Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/312904773/

Date:  Thursday, February 12, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: Capturing emission nebulae using a modified camera, even under light-polluted skies.

Speaker: Max Rakhimov

Abstract: Astrophotography is already a tricky hobby, but it becomes even more challenging when trying to capture fine details of deep-space objects under heavy light pollution. Faint objects like emission nebulae can easily get washed out by city lights, making them hard to photograph. We will explore these challenges and show how using modified cameras and special filters can help. These tools improve sensitivity to important wavelengths, allowing photographers to capture the glowing colors and intricate structures of emission nebulae. We’ll also touch on how modified cameras can enhance general Milky Way photography, revealing more detail and richness in the night sky.

Bio: Max Rakhimov has a background in physics and microelectronics, with hands-on experience in optical engineering. An amateur astrophotographer, he specializes in capturing deep space objects from urban environment, navigating the challenges of heavy light pollution. Max uses his skills and the right tools to capture clear, detailed images, even in the presence of light pollution.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/312544180/

Date:  Thursday, January 8, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: The yearly Space wrap-up and preview: 2025 in review, and a preview of 2026 (Here comes the Moon!)

Speaker: Matthew Borghese, NASA Solar System Ambassador

Abstract: Join Solar System Ambassador Matthew Borghese to hear the latest updates on what is coming up at NASA. 2026 promises to be an exciting new year on Earth and in space, from new rockets to new science missions, and humanity’s long-awaited return to the Moon.

Bio: Matthew Borghese is a communications specialist and former journalist who covered space shuttle launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Matthew lives outside of Victoria, British Columbia where he provides STEM outreach and connects students to careers and internships at the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Matthew presents to a variety of audiences from kindergartners to university students on both sides of the border.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/311997793/

Date:  Thursday, December 11, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: Introduction to Astrophotography

Speaker: Darsh Mittal

Abstract: Astrophotography is often seen as complex or unreachable, but this talk from Darsh Mittal invites you to experience the night sky not as a distant scientific wonder, but as an accessible canvas available from your own backyard, balcony, or local park. Through simple tools, thoughtful techniques, and a bit of patience, the universe reveals itself in surprising ways. Whether you want to capture the milky way, star trails, the moon, or just understand how to begin observing the sky more intentionally, this session will help you explore the cosmos as it is.

Bio: Darsh Mittal is a visual artist with a masters in digital media from SFU. His work explores how technology and visual storytelling can bring the cosmos closer to us.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/311190647/

Date:  Thursday, October 9 2025 at 7:30 PM

Location: Simon Fraser University Burnaby Room AQ3149

Topic:  Cosmic Rewind: Celebrating the Last Five Years

Speaker: Jennie “Starstuff” King

Bio: Jennie “Starstuff” King is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s astronomy program. While studying astronomy and physics, she discovered her deep love of science education through work with elementary school students. As a high school AP Physics and Engineering teacher in Colorado, she brought her love of space exploration to the classroom. Jennie became a NASA Solar System Ambassador in order to encourage others to explore the wonders of the cosmos with their hearts, minds, and (especially!) imaginations. In addition to volunteering with NASA, Jennie now works as the Manager of Educator Programs at Science World in Vancouver. She also has a feline co-pilot named Kepler.

Abstract: A great deal of public discussion around space exploration centres on what the future may hold. However, by constantly speculating about what comes next, we may miss opportunities to celebrate the plethora of recent achievements and discoveries in space science. Let’s spend some time reflecting on the amazing accomplishments in space exploration over the past five years, including popular hits as well as some less heard cosmic deep cuts. These past five orbits around the sun have taught us so much about the universe and about what we as humans can achieve when we work together, even during uncertain times. We’ll wrap up by exploring the very near past, as Jennie shares some photos and learnings from her recent trip to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Mount Wilson Observatory.

