20240909 Astro Cafe - banner
  • Intro by Randy Enkin
  • Beginners SIG – changes to email notifications – contact David Lee
  • Astro Cafe sign – renewed by Randy Enkin over the summer
  • Introductions – new attendees
    • Natasha – past member, IYA 2009 and other NGO work
    • Seonaigh – retired professor lives near Cattle Point, so wants to observe the night sky
    • Megan – joined this summer, interest in astronomy and astrophotography
    • Derrick – back after some health issues
  • Astronomy Cafe Volunteers – contact Randy Enkin to volunteer pastpres@victoria.rasc.ca
    • Host (in-person or online) – Randy, Lauri, Chris P, Jeff P, Brock
    • Tech – Alex and Kevin
    • Zoom Recorder – contact Joe to help with meeting notes, video recording, posting online web@victoria.rasc.ca
    • Guest Speakers
      • Sep 16 – Kirsten – Beginner’s Telescope Journey
      • Contact Randy to pass on ideas or to be a speaker
  • FDAO Saturday Night Star Parties – Lauri Roche
    • All summer long – every Saturday evening – very successful this year
    • Lots of volunteers have helped greatly this year
    • Star Parties are now happening once a month
    • Vox in the Stars – Vox Humana choral performance in the Plaskett dome – next Saturday
      • Telescopes hosted by RASC members are welcome to be setupin the parking lot
      • Contact Lauri if interested, so security knows roch.lauri@gmail.com
    • Sep 19 – The History of Canada in Space – presentation by Randy Attwood, Bob MacDonald and Chris Gainor
    • RASC Help Desk at the CU needs more volunteers – contact Melissa Tucker
  • Island Star Party – Randy Enkin
    • St. Stephen’s church yard in Saanichton
    • About 80 attendees each night
    • Review of event photos
    • A speaker for each night
    • Event photos
  • Mt. Kobau Star Party – Bill Weir
    • Some good presentations, including Peter Ceravolo’s new 16″ telescope
    • 122 cm (48″) telescope from Western University – another telescope being rescued by Peter
    • Generally good observing conditions
  • Three Stars Dark Sky Festival hosted by the Huu-ay-aht First Nation in Bamfield
    • Bill Weir and Kirsten Pedersen attending on behalf of RASC Victoria
    • Two nights on Sep 17-19 – a trial run, but eventually a tourist event
    • Basic Observing Books needed – contact Bill Weir metchosinskies@gmail.com
      • Nightwatch
      • Explore the Universe workbook
      • Others?
    • An 8″ Skywatcher Dobsonian telescope has been donated, to stay with the Huu-ay-aht
  • Saanich Fair – Marji Welchframe
    • Sep 6-9
    • 23 volunteers met the public at our display
    • Lauri and Marji reorganized the outreach materials at the CU
    • Very successful event – over 1,000 visitors to the telescopes and info desk
  • Astrophotography by members over the Summer
    • David Lee – early morning observing sessions
      • Aug 14 – 3:30AM observed Jupiter and Mars conjunction between the clouds
      • Cattle Point observing with Kevin, Ken and Kirsten
      • Sep 17 4AM – occultation of Saturn by the Moon
    • Dave Payne – deep sky photos showing the birth of stars from molecular clouds
      • In-depth descriptions for each image posted in Dave’s gallery
  • Enkin’s Daily Moon – 10th Anniversary – Randy Enkin
    • A Lunar themed collection of photos
    • Facebook and Instagram
    • 10 years later (Aug 25th), and Randy hasn’t run out of topics!
  • Sep 11 at UVic at 7:30PM – Presentation: The Wombs of Pregnant Stars – Jess Speedie – RASC Victoria

Video transcript of meeting

Astronomy Cafe – Sep 9, 2024
Tagged on: