Intro – David Lee
- Parker Solar Probe – Natasha Van Bentum
- Completed 27th closest approach to the Sun
- New discoveries
- Solar explosions
- Magnetic reconnection process
- Solar switchbacks
- A poem
- Lunar “V” and “X” May 23rd at 10:00pm – David Lee
- Photo taken with his phone
- Astrophotograph – Dave Payne
- Iris Nebula in Cygnus
- Astrophotography SIG meeting this Wednesday
- Beaveree – Bill Weir
- This Saturday 10AM to about 1:30PM at Camp Barnard
- Solar observing for Beaver campers
- Bill will supply the gear or bring your own
- Volunteers needed – contact Bill
- CU Star Parties – Lauri Roche
- Volunteers needed to host telescopes and for the RASC Welcome table
- CU Events
- “Physics for Poets” – movie launch at the Star Cinema in Sidney.- June 21st 4-6PM.
- Theme is thoughts from Galileo during his last few days
- Gina Payzant is the director
- Private function for RASC and FDAO members only
- Free tickets (donation) – CU Events
- Reception across the street at the brew pub
- Trailer video
- Victoria Centre Observatory (VCO) – Reg Dunkley and Vince Geisler
- Imaging setup at the VCO is back in operation – flat panel, camera problems
- M51 galaxy, Crescent Moon, Venus. Sombrero Galaxy
- Working on the dark and flat processes
- Starship Flight 12 Launch – Chris Gainor
- This version 3 rocket is the largest ever launched
- 2 main stage engines blew up
- Intended to launch the Artemis lunar lander, so this is a setback
- Blue Origin is the alternate launch company
- Astronauts landing on the Moon by late 2028 is impacted
- JUNO Mission continues – Reg Dunkley and Chris Gainor
- One imager has failed
- The mission continues
- Upcoming Summer Astronomy Events
- Trans-boundary Firework Festival aka Henrietta Leavitt Horizon Watch – July 4th 10PM – Reg Dunkley
- Cattle Point popup events are planned
- Observing from the VCO – Active Observers List
- Island Star Party – Augst 7-9 at St. Stephen’s Church
- Request for volunteer with a telescope to go to Mayne Island from Parks Canada – August 15th – contact Lauri
- Saanich Fair – Sep 5-7 – volunteers needed – contact Lauri
- Star Parties all summer long on Observatory Hill
- Astronomy Gear from Sid’s garage – David Lee
- Celestron CGE Mount restoration, but need a controller. Vince has worked around this issue.
- John McDonald’s William Optics 110mm refractor – Garry Sedun needs a Bresser controller to activate an otherwise dead mount
- Many Celestron Orange tube 8″ SCT are still available
- Takahashi 100mm refractor restoration and EM 10 mount – CJ Sandoz
- Garry Sedun’s New Observatory
- Solar panels for power acquired
- Found a way to mount the broken mirror to temporarily use it visually
- Ken McGill’s remote telescope near Rockwood, Texas
- Waiting for good weather
- A bird and the DAO all-sky camera
- Birding expedition to Point Pelee – Margie Welchframe
- Group also observed Jupiter and 4 moons
- 154 species
- Psyche Spacecraft flies by Mars – Chris Gainor
- Japan and China have planned space missions – Phil Stooke
Astronomy Cafe – May 25, 2026
