- Intro & Welcome by Lauri Roche
- Decommissioning GAIA – Randy Enkin
- Review of design of space telescope
- ESA’s Milky Way mapper 2014-2025
- Data covers 12 years
- Last 3 months of mission after science studies end
- April 14, 2025 – moves into retirement orbit around the Sun (instead of the Earth)
- March 4, 2025 – last view from Earth of Gaia moving through space
- Science will continue for many years
- Hack: 1″ to 1.25″ Plumbing Adapter for eyepieces – Jim Cox
- Adapts 0.962″ eyepiece opening so old telescopes can use modern 1.25″ eyepieces
- Find 1″ to 1.25″ plumbing adapter at most hardware stores
- Magnitude – Reg Dunkley
- Magnitude 19 measured by Michel Michaud using the VCO’s 14″ SCT in the past
- International Day of Light – celebrated on May 16th – Natasha Van Bentum
- Declared by International Astronomical Union
- Northern Star – J.S. Plaskett – upcoming documentary by Nick Versteeg
- Will be broadcast on CHEK TV
- Possible presentation by Nick at an upcoming UVic RASC Victoria meeting
- Two video trailers of the upcoming documentary shown
- Astronomical Compass Demonstration– CJ Sandoz
- CJ flew in Northern Canada where magnetic compass isn’t accurate
- This instrument works like a sextant but designed for an aircraft cockpit
- Uses Local Hour Angle, latitude, time
- Works both with the Sun and at night with bright stars and planets
- Gives a good heading when flying in the far north
- Time and Space musical performance by the Victoria Baroque – Jim Hesser
- Composed by Christina Hutton of Victoria Baroque, featuring the DAO
- Ben Dorman created an astronomical imagery show to accompany the performance, including some images from Victoria Centre’s astro-photographers
- Astronomy Events
- Council meeting – May 13th, 7:30PM – info emailed to members
- UVic Presentation: Galaxy Clusters and Galaxy Formation in the Early Universe – Bryn Lonsbrough – May 14th
- Astronomy Cafe – May 26th – last before summer break. Resume Sep 8th
- Star Parties at the Centre of the Universe – Lauri Roche
- Need volunteers for the Information Table to represent RASC Victoria
- Volunteers for telescopes needed – contact lauri@victoria.rasc.ca
- Telescope clinic – May 31st – contact david@victoria.rasc.ca
- Henrietta Leavitt Lopez Island fireworks on July 4th – Reg Dunkley
- Observe with members from Cattle Point
- Island Star Party – Aug 22-24
- St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 7921 St. Stephens Rd in Saanichton
- Two observing evenings Aug 22 and 23
- Speakers and daytime activities
- Saanich Fair – Aug 30 – Sep 1 – Lauri Roche
- Solar telescopes
- RASC & FDAO share space
- Need 20-24 volunteers – morning or afternoon – contact Lauri
- Telescope raffle
- NOVA – coming up in the Autumn at the Centre of the Universe – 5-6 weeks
- Observing opportunities discussed
- Crescent Venus in the blue sky – 35% illumination – David Lee
Video transcript of meeting
Astronomy Cafe – May 12, 2025
