Roche
Plaskett Observing Session – video report by Randy Enkin
- First in-person observing session on May 19-20, 2023 since 2019
- Supernova 2023ixf photographed in M101 as our last target, unknown to us at the time
- Dan Posey notified Dave Bohlender at NRC, so the SN photometry was reported online quickly
- Subsequent processing revealed the SN is a blue star
- Koichi Itagaki, amateur Japanese discoverer of SN
- The progenitor star of the SN now has a paper published about it
Thanks to Astro Cafe volunteers – Randy Enkin
Photos of Supernova 2023ixf (Type II)
- Dave Payne
  - May 13-16 images of M101 without SN
  - May 20th image of M101 with the SN
- Brock Johnston
  - GIF flashing old versus new image of M101
  - Light curve of SN from AAVSO
  - Also imaged M51 and M13
- Sketch of SN using 6″ Dob – Bill Weir
- Photos of SN on May 20th & 24th showing the SN enlarging – Ron Fisher
Plaskett Observing Session on May 19-20 – Dan Posey
- Objects imaged before M101 are being processed
  - NGC 4565 Needle Galaxy
  - NGC 4605 Faberge Egg Galaxy
  - NGC 6914 reflection and emission nebula
National AGM – June 25th online – Chris Gainor
- Restricted to RASC members – log in to member area of rasc.ca website
- Reports, financial statement, bylaw amendments, elections
- Please attend and vote
- 2023 AGM Agenda
Island Star Party – Dave Payne
- Aug 11-13
- Still need some volunteers – sign up for email list dapayne@shaw.ca
Discussion of Supernovae (in general)
- Type I and Type II Supernovae – Dan Posey
- SN 2016aps – Lauri Roche
Star Parties on Observatory Hill – Lauri Roche
- Saturday nights all summer long
- RASC volunteers invited with telescopes or without
- Event info on the Centre of the Universe website

This is the last Astronomy Cafe until we restart after the Summer break.. Astro Café will resume on Monday. September 11, 2023.

Image of Supernova 2023ixf acquired through the Plaskett 72" telescope by RASC Victoria Centre members. — Image of Supernova 2023ixf acquired through the Plaskett 72″ telescope by RASC Victoria Centre members. This preliminary image processed by Dan Posey.

Astronomy Cafe – May 15, 2023

Posted May 15, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Intro – Jeff Pivnick
To the Moon, with Robots and Humans – Dr. Gordon “Oz” Osinski, Dept. Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario
- Sailing ships to space missions – history of human exploration
- The Moon has thousands of meteorite impacts
- 2019 announcement by Canadian government
  - Canadarm 3 on Lunar Gateway outpost
  - Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) – Canadian lunar rover
- Artemis I – launched last year
  - Lots of images from this mission
- Artemis II – orbit Moon
  - Canadian astronaut – Jeremy Hansen
  - Crewed test flight to the Moon and Earth high orbit
  - Engineering mission, not a science mission
  - Launch – late 2024 or early 2025
- Artemis III – land on the Moon
  - Geology training for astronauts
  - 18 astronaut candidates
  - 13 candidate landing sites – all near Lunar South Pole
  - Geological samples will return to Earth with the astronauts
  - Canada has 30 out of 200 impact craters found on Earth
  - Mistastin Lake impact structure – best analog to lunar craters since anorthosite ejecta is found here, same as on the Moon (light material)
- Canadian Lunar Rover Mission
  - Canadensys – contractor for 30kg prototype
  - Science instruments will take about 5-6kg
  - South Pole – geology and mineral resources
  - Volatiles – water
  - Permanently Shadowed Regions – no sunlight
  - Radiation monitoring to ensure astronauts’ health, both on the Moon and future Mars missions
  - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter – images showing deep lunar shadows
- Q & A
Island Star Party 2023 – Dave Payne
- August 11-13, 2023
- In-reach – socializing with fellow members
- Location: Bright Angel Park – south Cowichan
- Activities
  - Solar observing
  - Nature walks
  - Kinsol Trestle
  - Lots of activities in Cowichan Valley
  - Telescope walk, how to use a telescope, observing skills
  - Speakers – one each night
- Perseid Meteor shower
- T-shirts – contact Joe Carr to preorder
- Volunteers needed – contact Dave Payne
- ISP Volunteer Email List
Victoria Centre Observatory – Reg Dunkley
- Last night – 10 Active Observers
- Both visual and photography
- Become an Active Observer – contact Chris Purse
Occultation of Jupiter by the Moon – David Lee
- Wednesday, May 17th 4:52am – 5:33am
- Moon 3º above the eastern horizon during the occultation
Astrophotography by local members
- Astronomy Day slideshow – Ken McGill
- Brock Johnston
  - Orion & Flame Nebula widefield
  - M94 – halo
  - Cat’s Eye Nebula & NGC 6552 barred spiral galaxy
Randy Enkin
- Deep Sky Filter – a Lumicon “UHC” legacy visual filter
- Orrery – kit build
Observations – Marjie Welchframe
- Kemble’s Cascade
- Spring double stars

No Astro Cafe next week due to the Victoria Day statutory holiday. The last Astro Cafe before the summer break will be held on May 29th.

