Dr. Laurie Rousseau-Nepton is an astronomer in residence at the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). She received her PhD from Université Laval and is the principal investigator for the SIGNALS project. This is a large survey program aiming at observing over 50,000 resolved star-forming regions in nearby galaxies.
Resident astronomer at CFHT for the last 6 years
Started at Mont Megantic with SpIOMM instrument – spectral imager
SITELLE – Spectral imager
Started building the instrument in 2010
Acquires both spectra and an image of each object
2017 – Instrument shipped to Hawai’i
Canada-France-Hawaii telescope
Some issues with weather (snow, clouds), earthquakes (volcanoes), but lots of clear and stable nights
Timelapse of telescope operation
Science
Big Bang
First stars formed
New elements
First galaxies formed
Stellar clusters form into stars
Stellar Initial Mass Function – stable through the whole Universe?
OB massive stars in H2 regions – Laurie’s study area
SITELLE – how it works
Michelson Interferometer – emission lines
Data cube has both imagery and spectra
SIGNALS – Star formation, Ionized Gas, and Nebular Abundances Legacy Survey
Large, multinational group of researchers
Star Formation Rate & Efficiency
Stellar Initial Mass Function
9 fields to cover M33
More than 30,000 HII regions currently in the survey
Supernova remnants as well
U of T – new job at a development lab
Building a new generation of SITELLE
Imaging spectrograph at much higher resolution
The resulting instrument needs a large aperture telescope
Q&A
A dynamical Model – stellar winds affect dense molecular clouds – clumping and finger structures
Each pixel of data has their own interferogram
Initial Mass Function – huge amount of data
Changing instruments and telescope time at CFHT – ranking of proposals – technical and science
Mauna Kea Spectra Explorer – an upgrade to CFHT
Bigger aperture instrument
Using 20,000 optical fibres are part of the plan
Culture of astronomy – accommodating diversity and promote inclusivity
Mauna Kea is a sacred site
Include local aboriginal teachings in presentations at local astronomy groups
Learn some of the language used by first nations when they talk about the night sky
Is SITELLE technology used elsewhere?
Straight IR is being used in other instruments
The “perfect” beam splitter used by SITELLE is unique
Software to analyze the SITELLE data is unique
Size of the SITELLE detector and data throughput is also unique
DAO work being used by CFHT?
Spectroscopy innovations and staff
Adaptive optics systems
How did you get involved in astronomical research?
Asked a lot of questions about astronomy as a child
Enjoyed physics at the university
Silent Sky at Langham Court Theatre – performances Jan 25 to Feb 11
Story of Henrietta Leavitt and her astronomical research done a century ago
Jim Hesser is the scientific advisor
Members of RASC urged to enjoy this performance
Special presentation by Sara Ellison at the Feb 5th afternoon performance
Observing Notes – Randy Enkin
Observers Handbook – Conjunction of Venus & Jupiter – Jan 21/22 – half a degree from Saturn just after sunset. In fact, the conjunction should be visible before sunset.
Sat 28th at 8PM – Uranus being occulted by the Moon
Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF – observable in the early morning hours – Sky At Night
Makers SIG – meeting online this Thursday – David Lee
RASC Publications for sale – contact Lauri Roche by email
2023 Night Sky Almanac – good for planning your observing
Explore the Moon $10
Explore the Universe $10
2023 RASC Observers Calendar – 2 left at $15 each
Observatory Hill road update – Lauri Roche
Probably another couple of months before the road is open to the public
We still don’t have approval to hold monthly meetings at UVic, so speakers will continue to present at Astronomy Cafe
Learning Astrophotography – Reg Dunkley
Dec 6th Astro Cafe presentation by Ron Fisher on his adventures learning astrophotography – thanks Ron!
Victoria Centre Observatory can help members to start taking astrophotos using our centre’s gear once the VCO reopens – soon now. Bring your own dSLR to use on our Takahashi refractor, or use our 61 mpix mono astro camera on our OGS Ritchey–Chrétien telescope.
Far Side Amateur Astronomers Observing a Supernova – Reg Dunkley
Astrophotography – had a meeting in Dec, and will report to Astro Cafe in a couple of weeks
Makers – David building an “environment box”
President’s Announcements – Randy Enkin
Soliciting feedback from members on the new proposed bylaws by Jan 15th – send to Secretary and President.
Special meeting to adopt the new bylaws
Hold AGM under (hopefully) new bylaws
Members should consider standing for election to an officer’s position – contact Reg Dunkley, Nominations – email
Handbooks for Explore the Universe and Explore the Moon are available at $10 each. Also some 2023 RASC Observers calendars are still available at $15 each. Contact Lauri Roche by email
We are members of this venerable institution because we share a bond of fascination with the wonders of the sky. I don’t think any of us joined the Centre to worry about the details of how it runs.
These are the opening lines of an email I sent on December 10 to all the Members of the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. We are proposing a new Constitution and Bylaws to run the Victoria Centre. Did you receive it? Please read it! I hope we explain well enough why the amendments are necessary and how they will make our centre operate better.
