history – RASC Victoria

Northern Star – Documentary

The history of astronomy in Canada and Victoria in particular is the subject of a documentary series that will appear on CHEK television on June 13 and 20, 2025.

The two-part documentary, Northern Star, tells the story of John S. Plaskett, the Ontario farm boy who grew up to become the founding father of astrophysics in Canada. Plaskett spearheaded the construction of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) just north of Victoria that is equipped with a giant telescope that was for a few months in 1918 the largest operating telescope on Earth.

President’s Message – May 2025

I mentioned outreach would be the focus of a future message. At its heart, outreach is core to the modern service mission of the RASC and has defined my time with the organization. It’s no surprise I’m going to focus

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

President’s Message – Nov 2024

One of the greatest benefits of membership in the Victoria Centre is that we get to meet and know some of the giants of Canadian astronomy. This centrewas founded under the tutelage of the father of Canadian astrophysics, John S.