Astronomy

Victoria star photographer Lucky Budd captured the C/2020 E3 (ZTF) comet on camera during a brief break in cloudy skies on Jan. 21. (Photo by Lucky Budd)

Look up: Rare comet visible to the naked eye – if the clouds part

Astronomers expect C/2020 E3 (ZTF) to be brightest at month’s end

 

A fireball caught on camera Oct. 12 in Marysville, Wash. (Benjamin Souther video)

Fireball seen over B.C., Washington, Oregon sparks social media storm

Did you see the meteor? Email your videos to vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca

 

Tours of the dome hosting the Plaskett telescope are included in admission to the Centre of the Universe. Black Press Media file photo

Centre of the Universe reopens for astronomy enthusiasts in Saanich

Release of first images from James Webb Space Telescope has people excited

 

The moon from Mill Hill in Langford. (Photo by Ed Court)

PHOTOS: Supermoon stands out over Greater Victoria

Readers capture supermoon in all its splendour

The moon from Mill Hill in Langford. (Photo by Ed Court)
Tours of the dome hosting the Plaskett telescope are included in admission to the Centre of the Universe, which has reopened at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Central Saanich off West Saanich Road. (Black Press Media file photo)

Centre of the Universe reopening timely in Saanich

Release of first images from James Webb Space Telescope has people excited

Tours of the dome hosting the Plaskett telescope are included in admission to the Centre of the Universe, which has reopened at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Central Saanich off West Saanich Road. (Black Press Media file photo)
This image released by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Thursday, May 12, 2022, shows a black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way black hole is called Sagittarius A*, near the border of Sagittarius and Scorpius constellations. It is 4 million times more massive than our sun. The image was made by eight synchronized radio telescopes around the world. (Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration via AP)

Astronomers capture 1st image of Milky Way’s huge black hole

‘It burbled and gurgled as we looked at it’

This image released by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, Thursday, May 12, 2022, shows a black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way black hole is called Sagittarius A*, near the border of Sagittarius and Scorpius constellations. It is 4 million times more massive than our sun. The image was made by eight synchronized radio telescopes around the world. (Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration via AP)
Kim Venn at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in 2022. (Courtesy of UVic Photo Services)

University of Victoria astronomer’s team finds traces of first stars

Metal-poor cluster on outer edge of Milky Way galaxy a grouping of ancient stars

Kim Venn at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in 2022. (Courtesy of UVic Photo Services)
Briefly seen over a road in Kent, Wash., this fireball was seen in multiple places in B.C., including Agassiz, Abbotsford and Peachland. The event was seen on Tuesday, April 26, between 8:45 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. (Screenshot/AMS)

VIDEO: ‘Fireball’ blazes across Fraser Valley night sky

Witnesses reported event as far north as Kamloops and as far south as Portland

Briefly seen over a road in Kent, Wash., this fireball was seen in multiple places in B.C., including Agassiz, Abbotsford and Peachland. The event was seen on Tuesday, April 26, between 8:45 p.m. and 9:05 p.m. (Screenshot/AMS)
The dome of the Plaskett telescope at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, located on top of Observatory Hill off West Saanich Road can be seen for miles around the area. The observatory will host its first public star party since the pandemic began as part of a full slate of International Astronomy Day celebrations on May 7 in Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Astronomy day events in Greater Victoria to launch a summer of star parties

Royal B.C. Museum hosting day events May, evening viewing shifts to Observatory Hill

The dome of the Plaskett telescope at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, located on top of Observatory Hill off West Saanich Road can be seen for miles around the area. The observatory will host its first public star party since the pandemic began as part of a full slate of International Astronomy Day celebrations on May 7 in Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Venus and Jupiter appear close together in the sky during a conjunction. (Wikimedia Commons)

Venus Jupiter conjunction this weekend kicks off a 5-day show in the skies

Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will be visible, plus a meteor shower next week

Venus and Jupiter appear close together in the sky during a conjunction. (Wikimedia Commons)
An asteroid that circles our sun on a wide orbit between the planets of Mars and Jupiter is now named after Skookum Jim Mason, the Tagish adventurer and prospector who helped kick off the Klondike Gold Rush. (Pixabay Image)

Distant asteroid now bears Tagish adventurer Skookum Jim’s name

The renaming of the asteroid comes from a suggestion by the Yukon Astronomical Society.

