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Astronomy Cafe – May 8, 2023

Posted May 8, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Intro – Marjie Welchframe
Centre of the Universe Volunteer Coordinator – Aimee Rossen (info@centreoftheuniverse.org)
- Volunteer waivers – need to have everyone sign the form after viewing the safety video
- Volunteer list – access to Observatory Hill
- Volunteers should arrive before 7pm on Saturday night to avoid congestion at the access gate
ORCASat – Prof. Justin Albert
- This microsat was built at UVic and launched six months ago to the ISS, where it was deployed – ORCASat — Launch
- ORCASat should burn up next month after six months of operation in low Earth orbit
- Background
  - Modern cosmology started in 1929 Edwin Hubble’s assertion that the Universe is expanding
  - Cepheid variable stars tell us the absolute magnitude, hence the distance away from Earth. Henrietta Swan-Leavitt’s research enabled this process.
  - Observing past 10*7 Parsecs means using Type 1A SuperNova (White Dwarf), since Cepheids are no longer bright enough to use as a standard candle.
  - Limitations of our Knowledge of Dark Energy 73% of Universe’s mass
  - Calibration of brightness measurements are needed – flux as a function of colour
  - Dark Matter 23% of Universe’s mass
  - Atoms 3% of Universe’s mass
  - The Dark Side of the Universe
  - Supernovae are one of the powerful probes for understanding the eventual fate of the Universe
- ORCASat is in an ISS-like orbit
  - Needs good coverage above ground observatories, so they can observe Orcasat
  - Photometric calibration – Orcasat’s absolute brightness is compared with standard stars
- ALTAIR – Airborne Laser for Telescopes Atmospheric Interference Reduction
  - Photometric Calibration using a high altitude balloon
- A laser photometric ratio star (LPRS) – exciting the Sodium layer
I Need More Space-Time – review of a science fair project by Nathan Hellner-Mestleman
- Predict when our Universe will end
- Used Wiseman Observatory data for Type 1 SN
  - Spectral lines: Hydrogen epsilon, Hydrogen delta
  - Examined Supernovae 30 million LY to 40 billion LY
  - Found the Hubble Constant to vary from 20 km/sec/Parsec to much bigger
- Using Slooh data didn’t work out, since Supernovae data levels are too low
- Project tried to infer how long the Universe will last from changes in brightness of Supernovae
- Consensus from WMAPS
Q&A for both Justin and Nathan
- Is the Universe finite or infinite? We don’t know, and possibly will never know.
- Hot, dense start to the Universe – ratio of Hydrogen and Helium verifies this process, as does Nucleosynthesis with Quarks and Gluons (DOE Explains…Quarks and Gluons | Department of Energy).
- LIGO and other Gravitational Wave observatories should verify how the Universe started (inflation).
Events
- RASC General Assembly – Lauri Roche
  - Friday – shared Victoria’s Observatory Hill with delegates across Canada
  - Thanks to members who attended
  - RASC GA 2023 – CONNECT with the cosmos & community
- Beaveree at Camp Barnard – May 27th (9am-2pm) – Bill Weir
  - Need volunteers for outreach – email Bill
- Island Star Party – Aug 11-13 – Dave Payne
  - Permit for park use is in place
  - More details at next week’s Astro Cafe

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
  Randy Enkin 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
Randy Enkin 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