Astronomy Cafe – April 24, 2023

Posted April 24, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of the meeting

Pendulum Experiment To Measure Local Gravity – Kemi Daniel (Grade 5, PCS)
- Gravity in her house is slightly lower than earth’s gravity
- Science Fair winner
Astronomy by Night – A new Canadian website for amateur astronomers. hosted by Carina Ockedahl (former editor of Skynews)
- Reached out to contributors – Chris Vaughan, Dan Kusz, Alan Dyer, Charles Ennis, and others
- AstroPhoto of the Week – not just for Canadians
- Newsletter
- Collaboration with SkySafari
- This Week’s Night Sky
- Gear Reviews & Tech
- Columns
  - World’s Asterisms
  - Research
- Profile
- Podcast – 2 per week
- Video – interviews
- Star chart – from Heavens Above
- News – both from International and Canadian sources
International Astronomy Day/Weekend – David Lee, Lauri Roche
- Speakers are lined up
- Local astronomy organizations will be there
- Observatory Hill on Saturday night – 29th
- UVic on Sunday daytime – 30th
SpaceX Starship Launch on Apr 20, 2023 – Chris Gainor
- Huge amounts of smoke and debris at launch
- Disintegrated 4 minutes into the flight
- Rocket left a huge crater at the launch site
- Questions and discussion
Hybrid Solar Eclipse – April 20th – Randy Enkin
- 1 minute duration
- Total & Partial Solar Eclipse
- Solar maximum corona, so lots of plasma streamers visible
- Time & Date – particulars of this eclipse
- Photos & video of eclipse chasers
Other events and discussion

Astronomy Cafe – April 17, 2023

Posted April 17, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Regional Science Fair – report by Randy Enkin
- 3 prizes awarded
- Measured the period of the pendulum
- Supernovae red shift analysis – Nathan Mestleman-Keller
- Double Di-pole Radio Telescope – Io/Jupiter generates – Evan Warburton, Oak Bay High School, Grade 12
- Distinguished Service Award to Randy
Astronomy by Night – new astronomy website hosted by Carina Ockedahl (former editor of Skynews), Chris Vaughn, Charles Ennis, and more contributors
JUICE – Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer launch – Randy Enkin
- ESA launched this mission to Jupiter on Friday
- Lunar-Earth flyby a year from now
- Venus and Earth flyby
- Arrives at Jupiter – July 3031
- Multiple flybys of Jupiter’s icy moons
- Orbit Ganymede for 3 years
- 10 instruments onboard
SIGs – David Lee
- Makers SIG
- Astrophotography SIG
International Astronomy Day – Lauri Roche & David Lee
Neutron Stars – The Quest to Understand the Zombies – a book by Katia Moskvitch – review by Ron Fisher
- Latest research and very interesting story
- Research in Italy
- NGC 4993- emitted radio waves and captured visual light from neutron star collision
- CHIME – fast radio bursts
Astrophotos and Sketches
- Double Transit – John McDonald
  - Planets and shadows visible
  - Moon Shadows on Jupiter – video
- SkAc1 faint Planetary Nebula – Dave Payne
  - Challenge by Bill Weir
- Double Transit sketch – Bill Weir
- Orbital Motion of Venus – Marjie Welchframe
- Bode & Cigar Galaxies, Horsehead & Flame Nebulae – Ken McGill

Astronomy Cafe – Apr 3, 2023

Posted April 3, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Meeting transcript video

