This is an edited AI-generated (Zoom) transcript of Gil’s presentation to Astronomy Cafe – Apr 20, 2026
Transcript: Large Binocular Telescope – Gilbert Esquerdo
Astronomy Cafe – April 13, 2026
Intro – Marjie Welchframe
Sidewalk astronomy observing the Moon video – Natasha van Bentum
Artemis II mission – Randy Enkin
Vancouver Island Regional Science Fair – Randy Enkin, Jared Qin
Events – David Lee, Lauri Roche, Ben Spiller
Telescopic Asterisms – David Lee
Astrophotos – Dave Payne
UVic Presentation: Hubble Space Telescope and Canada – Dr. Chris Gainor
Date/Time: Wednesday April 8, 2026 starting at 7:30PM
Location: University of Victoria, Elliott Bldg, Ell 168 (please note the change of location for this meeting only)
This talk will examine Canada’s contributions to the Hubble Space Telescope and its influence on Canadian space efforts.
Astronomy Cafe – Mar 30, 2026
Artemis landing site selection – Phil Stooke
CHEK News profiling proposed 1 million additional SpaceX Satellites
NASA Space Missions – Chris Gainor
Seestar S30 photo of the Moon – Peter Norman
Artemis II Crew – Natasha van Bentum
Astrophoto of Rosette Nebula – Vince Geisler
Events – David Lee, Lauri Roche, Kevin Bertles
Astronomy Cafe – March 23, 2026
Video recording of meeting
FOR SALE: 15′ dome & 2 telescopes
2014 Technical Innovations Pro Dome 15’ $9,500
Explorer Scientific ED 127 CF telescope
Celestron Edge HD 11″ SCT telescope
Both telescopes $6,500
30 eyepieces $3,500
4 cameras $750
Other misc astro gear
Package price (not including dome) $11,500
Astronomy Cafe – Mar 16, 2026
Manned Space Flight – Rocket Fuel Ignition – Jeff Pivnick
Canadian sovereign Space Launch – Chris Gainor
Compound Eyes Telescopes – David Lee
Greenland Telescope – Natasha van Bentum
Sundials – Randy Enkin
Oak Bay installing non-compliant streetlights in Uplands – Moira Hourigan & Dave Robinson
Events – Lauri Roche
Astronomy Cafe – March 9, 2026
Intro – Randy Enkin
Artemis Mission – Jeff Pivnick
Last week’s Lunar Eclipse – reports from members
Astrophoto of the Clamshell Nebula – Dave Payne
Daylight Saving Time – Randy Enkin
Sid Sidhu’s Assembly of Astronomical Gear – David Lee
Events
UVic Presentation: An Overview of the Vera C. Rubin Telescope and its Legacy Survey of Space and Time – Dr. Wes Fraser
Date/Time: Wednesday March 11, 2026 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104 The Vera C. Rubin Telescope is on the verge of officially coming online. Literally any day now, the Rubin science community will receive a hotly
Astronomy Cafe – March 2, 2026
Intro – Jeff Pivnick
Planetary Alignment on Feb 28th – David Lee, Vince Geisler, Brock Johnston, Brian Barber, Alex Schmid
Citizen Science – Crater Timings During Lunar Eclipse – 2006 – Randy Enkin
The Moon, a Meteorite, Monk and Me – Leslie Welch
Artemis 2 and Wet Dress Rehearsal – Jeff Pivnick
Artemis Mission Changes – Chris Gainor