Date/Time: Wednesday January 14, 2026 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road You may be familiar with the 1.8m Plaskett telescope at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO),
Date/Time: Wednesday December 10, 2025 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Elliott 162. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road – please note the room change!
Much of the universe is very cold, more than 100 degrees below zero Celsius, and cannot be seen by even giant optical or infrared telescopes like Hubble or the James Webb Space Telescope. Instead, we need specially designed telescopes that can detect the cold universe. In this talk we’ll learn about how we can detect cold matter, Canada’s pioneering work in this field, and finally the Atacama Large Millimetre/Submillimetre Array (ALMA), a giant telescope in northern Chile, what it’s like to work there, and some of the really cool stuff it’s discovered.
Presentation at University of Victoria on November 12, 2025 starting at 7:30PM. “Maximizing image resolution for ground-based telescopes using Adaptive Optics: it is all in the details” – Dr. Maaike van Kooten, AO developer, Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics, National Research Council Canada.
In this talk, I will focus on the latest AO R&D happening in Victoria on our local telescopes and put it into context of the wider global AO community. I will also highlight the work being done at large facilities in Hawaii to further push the limits of our AO systems.
Date/Time: Wednesday October 8, 2025 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road “Northern Star – The life of Canadian astronomer J.S. Plaskett and the Canadian Space engineers
Date/Time: Wednesday September 10, 2025 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. The recent discoveries by JWST et al regarding the early, quick formation of galaxies are leading scientists to question the status quo mechanisms of galaxy creation. In this talk, a scientist-from-another-mother brings a multidisciplinary approach to this question that incorporates dissipative (friction) forces, thermodynamics. free body mechanics, and even chemistry to the non-linear dynamics involved.
Date/Time: Wednesday May 14, 2025 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road The evolution of early universe galaxies is influenced by the environment they live in. The
Galaxies Under the Microscope: How the Latest Telescopes Are Transforming Our View of the Universe – Dr. Toby Brown, astronomer at the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre
Date/Time: Wednesday April 9, 2025 starting at 7:30PM. Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104.
Exploring the Europa Clipper Mission: Deep Diving into a Secret Ocean World – Tess Grindlay Date/Time: Wednesday March 12, 2025 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road
Pitcairn Islands Outreach! “Celestializing” the H.M.S. Bounty Mutineers! – Bryon Elliot. Wednesday January 8, 2025 starting at 7:30PM. Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. Who knew “Mutiny on the Bounty” was based on a true story?! Please join me as I tell the tale of my unforgettable adventure on Pitcairn Island, the paradisiacal home of the mutineers’ descendants. I’ll touch on their captivating history, and reveal some of the brilliant celestial wonders I shared with them in their pristine night sky.
“North Star to Freedom”. Vignettes about the underground railroad and the night sky – Amy Archer Date/Time: Wednesday December 11, 2024 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Elliott Building, Room 162. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road Abstract