- Intro – Lauri Roche
- Dr. Donald Morton Memories – Jim Hesser
- PhD from Princeton University
- Pioneer in rocket astronomy
- Stellar astrophysics
- First ultraviolet spectra of stars from a rocket-mounted spectrograph
- Director of the Anglo-Australia Observatory
- Director-General of the Herzberg Institute in Canada
- Under his leadership, Canada joined:
- James Clerk Maxwell Observatory
- ALMA
- Gemini
- Don was also a mountaineer and a Meccano hobbyist
- Obituary in Times-Colonist
- T-shirt order being placed this Friday – contact Randy Enkin
- Place your order with Randy by Thursday – pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
- Lunar Eclipse Crater Timings – Randy Enkin
- August 27/28, 2026 – Partial Lunar Eclipse
- Moon will rise already in eclipse as observed from our location
- 2033 and 2048 are the next “good” Total Lunar Eclipses to observe from Victoria
- How to take timed observations of craters – Roger Sinnott (Sky & Telescope) methodology
- Large lunar features
- First Contact
- Middle of feature
- Second Contact
- Third Contact
- Middle of feature
- Fourth Contact
- Large lunar features
- List of S&T’s Eclipse-timing Predictions for shadow crossings
- Randy will send out a lunar map with target craters to observe
- Discussion of observing locations
- Review of past Lunar Eclipses
- Gear needed for observing
- Telescope
- Audio Clock
- Lunar map
- Pen and paper
- Submit observations
- August 27/28, 2026 – Partial Lunar Eclipse
- Coloring Space – Natasha van Bentum
- 1972 Organiverse paintings by Henri van Bentum
- Coloring Space created by Kimberly Arcand, CHANDRA
- NASA and Henri’s imagery were combined into an online exhibit by Kimberly
- Organiverse video
- Psyche – a mission to a metal-rich asteroid – Phil Stooke
- Gravity assist around Mars coming up on May 15th
- Bamfield Festival – a report by CJ Sandoz
- Vince Geisler, Bill Weir, CJ
- Friday afternoon arrival
- Saturday – solar observing, observing from Pacheena Beach
- Events
- Beginners SIG is paused, but pop-up observing events will happen through the summer – David Lee
- Council meeting – May 12th
- Island Star Party – Aug 7-8 – Randy Enkin
- Speakers: Debra Lockhurst (Friday), James di Francesco (Saturday)
- Camping overnight
- Volunteers needed – pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
- Donations collected on-site to defray expenses
- Door prizes
- Saanich Fair – Sep 5-7 – Lauri Roche
- 21-25 volunteers needed – your wristband good for entry to the fair on the day
- Need a coordinator to manage volunteers – contact lauri@victoria.rasc.ca
- If you are an active volunteer for Victoria Centre, you can have a personalized name tag made for you to wear at outreach events – contact Marjie Marjie.welchframe@icloud.com
- UVic Presentation – May 13th – : The Universe Through a Lens Capturing the Night Sky – Megan Meraz
- Elliott 168 lecture theatre starting at 7:30PM
- Centre of the Universe star party events – all summer long – Lauri Roche
- Volunteers needed – contact lauri@victoria.rasc.ca
- Next two evening events: May 16, 30
- Observing at the Victoria Centre Observatory this evening – Vince and David hosting
- Observing Remotely from Texas – Ken McGill
- Starfront Observatories – a shared observing site near Rockford, Texas
- Ken’s setup: Askar telescope, ZWO and ASI gear
- 617 telescopes on-site
- Buy telescopes directly from them to avoid shipping issues
- Monthly charges for a pier
- Online help and discussion
- Bortle 1 skies
- 240 clear nights each year
- Demo of a remote session for Ken’s telescope setup using an Android emulator
Last Astronomy Cafe before summer break is on May 25th.
Video recording of meeting
Astronomy Cafe – May 11, 2026