SIGs – David Lee
- Beginners’ SIG tomorrow night
- Electronically-assisted Astronomy & Citizen Science SIG – Thursday
Mallory Thorp – profile by Marjie Welchframe
- PhD UVic 2022
- IFS / MaNGA survey
- Working on PHANGS
- Postdoctoral researcher the Argelander-Institut für Astronomie (AIfA) at the University of Bonn in Germany
- May 8th Astronomy Cafe – upcoming speaker
- Spoke at the last year’s Island Star Party
- The ALMaQUEST Survey X: what powers merger induced star formation?
Island Star Party 2023 – Dave Payne
- Speakers TBA
- Telescope tours and tutorials
- Make suggestions for activities
- Tue, April 11th – kick off meeting
- Contact Dave (email) or
  Christopher Gainor, FRASC Email
  to help out with this fun event
Fast Radio Cosmos lecture by Victoria Kaspi – Reg Dunkley
- Uses the CHIME radio observatory near Penticton
- 3 additional outrigger radio telescopes: 160 kms from Penticton, Green Bank, WV, and Hat Creek, CA
- Good Q&A at the end of the lecture video
- Skynews – Feb 2017 issue highlights the CHIME instruments
- DRAO open to the public starting April 8th
- Discussion of radio interference when using radio telescopes
Astronomy Day – Lauri Roche
- FDAO Star Party – Observatory Hill – April 29th – evening hours
  - Need astronomers with telescopes to volunteer
  - Starlink speaker
- UVic – April 30th 11AM-4PM
  - Lots of volunteers have signed up, but everyone welcome to help, especially someone to lead the event promotion and communications – contact Lauri by email
  - Astronomy labs open
  - 6 speakers
  - Free parking
Virtual General Assembly 2023 – May 5-7
- Jeremy Hansen, CSA astronaut – speaker
RASC Victoria Hopes & Dreams – Randy’s list
Christopher Gainor, FRASC Email
- Open Council meetings. Now that we have a smaller Council, we should make more effort to advertise the meetings to the entire membership – and possibly lay the foundation for more recruitment to leadership.
- Closer ties to UVic. I often hear that members want to get back to meeting at the University. I also think we should offer programs that encourage undergrad students to be active in the RASC-VC.
- Closer ties with the FDAO. We have overlapping mandates and volunteer bases. Closer coordination will benefit both organizations.
- More in-person events, especially under the night sky.
- More scheduled and ad hoc evenings at the VCO
- More diversity in membership and leadership.
- A budget!
- Revised Statement of Goals of the Society.
- Calendar on the website
- Documented Council job descriptions
- October 14 Solar Eclipse event
- Display of Astrophotographs
- Support Vic High club, Oak Bay, Mount Doug
- Prizes or other activities with UVic students (Volunteerism, Outreach)
- Using the telescope collection to support School Clubs.
- Help with the telescope lending library
- Recruitment and Retention of membership.
- Sustainability of Volunteers and Council members
- Organize the Google Drive. Make more complete.
- Member survey
- Diane Bell Award for Astrosketching
- Car share to VCO
- NOVA program!
- Schools Program – with FDAO?
- Liaisons with school groups
- Mentors with school groups
- Join in school-group observing nights
- Prizes and goodies for school groups
- Support for Science Fair – volunteers for judges, prizes, handing our RASC bookmark etc.
Sky At Night Podcasts – Bill Weir & David Lee
- Lance Bass (nSync boy band) – selected to be a Russian cosmonaut! “The last Soviet citizen”
- JWST podcast series
Victoria Centre Observatory (VCO) – Reg Dunkley
- Active Observers to have access soon
- Tech committee needs to check on the health of systems up there first
- No more than 16 people at a time, with social distancing and health precautions (personal choice)
- Ad hoc observing sessions for favourable weather to start with
- Scheduled observing sessions later
- Must be an Active Observer and must adhere to safety procedures
- Gate codes for existing MICs have been refreshed for the coming year
Astrophotos during galaxy season – Dave Payne
- M94 galaxy – elliptical shape and outer ring of material
- M106 and friends – 4 arms in M106
National Council – Chris Gainor
- Complete staff turnover at the National office is ongoing
- Randy Atwood is interim Executive Director, working with the Board to recover
- Annual Report – Victoria Centre’s report still needed
- Skynews magazine is still being wound up

There will not be an Astro Café next week as it is a holiday Monday. We will be back on Monday, April 17

Awards to members for 2022

Posted March 29, 2023 by Webmaster as Meetings

Over 40 members of RASC Victoria Centre enjoyed a social dinner and awards ceremony at the Moon Under Water Pub on March 27, 2023. Photo gallery

Newton Ball Award 2022 – Deborah Crawford

An active member of the Victoria Centre, Deborah Crawford served on Council as Secretary from December 2012 to November 2014, Second Vice President from December 2016 to November 2018 and then as Treasurer from December 2018 until the spring of 2023. She has a talent for turning events into joyous occasions. Deb organized several AGM banquets and two Star Party “StarBQ’s”. During the 2014 General Assembly Deb oversaw a large buffet at the Centre of the Universe complete with a cake replica of the DAO dome. It was the highlight of the GA.

