Astronomy Cafe – Sep 21, 2026

• Intro and Welcome – Marjie Welchframe
• 2026 Solar Eclipse Trip to Spain – Ben Dorman
  • Lisbon, Portugal to Northern Spain and ending in the Costa Brava
  • History and sights in Portugal
    • Lisbon, Sintra, Pena Palace
  • Spain
    • Basque region
    • Observed and photographed the eclipse from Mediterranean beach near Ebro Delta. The eclipse was low on the horizon, but the skies were clear. He showed some nice images approaching totality, and then an unfiltered view of totality. During totality, a large prominence was visible on the left hand  side, with several small ones. The Corona was visible as well.
    • Barcelona
    • Costa Brava
  • Les Welch reported he was in Reykjavik for the eclipse but it rained
  • Partial Lunar Eclipse back in Victoria, photos taken from Observatory Hill
  • Ben is going to be in Egypt for the Total Solar Eclipse in 2027, as will several other RASC Victoria members
• Lauri Roche (lauri@victoria.rasc.ca)
  • NOVA Session 1 – some spaces available. Starting on October 1st and goes for 5 Thursday nights. Contact Lauri to join in.
  • 2027 RASC Calendars – price TBD
• Vox Humana Concert on Observatory Hill – David Lee, Janet Mumford
  • They performed an arrangement called Cassiopeia in the Plaskett Dome. They have been performing in the dome since 2009. There was an astronomy and stargazing session after the concert. The performance was written to match the sounds the dome makes.
  • David discussed observing over the 3 nights, and observing the moon’s first quarter, double clusters and Saturn – always a crowd-pleaser.
  • Janet Mumford discussed the use of the 16” and getting people excited about using apps for astronomy.
• First Quarter Moon – an image from Sky and Telescope by Peter Oden, showed the Jewelled/Golden handle on the Moon. David encouraged people to get out tonight and see it, as it should be visible after the AstroCafe.
• UVic Presentations – Kevin Bertles
  • Oct 14 – Dr. Cristian Marois
  • Wes Fraser – Vera Rubin Telescope
  • Pale Blue Data Point – Jon Willis
  • Debra Lockhart
• New bolide impact on the Moon imaged by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter – Randy Enkin
  • New lunar crater named McGetchin Crater – 722m high crater wall
• Autumnal Equinox – Randy Enkin
  • Civic calendar vs astronomical calendar
  • Julian and Gregorian calendars
  • There is a 14 minute difference between day and night in the equinox, based on the angular size of the Sun and the atmospheric refraction. Several days later, the day and night are actually the same.
  • The Autumnal Equinox is never on the 21^st, except in 2097 in certain locations.
• Nancy Roman Space Telescope – Chris Gainor
  • Aug 30th launch
  • L2 position in the solar system
  • The mission is progressing well, including a good injection. The fuel savings could extend the mission beyond 5 years.
  • Nancy Grace Roman was the first NASA astronomer
• Helen Sawyer Hogg book by Maria Cahill – Chris Gainor
  • RASC publication and now available for sale
  • Maria will speak at a future RASC Victoria meeting
  • President of RASC, first President of CASCA
  • Worked for many years in the USA
  • Astronomy column in the Toronto Star
  • Lived and worked in Victoria with her husband Frank Hogg (also an astronomer)
• National Council meeting – Bill Weir
  • General Assembly in Kingston, Ontario – June 4-7, 2027
    • Half days, single sessions, so time to socialize
    • No society business
    • Single hotel site – Ambassador Centre
• Astronomy event on Salt Spring Island – Bill Weir
  • Paradise Within Farm – Oct 3rd 6:30-9pm (Oct 10th if it rains on the 3rd)
  • Free event, food and beverages
  • Non-RASC event
  • Scott Laycyk, organizer
• Astronomy Cafe logistics – Randy Enkin (pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca)
  • Hosts needed
  • Note-taker needed

Meeting video