
- Intro by Jeff Pivnick
- The Night Sky In Chile – Jeff Pivnick
- Kayaking in southern Chile – January 2025
- Some night sky observing
- Valparaiso – 33ºS latitude
- Observed Venus, Saturn and Mars
- Puerto Aysen in Patagonia – 46ºS latitude
- San Raphael Glacier & lagoon
- Magallenic Clouds
- Southern Cross & Coal Sack Nebula in the SE sky
- Orion, Taurus, Pleaides, Aldebaran in the northern sky
- Greater & Lesser Magellanic Clouds
- Observed in the WSW sky
- History of Ferdinand Magellan
- History of Magellanic Clouds in various cultures and scientific circles
- Distance measurements to the Magellanic Clouds
- Both are irregular spiral galaxies with central bar structures
- Members of Local Group of galaxies
- Legend of Mapuche tribe in southern Chile – 3 ponds in the sky
- Astrophotos of the Southern Hemisphere – Joe Carr
- New Zealand – John McDonald
- Warkworth & Kerikeri, North Island – 35ºS Latitude
- Oct-Nov 2010
- Southern Milky Way, Large & Small Magellanic Clouds, Orion (upside down), Southern Cross, Celestial South Pole star trails, Corona Australis
- Best of New Zealand 2010 Gallery
- Costa Rica – Joe Carr – 10ºN Latitude
- Lodge and ranch at a dark site on the Gulf of Nicoya on the Pacific Coast
- Feb 2009 astronomy tour by Travelquest
- Joe’s travelogue
- Photos
- New Zealand – John McDonald
- New Zealand visit in 2000-2001 – Dave Robinson
- Connected with the local astronomy group in Hamilton
- Lots of positive experiences with the people
- Celestial objects in the Southern Hemisphere are so impressive!
- Argentina – Patagonia in 2014 – Randy Enkin
- Studying paleo-magnetism in El Chalten
- Measuring orientation of magnetic lines in the geology
- The dip in the Earth’s magnetic field is a factor when using a compass
- Sun compass & sundial – an explanation
- The Sun and the sundial in the southern hemisphere – shadows are not what we northern hemisphere residents expect!
- Determine Local Time at your longitude – Civil Time with adjustments from reference longitude for the time zone and non-constant orbit of the Earth
- Read time backwards and add 180º to direction when in the southern hemisphere
- Mount Fitzroy – world famous mountain
- How is the Plaskett telescope mirror cleaned? Marjie Welchframe
- Compressed air used intially
- Coating is aluminum mist inside the vacuum chamber
- Video of 2021 Plaskett mirror being re-aluminized
- Takes almost a week to remove the mirror, clean, re-aluminize, re-install
- Lauri will ask Dmitri for a definitive answer
- Dave Payne’s Astrophotography & Interpretation – Dave’s new website
- M74 galaxy – core is not too bright, so easier to see details
- Other online articles
- Links from select photos posted on Dave’s astrophoto gallery
- Fundamental science is used to explain processes going on in galaxies and nebulae
- Beginners SIG – David Lee
- Tomorrow night
- RASC Victoria Centre Dinner – Feb 24th – Lauri Roche
- Four Mile Pub – restaurant side
- Food and beverages on your own tab
- Socializing and awards presented
- Detailed notice already sent to RASC Victoria Centre members
- Starting at 6PM
- 29 so far, so please sign up with Marjie by Feb 19th (Marjie.welchframe@icloud.com)
- Space Mission News – Chris Gainor
- OSIRIS-REx samples from Bennu asteroid
- SPHEREx and PUNCH – both NASA missions launching at the end of Feb
- Feb 10th 7:00PM – Victoria Centre AGM – (replaces Astronomy Cafe) – online only
- Awards announced
- Elections – slate sent to members, but nominations from the floor are welcome. Contact Randy if you are a member and wish to stand for a position. (pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca)
- Zoom link will be sent to members
Video transcript of meeting
Astronomy Cafe – Feb 3, 2025