Evan is travelling to the Canada-wide Science Fair in Edmonton May 13, and is attending UVic Physics this Fall with a prestigious Schulich scholarship to his credit.
International Astronomy Day – April 29 & 30, 2023 – report by Lauri Roche and David Lee
2023 Public Night-Sky Viewing Begins at the Centre of the Universe at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Saturday April 29.
International Astronomy Day events will return to Victoria for 2023 on the weekend of April 29 and 30. The public is invited to daytime activities at the Bob Wright Centre on the Ring Road at the University of Victoria on Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The night before, Saturday, April 29, public telescope viewing will take place at the National Research Council of Canada’s Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Centre of the Universe from 7:30 to 11 p.m.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Victoria Centre and the University of Victoria (UVic) Department of Physics and Astronomy are proud to sponsor family-friendly Astronomy Day activities, which will begin outside the Bob Wright Centre at 11 a.m. with solar telescopes for safely viewing the sun on the main concourse. The shift of daytime Astronomy Day activities to Sunday means that there will be FREE PARKING for the public at UVic.
Inside the Bob Wright Centre there will be astrophotography and historical displays, and tours of the Bob Wright Centre Observatory. RASC volunteers and Science Venture staff from the UVic will engage children with hands-on activities. All the astronomy presentations, displays, and workshops are free.
There will be free lecture presentations on astronomy in the Bob Wright Centre by Dr. Deborah Lokhorst of the National Research Council (NRC) on the DRAGONFLY Telescope, Simon Smith of UVic on Dwarf Galaxies, Xiaoyi Ma of UVic on Finding Exoplanets, Nathan Hellner-Mestleman of Mount Douglas Secondary School on Life in Space, David Lee of the RASC Victoria Centre on Astrophotography the Easy Way, Dr. Madeline Marshall of the NRC on What’s Been Happening with the James Webb Space Telescope?, and Dr. John McDonald of the RASC Victoria Centre presenting A Photo Tour of the Summer Sky.
The Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, the RASC Victoria Centre, and the NRC Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre will host evening activities at Observatory Hill, 5071 West Saanich Road, on Saturday, April 29 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Visitors with tickets will be admitted to Observatory Hill starting at 7:15 p.m. The Centre of the Universe exhibits will be open that evening, and the Observatory, including the historic Plaskett Telescope, will be open for tours. RASC members will have their personal telescopes set up for public viewing if the weather permits. There will be a presentation on the growing issue of satellite constellations by Dr. Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The public viewing on the evening of Saturday April 29 marks the beginning of public events at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory for the summer of 2023. Further public events at the DAO will take place this spring and summer on selected Saturdays.
Entry to the Observatory grounds for all public evenings in 2023, is by ticket ONLY. Tickets are FREE but require reservation. To obtain your entry ticket and further information on Saturday Star Parties, please go to www.eventbrite.ca/o/friends-of-the-dominion-astrophysical-observatory-12071364164#events. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday April 19. Current Federal Government Covid guidelines will be followed.
The RASC Victoria Centre is proud of its history and association with both amateur and professional astronomy in Victoria and its mandate for public education in Astronomy. For more information, please continue to explore our website.
3 additional outrigger radio telescopes: 160 kms from Penticton, Green Bank, WV, and Hat Creek, CA
Good Q&A at the end of the lecture video
Skynews – Feb 2017 issue highlights the CHIME instruments
DRAO open to the public starting April 8th
Discussion of radio interference when using radio telescopes
Astronomy Day – Lauri Roche
FDAO Star Party – Observatory Hill – April 29th – evening hours
Need astronomers with telescopes to volunteer
Starlink speaker
UVic – April 30th 11AM-4PM
Lots of volunteers have signed up, but everyone welcome to help, especially someone to lead the event promotion and communications – contact Lauri by email
Open Council meetings. Now that we have a smaller Council, we should make more effort to advertise the meetings to the entire membership – and possibly lay the foundation for more recruitment to leadership.
Closer ties to UVic. I often hear that members want to get back to meeting at the University. I also think we should offer programs that encourage undergrad students to be active in the RASC-VC.
