Hubble | RASC Victoria

Astronomy Cafe – July 5, 2021

Posted July 5, 2021 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Meeting transcript video

Intro – Chris Purse
- Next week’s Astro Cafe – Lunar session – Randy Enkin & Mike Nash
- Photos of the July 4th fireworks from Lopez Island by Randy Enkin
Astrophotography of the Year 2021 – Royal Observatory, Greenwich – a short list by Barbara Lane
- 4,500 entries from 75 candidates
- Winner is yet to be chosen
- Slideshow of short list candidates
Edmonton Astrophotos – Dave Robinson
- Moonsweep – rising Moon over Edmonton time lapse – Luca Vanzella & Alister Ling
- Solar images – Abdur Anwar using a solar filter and C8
- Solar sunspot sketches – Berta Beltran
- All sky display of noctilucent clouds time lapse – Murray Paulson
Dave Payne’s M57 image data reprocessed – John McDonald
- LRGB, Ha, OIII, S2
- Pre-calibrated dataset shared with Astrophotography SIG members
- Dave’s version of M57
SIGs – David Lee
- Getting Started in Astronomy – tomorrow night
  - Merits of goto systems
  - Visual variable star observing – https://www.aavso.org
- EAA – Thursday night
- Contact David if interested
Hubble – David Lee & Chris Gainor
- Uses 386-based processors, upgraded to 486
- Video on Hubble current status – an explanation of what’s happening
- Discussion about Hubble systems and updates
Henrietta Leavitt Memorial Horizon Watch – July 4th, 2021 – Reg Dunkley
- Lopez Island fireworks display
- 28 kms away eastward
- 5 members setup at Cattle Point
- Sequence of photos of fireworks
Victoria Centre Observatory report – Reg Dunkley
- Work party getting the two new telescopes operational
- Refining the pointing accuracy of the Paramount ME with the new telescopes now mounted
- Discussion about removal of existing Takahashi focuser so Feathertouch focuser can be mounted and used
- Servicing the Paramount gearing
DASCH: Digital Access to a Sky Century – Harvard’s photographic plate collection
UVic Observatory Open House – this Wednesday – history of astronomy – zoom info provided in the chat

Astronomy Cafe – June 28, 2021

Posted June 28, 2021 by Webmaster as Astro Cafe

Transcript video of the online meeting

Photos from Edmonton – Dave Robinson
- Noctilucent Clouds – Alister Ling, Bruce McCurdy, Tom Owen’s daughter
- Diffraction corona on setting Sun – Eric Klaszus
- Bubble Nebula – Tom Owen
Impressions of the GA and AGM
- Another virtual GA for next year – Chris Purse
- Gather Town
  - a challenge to use by some attendees
  - tablet app was beta – difficult to use – Bill Weir
  - could easily locate or follow people
- Tours on Monday were excellent
  - ALMA tour video
- Presenters were very good – Reg Dunkley & David Lee
- A generational transition is happening within RASC – Chris Gainor
  - nextGen committee
  - Invite Karun’s students and Vic High students to get involved in Victoria Centre
- AGM – Chris Gainor
  - Robyn Foret and Chris Gainor will be retiring next year
  - 3 new board members: Betty Robinson, Malhar Kendurkar, Michael Watson (all 3 year terms)
  - Next GA in 2022 will be mainly virtual
  - 2023 should return to an in-person event
  - 2024 possibly with Astronomical League in Toronto
- Andrew MacIntosh, a non-member from Victoria won an astrophotography award
Trouble with Hubble – Chris Gainor
- Payload computer problems, but main computer is still alive
- Goddard staff will very likely fix or workaround the current problem
- Latest Hubble updates
Photos of the Saturn & Jupiter with the Full Moon – Randy Enkin
Hot Weather Ending – Reg Dunkley
- Lee Trough is causing the circulation for the current hot weather in our area
- Cloud currently offshore from Washington and Oregon will move north over Vancouver Island, which will shut down the hot outflow over us
- Warm air dome will move eastward