Intro and New Members – Marjie Welchframe; Astronomy vs The Billionaire Space Race – Samantha Lawler, USask; Astrophotos – Dave Payne; Space News – Chris Gainor; Rockets – Myles Morrison.
Astronomy Cafe – Jan 5, 2026
Nov 12th Presentation: Maximizing image resolution for ground-based telescopes using Adaptive Optics – Dr. Maaike van Kooten, NRC
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.
RASC Victoria at the 2025 Saanich Fair
A message from Lauri Roche to our volunteers. I am so grateful to all the volunteers who attended the Saanich Fair this year and helped out the RASC in our biggest outreach of the year for our Centre. Thanks go
Presentation: Exploring the Europa Clipper Mission – Tess Grindlay
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
Presentation: North Star to Freedom – Amy Archer
“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
Presentation: Beyond the Veil – Hidden Stars in Molecular Clouds – Breanna Crompvoets
The study of star formation relies upon precise and thorough observations, as does much of astronomy. Breanna will be talking about how, with the recent advancements that have culminated in the James Webb Space Telescope, our understanding of how stars form is changing. Wed Oct 9, 2024 starting at 7:30PM at UVic.
Presentation: The Wombs of Pregnant Stars – Jess Speedie
Date/Time: Wednesday September 11, 2024 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 womb of a pregnant star is a vast rotating disk of cosmic gas
Revealing the Invisible Universe with Radio Telescopes – Dr. Jennifer West, NRC
Date/Time: Wednesday January 10, 2024 starting at 7:30PM Location: University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, Lecture Theatre A104. Park in Lot 1 (pay parking) and cross Ring Road. Radio astronomy has been around for nearly a hundred years. In that
Circumstellar disks – Dr. Brenda Matthews
“You can’t have one without the other: Circumstellar disks produce and are produced by planets” – Dr. Brenda Matthews, NRC Many people know that planets form in circumstellar disks around young stars, but did you know that planets later drive
Saanich Fair 2022 Report
Welcome to Fall. I always think that as soon as the Saanich Fair is over that it really is the start on a new season. First of all, I need to thank a LOT of people for all their help