The next monthly meeting will be on September 19, 2025

Please RSVP here to ensure a seat:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/rasc-vancouver-monthly-meeting-at-hr-macmillan-space-centre-tickets-1677106062379

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/310942251/

Date:  Friday, September 19th at 7:30 PM

Location: H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Auditorium (Basement Level)
**Please be aware the monthly meeting this month will not be at SFU**

Topic:  Bringing the Night Sky to Life: The Vera Rubin Observatory

Speaker: Brett Gladman (in-person)

Bio: Professor Brett Gladman’s astronomical career has been heavily involved with studying moving objects in the Solar System. Having
worked in the United States, France, and Canada, he has used many
of the world’s best telescopes. He is currently a professor of
astronomy at the University of British Columbia.

Abstract: Historically, astronomers have explored to Solar System and more distant universe in two ways. The first is to peer at a tiny
fraction of the night sky where some object of interest is, but
then what is happening elsewhere remains undetected. Alternately,
a very large fraction (or all) of the night sky is ‘surveyed’, but
due to the vast area of the sky, there are only a few different times
a given location is observed; this results in an inability to see
how things might be changing in time. A major leap forward is about
to occur in astronomy with the start of the ‘Legacy Survey of Space
and Time’ (LSST) that is about to begin using the newly constructed
Vera Rubin telescope in Chile. This large (8-meter class) telescope
has the goal of imaging the ENTIRE visible night sky (from Chile)
during a 3-day interval and then repeating over and over again.This
will essentially generate a ‘movie in time’ of the night sky with a
3-day cadence to much fainter depths than have been ever been
possible. I will discuss some of the scientific goals that will
be made possible by this unique facility.

The July monthly meeting has been postponed until further notice.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/308846008/

Date:  Postponed until further notice.

Location: Simon Fraser University Burnaby Room AQ3159

Topic:  Cosmic Rewind: Celebrating the Last Five Years

Speaker: Jennie King

Bio: Jennie “Starstuff” King is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s astronomy program. While studying astronomy and physics, she discovered her deep love of science education through work with elementary school students. As a high school AP Physics and Engineering teacher in Colorado, she brought her love of space exploration to the classroom. Jennie became a NASA-JPL Solar System Ambassador in order to encourage others to explore the wonders of the cosmos with their hearts, minds and imaginations. In addition to volunteering with NASA, Jennie now works as the Manager of Educator Programs at Science World in Vancouver, a role which allows her to continue sparking scientific curiosity and a love of STEAM learning.

Abstract: A great deal of public discussion around space exploration centers on what the future may hold. However, by constantly speculating about what comes next, we may miss opportunities to celebrate the plethora of recent achievements and discoveries in space science. Let’s spend some time reflecting on the amazing accomplishments in space exploration over the past five years, including popular hits as well as some less heard cosmic deep cuts. These past five orbits around the sun have taught us so much about the universe and about what we as humans can achieve when we work together, even during uncertain times.

The next monthly meeting will be on May 8th at 7:30pm.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/306831460/

Date:  Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Location: Simon Fraser University Burnaby Room AQ3149

Topic:  Forecasting Exoplanet Weather with the James Webb Space Telescope

Speaker: Louis-Philippe Coulombe

Bio: Louis-Philippe is a PhD candidate at the Université de Montréal and a member of the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets. His research uses JWST observations to study the composition and dynamics of exoplanet atmospheres.

Abstract: Some exoplanets orbit so close to their host stars that they are scorched by intense heat, leading to extreme weather patterns unlike anything seen in our Solar System. One such planet is LTT 9779 b, an “ultrahot Neptune” that reflects an unusually large amount of starlight, making it one of the most reflective planets ever found around another star. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, we observed the planet throughout its entire orbit, which lasts only 19 hours. Our observations reveal that the planet’s dayside is split into two distinct regions: the western side is covered in bright, reflective clouds, while the eastern side is much darker. This suggests that powerful winds push heat from the dayside towards the cooler nightside, allowing clouds made of minerals to form on one side while the other remains too hot for them to exist. These findings provide a rare glimpse into the exotic weather of distant worlds and help us understand how planetary atmospheres behave under extreme conditions.