An asteroid that circles our sun on a wide orbit between the planets of Mars and Jupiter is now named after Skookum Jim Mason, the Tagish adventurer and prospector who helped kick off the Klondike Gold Rush. (Pixabay Image)
Amateur astronomer Jaskarn “Sid” Sidhu has his own observatory set up at his house in Highlands. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Humble West Shore amateur astronomer not one to bask in glow of asteroid naming

Jaskarn Singh ‘Sid’ Sidhu a dedicated volunteer with Victoria branch of astronomical society

Amateur astronomer Jaskarn “Sid” Sidhu has his own observatory set up at his house in Highlands. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Dr. Chris Willott of the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre in Saanich served as co-lead for Canada’s contribution to the James Webb Space Telescope. (Photo Courtesy of Chris Willott)

Space telescope to explore earliest galaxies thanks to work of Greater Victoria scientists

Team at Herzberg research centre helped design the James Webb Space Telescope

Dr. Chris Willott of the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Centre in Saanich served as co-lead for Canada’s contribution to the James Webb Space Telescope. (Photo Courtesy of Chris Willott)
Sean Baxandall was driving south of Campbell River when he saw a bright flash of light (centre of screen) moving fast through the sky on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. (SCREENSHOT FROM VIDEO)

VIDEO: Loud boom, bright light likely a meteor, says Vancouver Island seismologist

Island-wide reports are tell-tale signs of an exploding meteor

Sean Baxandall was driving south of Campbell River when he saw a bright flash of light (centre of screen) moving fast through the sky on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. (SCREENSHOT FROM VIDEO)
This Andromeda Galaxy photo was snapped by Qualicum Beach’s Ron Fisher from his backyard using a Canon EOS with a 300mm telephoto lens on an equatorial tracking mount. (Ron Fisher photo)

Vancouver Island man captures photo of Andromeda Galaxy from his backyard

Fisher uses Canon EOS with 300mm lens to snap pic

This Andromeda Galaxy photo was snapped by Qualicum Beach’s Ron Fisher from his backyard using a Canon EOS with a 300mm telephoto lens on an equatorial tracking mount. (Ron Fisher photo)
Randy Enkin, president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Victoria, uses a sextant, a tool used to determine angles between the horizon and a celestial body such as a star. (Photo by Eva Bild)

Weather poised to present ideal Perseid meteor shower for viewers in Greater Victoria

Seek dark skies away from the city for best views, astronomer says

Randy Enkin, president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Victoria, uses a sextant, a tool used to determine angles between the horizon and a celestial body such as a star. (Photo by Eva Bild)
Photo captured by Victoria’s Robert (Lucky) Budd on June 3 shows Jupiter’s stripes, and one of its moons (photo on right). (Lucky Budd/Twitter)

Victoria writer, now photographer, captures Jupiter in daytime shot

Lucky Budd’s image shared nearly 5,000 times on Twitter

Photo captured by Victoria’s Robert (Lucky) Budd on June 3 shows Jupiter’s stripes, and one of its moons (photo on right). (Lucky Budd/Twitter)
Greater Victoria residents can celebrate International Astronomy Day May 15 with a virtual ‘Star Party’ hosted by the Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Royal Astronomical Society. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tour UVic’s telescope and chat with astronomers during Greater Victoria’s ‘Star Party’

Virtual event celebrates International Astronomy Day May 15

Greater Victoria residents can celebrate International Astronomy Day May 15 with a virtual ‘Star Party’ hosted by the Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and the Royal Astronomical Society. (Black Press Media file photo)
Bill Almond’s observatory in its new home on a Saanich lakeside. (Submitted/Cameron Burton)

Colwood stargazing dome makes a move to Saanich

The backyard structure finds a new home after 30 years

Bill Almond’s observatory in its new home on a Saanich lakeside. (Submitted/Cameron Burton)
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

Jupiter and Saturn align in our skies tonight, to form the Great Conjunction

Stargazers typically gather in groups at observatories or with backyard telescopes for such events

  • Dec 21, 2020
In this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020 photo made available by NASA, Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Luray, Va. The two planets are drawing closer to each other in the sky as they head towards a “great conjunction” on Monday, Dec. 21, where the two giant planets will appear a tenth of a degree apart. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
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