President’s Message – October 2025

David Dunlap Observatory telescope

s fall settles over Victoria and we are faced with what may be the last stretches of clear evening skies (for a time at least), I hope everyone has a chance to wind up any lingering observing projects.

Looking back at the summer there was so much activity from our society that I failed to share a summer highlight of my own: a visit to the David Dunlap Observatory in July.

For those who haven’t had a chance to work with one of these large telescopes up close, I’m pleased to announce our next Plaskett Night, scheduled for October 25. As always, it’s a special opportunity to use the 1.8m telescope and chase down some faint targets.

President’s Message – March 2025

Evening at the Plaskett - Star trails of Pleiades, Taurus and Orion dominate the sky behind the historic Plaskett telescope

Being asked to step into the role of President for the RASC has put me into a reflective mood. Future versions of this column will likely feature ruminences on what the RASC means to new members, the incredible contributions the society has made to the community over the last 111 years, and the wonderful friendships we all benefit from being in a group of like-minded individuals. Today, I’m going to focus on something unique to RASC Victoria, which is the opportunity to request a handful of nights on the 1.8 meter Plaskett telescope each year. – Dan Posey