Astronomy Cafe – March 6, 2023

Posted March 6, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Randy Enkin (video recording)
- Venus-Jupiter Conjunction
  - Some great photo taken of the conjunction both by members and others
  - Venus can be up to 47º away from the Sun
  - Venus-Jupiter Conjunctions 1990-2060
  - March 1st conjunction – Venus-Jupiter had 0.5º separation
- Victoria Centre’s Annual General Meeting – March 13th (virtual)
  - Need 25 members for a quorum
  - Links to Zoom sent to members along with supporting documents
  - Social dinner at the Moon Under Water Pub to be held on March 27th
The Hunt for the Culprit – Part 2 – Reg Dunkley
- Jan 9th – Part 1 was presented
- Iron 60 and Supernovae relationship
- Are Supernovae responsible for climate change on Earth?
- Star formation near the Sun is driven by expansion of the Local Bubble by Catherine Zucker, et. al. – Jan 2022
- Caroline and William Herschel
- GAIA – astronomical big science, inspired an astronomical gold rush
  - ESA video on GAIA
  - 3D map of the Milky Way
  - Photometric instrument
  - Measures: Brightness, positions, proper motions, radial velocities, spectra
  - 11 years of data, 150 complete surveys of the sky
  - How this data is being used – a review
- Interstellar Extinction
- H-R Diagram: Colour Index vs Magnitude
- 3D Mapping of Interstellar Dust
- The Local Bubble – dust map
- Traceback of Star Cluster
- Idealized Model for Local Bubble Evolution – Stellar and Solar Orbits animation
- Location of the Culprit
- Summary of Zucker et al findings
- A Golden Opportunity!
  - Data freely available along with analysis routines
  - Do some citizen science?
- Radcliffe Wave by Brian Ventrudo
Special Interest Groups – David Lee
- Beginners SIG – tomorrow evening
- Citizen Science SIG – Thursday evening – sign up with David Lee
Photos & Observations by members
- Venus-Jupiter conjunction from Hawai’i – photo of closest approach (0.5º) by Dave Payne
- Jones-Eberson Bubble planetary nebula – photo by Brock Johnston
  - Jones 1 in Pegasus – next object to try for – Bill Weir
- Explore the Universe observing program – Marjie Welchframe
- Moon-Jupiter-Venus conjunction on Feb 23 – iPhone photo taken from the city by Doug Hardy
- Photos – Ken McGill
  - Horsehead and Flame Nebula
  - Orion Nebula – Ken Burns effect
- Moon-Jupiter-Venus conjunction on Feb 23 – Marjie Welchframe
Reports – Lauri Roche
- Centre of the Universe Open House on March 25-26
- RASC Online General Assembly (no AGM)
  - Virtual tours of DDO and DAO (7-8pm on Fri)
  - Poster sessions – April 1st call for papers
- RASC National AGM – June 25th (virtual)

Astronomy Cafe – Feb 13, 2023

Posted February 13, 2023 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

A Special General Meeting (SGM) was held before Astronomy Cafe commenced. After the SGM concluded, members heard a guest speaker and reports.

A Brief History of Galaxies: from the discovery of island universes to a clash of the Titans – Dr. Sara Ellison, UVic Astronomy professor

Our own Milky Way and other galaxies showing light and dust features
Deep field taken by JWST
- FOV: a grain of sand held at arm’s length
- thousands of galaxies in the image
History
- Charles Messier – a 17th century comet hunter who listed 110 objects that are notcomets
- Lord Ross used the 1.8m Leviathan telescope to sketch spiral galaxies
- Shapely-Curtis debate in 1920 about the nature of nebulae
- The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars: Sobel, Dava: 9780143111344: Books – Amazon.ca
- Henrietta Leavitt discovered the Type 1 Cepheid Variables, correlation between the brightness and variations in the luminosity
- Leavitt’s discovery used by Edwin Hubble, who in 1923 settled the Shapely-Curtis debate. The Hubble Law related distance to velocity (red shift), the start of cosmology as we now know it.
- Hubble Tuning Fork classifications of galaxies
- Halton Arp studied Peculiar Galaxies – guide: arpgalaxy.com
Early modelling of interacting galaxies
Video – current modelling of interacting galaxies
Toomre Sequence – showing different morphologies
Galaxies cluster in groups, which is how they grow mass
Stellar streams in the Triangulum Galaxy – research at Herzberg
Tidal streams in the Milky Way are remnants of small galaxies that have interacted in the past
How a galaxy merger transforms it – simulations predict:
- Isolated disk
- Small group
- Gas funnels to the galaxy centre
- Black hole accretion
- Decay
- Dead Elliptical
Sara’s research – Sara Ellison – University of Victoria
- Observations of irregular galaxies
- Test whether star formation is quenched as galaxies merge
- Used Canada-France Imaging Survey (CFIS UNIONS) to find merging galaxies using AI
Q&A

Announcements

Council meeting coming up – Tue 28th – AGM planning
Awards Nominations and nominees for Council – contact Reg Dunkley pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
AGM will be held online, tentatively on March 13th
Social dinner will also be held later – awards
SIGs
- Makers SIG – David Lee
- Beginners SIG – report by Jill Sinkwich

No Astro Cafe next week. Next Astro Cafe will be held on Feb 27th

Astronomy Cafe – Dec 12, 2022

Posted December 12, 2022 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Astronomical Society of the Pacific – David Lee’s report from a virtual conference
- Diversity and citizen science
- Upcoming solar eclipses
- OpenStax Astronomy – topics for beginners
- Mentorship of students, STEM
- Active Learning
- NASA Citizen Science
- Vera Rubin Observatory – public portals to data
- World Asterisms – RASC Charles Ennis
- Accessible astronomy for blind people and others
Citizen Science SIG/group – contact David Lee
“Silent Sky” – a play about Henrietta Leavitt- Langham Court Theatre – Jeff Pivnick
- Playing Jan 25-Feb 11th, 2023
- RASC should have telescopes outside – Marjie & Reg
Astronomical Images – Real or fiction? – Joe Carr
- Faked ring detail on Saturn image posted by Jason Guenzel and critical reaction from many on social media
- Io in True Color from Galileo mission, and a monochrome LORRI image from the New Horizons mission
- Joe’s 2016 Total Solar Eclipse false colour image processed using HDR, split toning and tone curves
- Joe’s Prominences on the Sun in Ha using Sobel edge detection filter
- Dave Payne’s Tadpoles Nebula images in RGB versus a Hubble-like palette using narrowband hydrogen, oxygen and sulphur
- Ken McGill’s Eastern Veil Nebula images with and without stars
- John McDonald’s various processing techniques of the Cave Nebula using Dave Payne’s RGBL & Ha, OIII & SI narrowband source image data
- Lava Flows North on Mauna Loa – Landsat infrared data overlaid on natural colour
- Landsat NIR, IR and green wavelengths used to depict fine detail in the Columbia Glacier – Prince William Sound, Alaska
- High Dynamic Range source data and resultant image illustration of process
- Question to the group: Which astrophotos do you consider fake?
  - Dennis Crabtree’s posts of AI-generated images on Facebook
- Extra: APOD: An Artful Sky over Lofoten Islands (2022 Dec 13) – Giulio Cobianchi
Tributes to Dave Bennett – Randy Enkin
- Guy Nason was his observing partner
- Randy visited with Sue and took away Dave’s astronomy gear. Bruce Lane will appraise it.
- Varsavia occultation – David Lee
- Dave Bennett Memorial
Constitution and Bylaws – Randy Enkin
- Please read the bylaws as sent out to all members
- Send any comments to the President and Secretary
- We will adopt the new bylaws at the Special General Meeting by 2/3 majority
- Then we will hold our AGM based on the new bylaws (hopefully)
Makers’ SIG – happening this week on Thursday – contact David Lee
Lunar Occultation of Mars – Brian Barber & David Lee
- Very tough to photograph from Victoria, and the visual views were spotty
- Enkin’s Daily Moon is profiling photos of the occultation from around the world on Facebook
Artemis I Return – Chris Gainor
- Splashed down after 26 days in space
- Entry used a different approach path over the South Pole, landing just offshore from San Diego
- Announcement of the crew for the next mission is next, including a Canadian astronaut
- Shorty crater and orange soil in 1972 broadcast from the Moon on Apollo Realtime Playback
- Bob McDonald’s Frankenstein Rocket presentation

