Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/315610944/

Date:  Thursday, Sept 10, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: The Big Picture: A Filmmaker’s Approach to the Universe

Speaker: Rob Lyons

Abstract: Rob didn’t set out to reinvent his imaging workflow. Digging back through years of backyard astronomy data, he noticed a pattern: the same targets, shot again and again through different telescopes at different focal lengths. To most astrophotographers, that’s just a well-stocked archive. To someone who spent his career on film sets, it looked like a shot list; wide, medium, and close up, footage never cut together. That spark became a question: could this data be treated less like a stack of exposures and more like the shots of a movie, ready to be animated into motion? Chasing the answer turned Rob from astrophotographer into director. He engineered a multi-telescope optical array for his rooftop observatory built to capture that coverage, then extended his reach with remote telescopes at Starfront Observatories in Texas and KKRO in South Africa to pull in wide-field Milky Way data no Vancouver rooftop could ever see. He built an analog recording studio, and scores and mixes every sequence himself, shaping raw astronomical data into cinematic nebula fly-ins for a growing catalogue of educational astronomy videos. In this talk, Rob traces how that rooftop discovery grew into a purpose-built production pipeline, and what it’s teaching him about the road ahead: fusing his years in film with a future in science communication, using the language of cinema to help audiences not just see the universe, but feel its scale.

Bio: Rob Lyons began his career in film and television on the sets of Stargate Atlantis and SG-1, went on to produce media in-house at BC Children’s Hospital, and later ran his own award-winning production company. Then the pandemic sent him to his rooftop with a telescope, and astrophotography took hold. Six years on, he’s founded and chaired the RASC Vancouver Centre’s Imaging program and now serves as an at-large director on council. His images have appeared in Sky & Telescope, BBC Sky at Night, Astronomy, SkyNews, and the Journal of the RASC, and have recently earned him a NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day. These days he’s partway through a Space Studies degree with a concentration in astronomy, chasing a plan to fuse his two careers into a new astronomy media venture: Robservatory.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/315363559/

Date:  Thursday, July 9, 7:30 PM

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: Searching for Nature’s Magnifying Glass with the Euclid Space Telescope

Speaker: Hrishabh Srivastava

Abstract: Strong gravitational lensing is one of the most incredible phenomena of nature, and a direct consequence of Einstein’s general relativity. Not only does it help produce a magnified image of the background galaxy, but it is also a direct probe of the dark matter distribution of the foreground galaxy. Yet despite this potential, only a few thousand strong lenses have been discovered to date, constrained by the limited resolution and field of view of past telescopes. Euclid is set to change that. With its wide field of view and exceptionally fine resolution, it is expected to find over a hundred thousand new galaxy-galaxy strong lenses. This talk will introduce the idea of strong lensing and move on to explaining how the Euclid Strong Lensing Science Working Group is using artificial intelligence to find them, before getting into my research on using a surprisingly simple mathematical tool to discover these objects, about 10 times faster than AI.

Bio: Hrishabh Srivastava is a second-year MSc student in Astronomy and a member of the Euclid Strong Lensing Science Working Group. After beginning his academic journey in engineering and data science at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, he transitioned into astrophysics to pursue his long-standing interest in astronomy. His research focuses on identifying strong gravitational lenses in Euclid images to better understand the Universe. Outside of research, he enjoys hiking, reading historical philosophy, and communicating science to wider audiences

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/315113505/

Date:  Thursday, June 11, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: Members’ Social

Abstract: Come up to SFU Burnaby and join us for a Members’ social in celebration of Summer! Bring your questions about the night sky and astronomy as well as your curiosity in our place in the Cosmos, and spend an evening hanging out with RASC Vancouver Members. There will be short presentations, a gear exchange, and ample time to mingle and mix.

Speaker: All of Us

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/313809475/

Date:  Thursday, May 14, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: Smart Telescopes, the Future of Astrophotography?

Speaker: Kai Hui

Abstract: All-in-one smart telescopes are a new generation of automated astronomy instruments that combine a telescope, camera, mount, and software into a single integrated system, making astrophotography and sky exploration far more accessible. In this presentation, we’ll explore what these smart telescopes are and look at several popular models on the market, comparing their features, capabilities, and intended audiences. We’ll also discuss situations where a smart scope may not be the best choice and why some astronomers may still prefer traditional setups. From beginners just starting their journey in astronomy to more advanced users looking for a portable imaging solution, we’ll examine the different use cases these devices support. I’ll also share my personal experience using four models I currently own—the ZWO Seestar S50, ZWO Seestar S30 Pro, Dwarf Labs Dwarf 3, and Celestron Origin—along with sample images captured with each system and a few quick tips for simple post-processing. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a live demonstration of the four smart scopes followed by a Q&A session.

Bio: Kai is a councillor at large with RASC Vancouver, and has 40+ years’ experience in the IT industry. He has had a fascination with space ever since at the age of 7, he saw his neighbour building their own reflector telescope. He started his astrophotography journey less than three years ago but has jumped into the deep end! He enjoys sharing his passion and helping others to get into the hobby.

Meet-up Link: https://www.meetup.com/astronomy-131/events/314050848/

Date:  Thursday, April 9, 7:30 PM 

Location: SFU Burnaby, room AQ3149

Topic: RASC Vancouver’s Show & Tell-oscope

Speaker: Members of RASC Vancouver’s Council

Abstract: Whether you’re a seasoned astronomy veteran, or a newcomer to the field (welcome!) – our Show & Tell-oscope is going to have something for you. From telescope basics and anatomy, to setup and teardown, you’ll have the chance to ask questions to our council and volunteers, see the telescopes up close, and learn how to operate them! Stick around after the main presentations for some coffee and treats as well, and don’t be afraid to come up and chat with us!

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.