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June
2004
Chris Gainor
Last summer
we had Mars on our minds. Right now we are hearing a lot
about our other planetary next-door neighbour, Venus. On
June 8, the day before our regular June meeting, the first
transit of Venus since 1882 is taking place.
This spring, Venus was high in the evening sky and gave us
views of a sharp crescent as it moved toward its rare
celestial rendezvous with the Sun. Unfortunately, this
historic transit isn't visible from Victoria, but fear not.
The next transit of Venus, on June 6, 2012, will be visible
from Victoria, although it will still be in progress as the
Sun sets that day. If the weather frustrates us on that day,
the wait for the next transit will extend until 2117.
Although we can't do anything about Venus except catch a
plane, the Victoria Centre and our friends on the South
Island have a full round of summer activities. The night
after our monthly meeting, our friends at the Centre of the
Universe will be celebrating their third birthday with a
barbecue on Thursday June 10 starting at 7. Bring a side
dish and your scopes.
Speaking of the CU, our observers group will have a meeting
with Jacqueline Porter, the CU's new manager, on Tuesday
June 29 starting at 7:30 p.m. And of course we will have our
regular Saturday evening observing sessions on top of Little
Saanich Mountain.
The RASC General Assembly this year is as far away as it can
be from Victoria � St. John's, Newfoundland. I look forward
to hearing our national rep David Lee report on this
meeting. And remember that the 2005 GA will take place on
the Victoria Day weekend in Kelowna.
On the weekend of July 23, the Cowichan Valley Starfinders
are hosting their annual Island Star Party at the Victoria
Rod and Gun Club near the Malahat Summit. Great observing,
great food, great prizes and even better people. Don't miss
it!
In August, the Victoria Centre will hold its annual picnic
at Pearson College in Metchosin. Keep an eye on the website
for the date and time.
In September, we will pick up our regular monthly meetings,
and end the summer with the RASC Star party the weekend of
September 17 at the Victoria Rod and Gun Club.
Finally, we are still working on the matter of an observing
site for the Victoria Centre. I hope you have filled out the
questionnaire on observing sites that went out with the May
Skynews. Please fill in this important survey and send it in
to me, vice-president Bruno Quenneville, or Observing Site
Committee chair Dave Bennett.
This summer, let's get out on clear nights and enjoy the
wonders of the skies. I hope to see you at many of our
summer observing events.
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