Astronomy Cafe – Dec 5, 2022

Posted December 6, 2022 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Beginning in Astrophotography – Ron Fisher
- 2018 Dobsonian telescope for Christmas
- Joined the Astrophotography SIG when it started up during the pandemic
- Climbed the “learning curve”
- Acquired an EQ6 mount, mounted 300mm telephoto lens and a dSLR
- Learned PixInsight
- Andromeda (1st photo), Orion Nebula (2nd photo)
- New gear acquired in April 2022
  - Askar 500mm 90mm apo refractor
  - 50mm Guidemaster scope & guide camer
  - ASI Air Pro powers and controls all the gear
- M81, M82
- Pelican Nebula
- PixInsight used for processing
- With a focal reducer
  - North American Nebula
  - Elephant Trunk Nebula
  - Soul Nebula
- Heart and Soul Nebula
- Ron’s astrophoto gallery
Astronomical Holiday Gifts – Randy Enkin
- Starting in astronomy – David Lee
  - Stars and Planets – Smithsonian handbook
  - RASC Almanac
  - Deep Sky Wonders – Sue French – good for beginners with small scopes or binoculars
  - Binocular Highlights – Garry Seronik
- History of Hubble – Chris Gainor has a few copies at his house ($25)
- For sale – used from Randy Enkin’s bookshelf
  - Apollo Murders – Chris Hadfield
  - Silent Spring – Rachael Carson
  - Planets – Dava Sobel
  - The Day the World Discovered the Sun – transects of Venus in the 18th century
Edmonton Centre– Alistair Ling
- Finally staging hybrid meetings – Planetarium at Telus World
- What’s up in the sky – based on Edmonton’s sky
- The hybrid meetings have only attracted limited members to attend in-person
- Observatory at Black Nugget Lake – installing a 32″ telescope – unofficial first light by this summer
  - Visual telescope – looking forward to observing the celestial splendors
  - Designed to be an imaging scope, if needed in future
  - Public access is planned
- Weekly public outreach at The Science Centre
- Helping people use their telescopes – by Alistair
- Have a full slate of officers
Occultation of Mars – Randy Enkin
- Bad weather is likely a factor for our area
- Dec 7 Wednesday evening 7-8PM
- Watch Mars at opposition pass behind the moon this week in these free webcasts – space.com
Mars photo from yesterday evening – Brock Johnston
Observing techniques – discussion
SIGs – David Lee email
- Beginners tomorrow night – magnitude basics
- Electronically-assisted Astronomy on Thursday, then on request only
- Citizen Science SIG – coming up in January
- Aaron Bannister request: astrophotography for school kids
  - Capture brighter objects when weather permits
  - Processing data sets
  - Astrophotographers?
Last Astro Cafes for 2022 – Dec 12th, 19th
First Astro Cafe of the New Year – Jan 9, 2023 starting at 7:00PM instead of 7:30PM
Sunshine Coast Centre – Peter Broughton presentation on J.S. Plaskett – Dec 9 Friday 7PM – Victoria Centre members welcome
Winter Solstice Star Party – Dec 17th – Nathan is presenting
Status of national Observers Calendars – haven’t arrived yet
Artemis I update – Chris Gainor
- Close pass to the Moon this morning
- On its way home – Dec 11th arrival
- Crescent Earthrise photo
Watching the final Apollo launch to the Moon – flashback tomorrow night – Chris Gainor
David Bennett memories from members – next week

Astronomy Cafe – Nov 28, 2022

Posted November 28, 2022 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of the meeting

Astronomy Day – Jeff Pivnick
- Giveaways needed – contact Jeff
  - Old Observers’ Handbook
  - Past issues of magazines like Skynews
  - Astronomy books no longer needed
Victoria Centre AGM 2023 – Randy Enkin
- Decouple the social event and the business meeting
How do members use the Observers Handbook? – Randy Enkin
- Read articles, but don’t use as a guide book
- Definitions are useful
- Source of authoritative information about astronomy
- Lists of eclipses, celestial objects
- Sky phenomena
- Tides
- Professional astronomers use it as reference
- Chris Purse and James Edgar have given tours of the Observers Handbook. James’ 6 presentations are available on RASC National’s Youtube.
2023 RASC Observers calendars – should arrive within a week for those who ordered – Lauri Roche
SIGs – David Lee
- Members have shown interest in the new Citizen Science SIG – announcement pending
- Electronically-Assisted Astronomy SIG this Thursday
- Beginners SIG next week
Astronomy Cafe venue – Randy Enkin
- Custodians want to clean our meeting room and leave by 9:00PM
- Proposing to start Astro Cafe at 7:00PM
- Possibly give up on in-person Astro Cafe?
- What about monthly meetings at UVic resuming? Parking is now $4 for the evening, and no word from UVic about restarting room rentals.
Artemis Mission – Chris Gainor
- Photo of Artemis’ Orion, the Moon, Earth – Flickr
- Dec 1 – next burn
- James Webb mission blogs
- L2 outside the Moon gives Orion a low-energy position – Distant Retrograde Orbit
- Mass concentrations on the Moon affect the orbit of the rockets
- Nov 23 – Orion lost contact with Earth for 47 minutes – unexplained, to be investigated
- Discussion about launching processes
Using Stellarium – Dennis F
- Impressed with the tutorials produced by National
NRC Open House for RASC members?
- Would be great to have a tour of the new optical building
- Lauri to coordinate when the road reopens
FDAO Star Parties – Lauri Roche
- Dec 26 – online only for last Saturday’s Star Party
  - Presentation: CASTOR new space telescope (ultraviolet, wide-field) – Dr. Tyrone Woods, project lead
  - Would make a good presentation for RASC Victoria members
- Dec 17 – virtual Star Party celebrating the solstice – Nathan is the speaker

