The upgraded 16" Centre of the Universe (CU) Boller & Chivens telescope
  • Intro & New Members – Lauri Roche
  • Upcoming Astronomy Cafes – Randy Enkin pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
    • Dec 15th – need a host, contact Randy
    • Dec 22nd – online only, no host, ad hoc
    • Jan 5th – need a host, contact Randy
  • Brock Johnston
    • Wizard Nebula
    • Ghost Nebula
    • Dark Shark Nebula
    • Saturn – first photo from the upgraded 16″ Centre of the Universe (CU) telescope
    • 16″ CU Boller & Chivens telescope upgrades
      • New controller boards and hand remote for the mount
      • New visual back for observers to use an improved collection of eyepieces with
      • New computer and software control
      • Dome rehabilitation for the CU observatory will be next
  • Geminid Meteor Shower on Dec 14, 2014 – Reg Dunkley
    • John McDonald captured a plume from a meteor
    • Sid Sidhu’s all-sky camera captured another view of the meteor plume
    • June 2015 JRASC article by Reg and John
    • Dec 14th is the peak for the Geminid meteor shower this year
  • The Week That Shaped Astronomy in Victoria – Dennis Crabtree
    • History in Peter Broughton’s book Northern Star: J.S. Plaskett
    • Dennis went to the Archives in Ottawa to research the history of the DAO
    • DAO observatory project was approved by Ottawa in 1913
    • Site selection was next task – 4 considered: Ottawa, Lethbridge, Penticton and Victoria
    • W.E. Harper did site testing
    • Plaskett asks for support from BC Premier Richard McBride
    • Victoria site is selected on Observatory Hill in 1914
    • RASC Victoria Centre formed in 1914 by Plaskett and Napier Dennison – our centre’s history
    • Q&A
  • Newcombe Singers Concert next week – Randy Enkin pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
    • Dec 13 & 14 – details in the notes for Nov 3rd Astro Cafe
    • Glass Orchestra – 8 volunteers please coordinate with Randy and attend rehearsals
    • Projected images for the concert from our members – selected by Randy
    • Need a volunteer to handle the slide show – contact Randy
  • Mizar (and friends), binary stars – Randy Enkin
    • Chapter 4 – The History of Our Universe in 21 Stars
    • Mizar A & B and Alcor – all binary stars
    • Binary observations by Galileo, Herschel, Alula Australis
    • Red/blue shift spectrum and K absorption line
    • RASC Double Star Observing Program
    • The DAO Plaskett telescope had observed 40% of all known binaries by the 1930s era, including spectrographs
  • Dec 10th – UVic Presentation: Observing the Cold Universe with ALMA– Dr. Gerald Schieven

Video recording of meeting – edited

Astronomy Cafe – Dec 8, 2025
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