Ernie Pfannenschmidt Award 2022 – Dave Payne

For the invention of the Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch (GHS) an innovative software tool that allows the controlled transformation of pixel intensity. It has been embedded in key astrophotography software packages such as Pixinsight. Astrophotographers around the globe have adopted this powerful tool.

Astrophotography Award 2022 – Dave Payne

Foxmascone Nebulae (NGC 2264) in SHO – The Foxfur and Cone Nebulae and Christmas Tree Cluster in SHO with RGB Stars (Monoceros) – October, 2022 A total of 17.5 Hours in Narrow Band H,S,O filters and 3.75 Hours in R, G, B Filters using a Planewave CDK12.5 Telescope and an- AIS6200MM Camera

Certificate of Appreciation in 2022 – David Lee

In addition to the leadership David displayed during International Astronomy Day, the Dark Sky Survey, and the formation of Special Interest Groups he amazed the Victoria Centre for the perseverance he demonstrated photographing a Lunar Eclipse while a snow storm kept more timid RASCals indoors.

Certificate Of Appreciation 2022 – Randy Enkin

In appreciation of his Organization, Leadership and Guidance so capably rendered as the Centre’s President for 2021 and 2022.

Astronomy Cafe – March 20, 2023

Posted March 21, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of the meeting

Vernal Equinox Today – Jeff Pivnick
- Caused by axial tilt of the Earth
- Celestial Equator intersects with the Ecliptic
- Babylonians picked 12 constellations 3,000 years ago, but Ptolemy named them later
- Declination and Right Ascension coordinates are referenced to the equinox
Astronomy Day – Lauri Roche
- Sunday, April 30th 11AM – 4PM at Bob Wright building lobby at UVic
- Free parking on outside of the Ring Road in Lot 1
- Setup is Saturday afternoon
- Leads
  - UVic Site Manager – Sam Fielder
  - Technical Support – David Lee
  - Welcome Table – Marjie Welchframe
  - Telescope Show & Tell – Bill Weir
  - Children’s Astro Crafts – Rachel & Ryan Holmes
  - Astrophotography – Brock Johnston & Dan Posey
  - Responsible Lighting – Dave Robinson
  - Planetarium – need a lead to used Starry Night on TV
  - Solar Observing outside – Alex Schmid, Sid Sidhu
  - Ask An Astronomer – need a lead and 3 or 4 astronomers (UVic students?)
  - Speakers – Lauri Roche
    - 3 speakers signed up, 3 to go
    - 20-minute talks
- FDAO, NRC, Science Venture, Camosun College, Mt. Doug High, Vic High & Oak Bay High
- Tour of the Bob Wright telescope
- Need volunteers – 2-3 shifts is ideal – contact Lauri Roche roche.lauri@gmail.com
- Saturday, April 29th 7-11PM Star Party on Observatory Hill
Open House – Centre of the Universe – March 25 – Lauri Roche
- Free tickets available
- Volunteers needed
Victoria Centre Observatory – Randy Enkin
- Will open to members once the road is open
Standing Where Ansel Adams Stood – Randy Enkin
- Moon and Half Dome – Dec 28, 1960
- When the Light, Shadow and Stars Aligned: Standing Where Ansel Adams Stood – Kim Beil, NY Times
- Ansel Adams joined Sierra Club Outings
- Kim Beil found the exact spot where Ansel Adams took his famous Moon and Half Dome photo, and determined four possible dates based on the star field and Moon
- 6:47AM on Aug 6, 1936 – date/time of famous photo
Meetings
- Social Dinner – March 27th – contact Randy to attend at Moon Under Water Pub on Bay St.
- Council Meeting – March 28th – 7:30PM
  - Open to all members
  - Budget for coming year – we have funds to spend!
Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair – Dorothy Paul
- April 16th
- 100 projects, 150 students
- Need some specialty judges from RASC – about 2 hours
Astrophotos from members
- Moonrise from Clover Point – Randy Enkin
- Jones-Emberson 1 Bubble planetary nebula – Brock Johnston
2023 RASC General Assembly – May 5th – May 7th, 2023
- No business meeting, just fun meeting and interacting with everyone – Bill Weir
- Speakers list almost complete – Lauri Roche
- $35 admission for members to participate for three days
Vic High Astronomy Deck – Clayton
- Mitigate the light pollution at the site – discussion of strategy
- New 12″ Skywatcher funded by a generous donation
- City of Victoria will install shields on the streetlights

There will not be an Astro Café next week in order for the RASC Victoria Centre Social Dinner to take place. Please RSVP to Randy president@victoria.rasc.ca by March 19 if you would like to attend.

Next Astronomy Cafe in 2 weeks – April 3