Astronomy Cafe – Nov 21, 2022

Posted November 21, 2022 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Video transcript of meeting

Lunar background information – Jeff Pivnick
- NASA Science web – source of presentation
- Lunar origin – giant impact is most-favoured hypothesis
- Lunar orbit is locked to the Earth
- Composition of the surface & core
  - 2 kinds of rock – black magma, white Vesicular basalt
  - Regolith makes up the surface dust
- Exploration
  - Apollo 11 through 17
  - Artemis
Artemis I Lunar Mission – Chris Gainor
- Artemis I is an un-crewed mission to test the Orion spacecraft and launch vehicle rocket systems
- Dec 11th – scheduled splashdown
- 10 tiny satellites part of the mission
- In-flight photos
- Cabin takes 4 people on future missions
- Photos of the Moon and setting Earth (behind the Moon)
- As close as 81 miles to the Moon’s surface
- Human Space Programs
  - Apollo (1968-1972), space shuttle (1981-2011, ISS (1998-present)
  - Human missions are very expensive
  - Constellation Program – 2004-2010 – parts of this program are in Artemis
  - Exploration test flights in 2009, 2014
  - Space Launch System – SLS variants of launch rockets
  - Orion Exploration Vehicle
    - Crew of 4
    - Crew Module (NASA contractors)
    - Service Module (ESA)
- Cost of Artemis I mission is $4 billion
- Phase 1 – get back to the Moon
- Phase 2 – go on to Mars ~20 years
- Artemis II
  - 4 astronauts on board
  - Loop around the Moon and return
  - No lunar orbit or landing
  - 1 of 4 Canadian astronauts will go on the mission
  - May 2024 probable launch
- Artemis III
  - Landing on the Moon
  - As early as 2025
  - SpaceX Starship will be used as a lunar lander
  - SpaceX Starship may fly to the Moon earlier and independent from Artemis!
- Lunar Gateway – Canadarm in lunar orbit
- Space Shuttle engines are being reused for the Artemis missions
Minor details about Artemis I – Randy Enkin
- Photo of the mission launch showing Moon, rocket, meteorite for Enkin’s Daily Moon on Facebook
- Trajectories
  - Distant Retrograde Orbit through La Grange points
  - Slingshot around the Moon to return to Earth
- Cubesats
  - Space on Artemis for 16 cubesats
  - 10 cubesats on this Artemis I mission
  - The Cubesats all have different purposes and missions
- Passengers – all mannequins
- Photo of mission launch for Enkin’s Daily Moon on Facebook
Lunar Sketches – Randy Enkin
- Waning phase – favourable libration – on two days
- Photos of same area sketched – by Mike Nash (Victoria) and Steven Arthur Sweet (Toronto)
Apollo, Artemis and Orion – a backgrounder on the Greek gods by Jeff Pivnick
Concert at UVic on Dec 3rd – Dave Robinson
Astrophotography SIG – this Wednesday – Dave Payne
Road construction has closed Observatory Hill to the public until Dec 22nd
- Victoria Centre Observatory closed – Reg Dunkley
- Centre of the Universe – virtual events only – Lauri Roche
- Serious access problems for everyone
SIGs – David Lee
- Makers SIG this Thursday
- Citizen Science SIG – interested? contact David
  - Meteor counts
  - Occultations
  - Light Pollution monitoring such as Victoria Centre’s recent project
  - Galaxy Zoo
  - Wikipedia & Science Focus
Bollide Meteor over Southern Ontario – Peter Jedicke
- 3:26AM EST on Saturday morning
- Asteroid orbital predictions are now a reality
- Predicted hit between London to Brantford, Ontario
- Dave Clark, RASC member observed it
- Photo taken by Rob Weryk from London, based on a tip from Hawai’i astronomy staff
- Earlier photo from Lowell Observatory used to refine calculation of orbit
- Peter didn’t spot the meteorite
- Western News