Closer ties with the FDAO. We have overlapping mandates and volunteer bases. Closer coordination will benefit both organizations.
More in-person events, especially under the night sky.
More scheduled and ad hoc evenings at the VCO
More diversity in membership and leadership.
A budget!
Revised Statement of Goals of the Society.
Calendar on the website
Documented Council job descriptions
October 14 Solar Eclipse event
Display of Astrophotographs
Support Vic High club, Oak Bay, Mount Doug
Prizes or other activities with UVic students (Volunteerism, Outreach)
Using the telescope collection to support School Clubs.
Help with the telescope lending library
Recruitment and Retention of membership.
Sustainability of Volunteers and Council members
Organize the Google Drive. Make more complete.
Member survey
Diane Bell Award for Astrosketching
Car share to VCO
NOVA program!
Schools Program – with FDAO?
Liaisons with school groups
Mentors with school groups
Join in school-group observing nights
Prizes and goodies for school groups
Support for Science Fair – volunteers for judges, prizes, handing our RASC bookmark etc.
Location: Bright Angel Park at rural and dark Cowichan Station, in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on southern Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Gates will open at 2pm on Friday. Camp on the field and setup your telescope to enjoy observing the night sky from a dark site.
Cost: Free of charge for drop-ins!Suggested donation of $20/Adult observers who camp overnight – one night or two. Kids camp free.
Everyone who is present is entitled to tickets for door prizes, can attend planned activities and have access to the observing field. Prizes include telescopes!
Don’t want to camp? No problem…it’s at most a 20-minute drive from most areas of the Cowichan Valley, and only a 45-minute drive from Victoria. Live out of town? Stay in one of the many guest houses, hotels and motels in the Cowichan Valley, however reserve early, since accommodation fills up during the summer.
Staying after dark? Please bring a red light with you – do not use white lights, including cellphone flashes!
Schedule of Events
Friday Aug 11th
2:00 pm – Gates open
7:30 pm – Telescope tour
8:00 pm – Welcome and door prizes
8:30 pm – Speaker TBA
10:00 pm until dawn: observing! No white lights during this time, please
Saturday Aug 12th
Solar viewing – all day on the field
Nature Walk through the park trails – afternoon
7:30 pm – Telescope tour
8:00 pm – Door prizes
8:30 pm – Speaker TBA
9:30 pm – Public viewing of the night sky with telescopes on the field
10:30 pm until dawn: observing! No white lights during this time, please
The Island Star Party is hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Victoria Centre, with support from the Cowichan Valley Starfinders.
The observing field
Directions to the star party
Head west off the Trans-Canada Highway on Koksilah Road and turn right onto Tigwell Road. The park is at the end of the road. If you are driving a big vehicle such as a motorhome, we suggest you turn west off the Trans-Canada Highway at Allenby Road, then turn left onto Koksilah Road and left onto Tigwell Road. This slightly longer route will avoid a low-clearance rail bridge on the more direct route.
Lat 48° 44.0246′ N, Long 123° 40.5144’W
What to expect
Dark sky and red lights on the observing field
The night sky at this location is very dark, but there is a light dome to the north from the City of Duncan. Views in the other directions and overhead are excellent, and at this time of year Sagittarius is visible in the early part of the evening to the southwest.
Please feel free to camp on the observing field with your tent, trailer or motorhome and setup your telescope and other astronomy gear. There is some power on the field for astronomy equipment and to charge small devices, but no RV plug-ins please! Also, please do NOT park on the field with your vehicle if you plan to leave after dark! In this case, move your vehicle off the field after setting up, and park outside the access road on Tigwell Road with your headlights facing away from the field. The same parking request applies to visitors for the evening – park outside the gate and walk into the field.
Washrooms are a short walk from the observing field with sinks, toilets and urinals, but no showers. Red lights will mark the way at night along the forest trail.
Playground and workout gym on the observing field
Park gates are open from 7am – 9pm daily. Make sure your vehicle is outside the gates before 9PM if you plan to leave later on!
Explore the trails through the forest and along the Koksilah River – a nice way to spend the day. Good swimming too, although the river water is cold!
