2025-01-13 Astronomy Cafe - banner
  • Intro by Randy Enkin
  • Ensemble Laude – Kathryn Whitney
    • Intro by Marjie Welchframe
    • Kathryn is Artistic Director for a year
    • Stars concert – Jan 25, 2025 2PM
      • “Stargazing with the choir” – observing night sky during longer nights
      • Aurora – Nicholas Fairbank, Victoria-based composer
      • Ala Redeptoris Mater – Virigin Mary, star of the sea
      • Anang (a star) – Andrew Balfour, composer
      • Several pieces from Norway, Canada
      • Snow Angel (5 parts) – Sarah Cortell
    • Q&A
  • Victoria Centre Observatory – Reg Dunkley, David Lee
    • 9 members observing, 7 at the VCO, 2 in the parking lot beside the Plaskett
    • Wyman Lee photos
    • Fighting the light from the Full Moon
    • Planets – Saturn, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter. Not observed: Venus, Neptune
    • Craters on the edge of the Full Moon
    • Orion Nebula visible but washed out
    • Plieades looked beautiful
    • Members departed the Hill just after 11PM
  • Occultation of Mars by the Moon – Randy Enkin
    • This grazing lunar occulation would have b een visible this evening, however the weather didn’t cooperate.
    • Mars is currently closest to Earth, so appears biggest
    • Michael Web photographed the occultation through thin clouds – photo pending
    • Discussion about weather forecasting
  • Japanese Gifts from his niece who was in Japan – David Lee
    • Fountain Pen with a bent nib, useful for sketching and drawing
    • 2025 Sora Calendar – a lunar calendar
  • 2027 Total Solar Eclipse Tour in Egypt – Kirsten Pedersen
  • Chris Gainor
    • Billboards on the Pat Bay Highway – shows phase of the Moon
    • Mars and Jupiter through Chris’ Unistellar telescope – photos
    • Blue Origin rocket launch was scrubbed yesterday
    • Firefly Glue Ghost 1 launch – Jan 15th
    • Victoria Centre Council meeting next Tuesday – agenda will be sent out
  • Events
  • Centre of the Universe Star Parties – Lauri Roche
    • Jan 25 – Games Night – need RASC members to field a team
    • Volunteers from RASC Victoria are always welcome – contact Lauri Roche (lauri@victoria.rasc.ca)
  • NOVA Course – Lauri Roche & David Lee
    • New Observers Visual Astronomy course
    • Interest being shown from RASC Victoria Centre members, but also open to the public
    • Duration: 5-6 weekly sessions

Transcript video of the meeting

Astronomy Cafe – Jan 13, 2025
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