Randy Enkin using his sextant
The Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada was founded in 1914. We’ve been through a lot! But all organizations need to ride with the times. The fact that we now communicate electronically has to be acknowledged and embraced by our bylaws. But once we opened the doors to an amendment, then it became clear that there are many other issues to modernize or fix.
Fortunately we have some remarkable members in the Victoria Centre, who understand how constitutions and bylaws are supposed to be worded. The committee which produced the amendments was chaired by our vice president, Dave Payne, who has experience running non-profit organizations. The other members of the committee are our secretary, Jill Sinkwich, who had previously worked for the Ministry of Finance on the BC Societies Act; our Membership Chair, Chris Purse, who participated in writing the previous version of the bylaws and is a font of institutional memory; Dan Posey, who has experience writing provincial legislation; and me, president and cheerleader for this group of awesome hardworking members.
We request that you read and provide comments on the draft Constitution and Bylaws by January 15, 2023 to Secretary@Victoria.RASC.ca. We particularly need to know if there are issues that would prompt you to vote against adoption of the bylaws at the upcoming Special General Meeting, which will be scheduled in February. The Bylaws must be passed with a special resolution of the centre by a 2/3 vote.
We know they are not perfect, but we feel that they are a significant improvement over what we are currently working under.
Old Dec 2003 issue of our SkyNews has Ernie’s obit in it with an image of the refractor. Also there’s an image of a Mars map that he did. It inspired me to do the same in 2005 because in my arrogance I thought, Pfffftt, how difficult could that be? Turned out it was. Takes a lot of luck too to get all of the phases.
There will not be a Service, but please raise a glass of your favourite tipple and drink a toast to his memory.
A collection of photos showing Dave’s and Susan’s time with us at RASC Victoria Centre
Memories of Dave from members
This is so sad to hear. Dave was such an advocate for public outreach. I have missed him at outreach events such as the Saanich Fair and as a prominent Astronomer in the parking lot for Saturday nights at the DAO. What a loss for our community. I will be certainly thinking of Susan and his family at this time.
Lauri Roche
I’m very sad to hear this news. Dave was one of many RASC members who encouraged me to be active in public outreach activities at the DAO and to pursue my interests. He was a kind, generous man.
Matt Watson
I’m so sad to hear this. I still remember our little adventure of recording the asteroid occultation of 1263 Varsavia on July 18th 2003. I still remember being so pleased that we actually picked the right star and that it blinked out at approximately the predicted time. I have to admit it was David’s excellent starhopping skills as neither of us had goto systems. He will be missed.
David Lee
It is really sad to hear the news. Dave and I [spent] many happy times doing the public outreach. When needed he was always there.
Sid Sidhu
I remember Dave’s dry sense of humour the most, but also his willingness to evangelize astronomy at any and all public events. Despite professing to be a “grouch”, he was great with the younger generations interested in astronomy, challenging them to dive in. Dave was also a dedicated observer and one of the first Victoria Centre members who welcomed me to the group – thanks Dave. I certainly will raise a glass to Dave’s memory, and celebrate his contributions to amateur astronomy through RASC.
Joe Carr
Wow this sucks. He’s been one of the members who I’ve wondered where they’ve gone. Sadly now it’s permanent. He thought he presented as a grump but always had a kind manner. Will remember him with that big blue refractor. Needs to be said, F… Cancer.
Bill Weir
This is very sad. Dave was a member when I joined. He me feel good to be part of the group.
John McDonald
Very sad news, indeed. Dave was an immediately likeable fellow, whose immense astronomical knowledge and infectious enthusiasm was appreciated equally by his RASC colleagues, and the public. Dave will be deeply missed, and fondly remembered.
Sherry Buttnor
I remember some great conversations with Dave at outreach events and particularly at the Halifax GA (2015). Dave was a proud member of RASD and was Dave XXII. He will be missed.
Chris Purse
Dave was an active, very friendly, welcoming member of our Centre. Betty and I enjoyed interacting with him at meetings and outreach events. We often saw Dave and Susan at Victoria Symphony concerts, too. We are very saddened at his passing.
Jim & Betty Hesser
Sorry for your loss Victoria Centre. Condolences to the family.
Kim Hay
I’ve known Dave Bennett for most of my time in the Victoria Centre, and more recently when we lived near each other on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula. I greatly regret the press of time conflicts, work obligations and finally the pandemic that limited the time I had with Dave and Sue in recent years. Like other members of the Victoria Centre, I have many memories of Dave’s participation in our outreach activities, especially a trip that we took with Sid to a school on Saltspring Island several years ago. His love for astronomy, sense of humour and friendly manner were always front and centre at these events and at other Victoria Centre activities. I’m glad I knew him and I will miss him.
Chris Gainor
I had the pleasure and privilege of experiencing total solar eclipses with Dave. He was a great travelling companion. I send my sincere condolences to Sue and the family on your loss.