Pets are allowed in the park and at the star party, but must be under effective control of their owners at all times. If your dog knocks over an expensive telescope, you just bought it!
Drinking alcohol or smoking is not allowed in public areas of the park. You may consume alcohol at your campsite (private area), but please don’t wander around with your drink, or become intoxicated or high.
Dry summer conditions demand that no open flame be used. Please cook using a camp stove or use the Picnic Shelter by the lower parking lot. No campfires or open flame please!
Mobile phone service is very weak at this rural location. There is no Wi-fi, so don’t expect good (or any) connectivity.
Although the observing field is flat, it is bumpy, so people with mobility issues may find some areas are not easy to navigate. The washrooms are accessible by using the trail through the forest and navigating a modest slope.
Tim Horton’s fast food dine-in and drive-thru and a Co-op gas station and convenience store are both nearby at Bench Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.
Big box stores, grocery stores and malls are a short drive away in Duncan, Cobble Hill and Mill Bay.
Pizza and other fast food can be ordered from and/or picked up at numerous local establishments.
Espresso drinks and other fancy beverages available in Duncan, Cowichan Bay, Cobble Hill and Mill Bay.
Whippletree Junction – a variety of eclectic stores that are worth a visit, located nearby on the highway.
The fascinating Kinsol Trestle is a short drive from the park, where the Trans-Canada Trail crosses the Koksilah River. An easy walk from the parking lot – level and accessible.
Wineries in the area are too numerous to mention individually! Look here: Wine Festival Specials
Cowichan Bay village – fish boats, oceanfront restaurants and shops, whale watching, sea lions
2023 Island Star Party t-shirt
Island Star Party t-shirt
Fruit of the Loom quality cotton t-shirt, printed ink design. Men’s sizes in black: S, M, L, XL, 2XL – limited supply, so pre-order to ensure you get one! Pick up at the Star Party or local pickup in Victoria. $20 each – Joe Carr – Email
Contact us
Dave Payne – Email – mobile +1 (403) 874-1980 – Event Lead
Miles Waite – Email – mobile +1 (250) 208-7493 – Facilities
Joe Carr – Email – mobile +1 (250) 744-9981 – Promotion
Over 40 members of RASC Victoria Centre enjoyed a social dinner and awards ceremony at the Moon Under Water Pub on March 27, 2023. Photo gallery
Newton Ball Award 2022 – Deborah Crawford
Randy Enkin awarding Deb Crawford
An active member of the Victoria Centre, Deborah Crawford served on Council as Secretary from December 2012 to November 2014, Second Vice President from December 2016 to November 2018 and then as Treasurer from December 2018 until the spring of 2023. She has a talent for turning events into joyous occasions. Deb organized several AGM banquets and two Star Party “StarBQ’s”. During the 2014 General Assembly Deb oversaw a large buffet at the Centre of the Universe complete with a cake replica of the DAO dome. It was the highlight of the GA.
Ernie Pfannenschmidt Award 2022 – Dave Payne
Randy Enkin awarding Dave Payne
For the invention of the Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch (GHS) an innovative software tool that allows the controlled transformation of pixel intensity. It has been embedded in key astrophotography software packages such as Pixinsight. Astrophotographers around the globe have adopted this powerful tool.
Astrophotography Award 2022 – Dave Payne
Foxmascone Nebulae (NGC 2264) in SHO – The Foxfur and Cone Nebulae and Christmas Tree Cluster in SHO with RGB Stars (Monoceros) – October, 2022 A total of 17.5 Hours in Narrow Band H,S,O filters and 3.75 Hours in R, G, B Filters using a Planewave CDK12.5 Telescope and an- AIS6200MM Camera
Randy Enkin awarding David Lee
Certificate of Appreciation in 2022 – David Lee
In addition to the leadership David displayed during International Astronomy Day, the Dark Sky Survey, and the formation of Special Interest Groups he amazed the Victoria Centre for the perseverance he demonstrated photographing a Lunar Eclipse while a snow storm kept more timid RASCals indoors.
Certificate Of Appreciation 2022 – Randy Enkin
In appreciation of his Organization, Leadership and Guidance so capably rendered as the Centre’s President for 2021 and 2022.
