VASTROC 2025

VASTROC 2025 – Victoria’s Premier Astronomy Gathering

Date: Saturday, August 9th, 2025

Time: Doors open at 8:30am, program begins at 9:00am

Location: Eden Oak Geelong, 20 Adams Court, East Geelong VIC 3219

Hosted by: The Astronomical Society of Victoria – Geelong Section

🎟️ Day Pass: $145 (includes all talks, morning tea & lunch)

🍽️ Dinner Function Add-On: $50 (includes evening meal & Q&A panel)

Accommodation: Eden Oak https://www.edenoak.com.au/ (If Required)

Join us for VASTROC 2025, a full-day celebration of astronomy, science, and community in the tranquil garden surrounds of Eden Oak Geelong. Hosted by the ASV Geelong Section, this event brings together space enthusiasts, educators, amateur astronomers, and experts from across the state for a day of stellar inspiration and connection.

Enjoy presentations from 15 engaging speakers exploring topics from radio astronomy to STEM education, space exploration, and everything in between.
SCHEDULE:

EVENT START

Saturday August 9th. Doors open at 8am Speaker Topic

9:00am - 9:30am Trevor Hand - Meteorites

9:35am - 10:05pm Dr Saeed Salimpour - Observatories, Ogres, and Starships

10:10am - 10:40am Mark Iscaro - Dark Sky Locations and Mobile Phone Astrophotography

Morning Tea - 10:45am (20 Minutes)

11:10am - 11:40am Chris Morley - 20 years as an amateur astronomer

11:45am - 12:35pm - Keynote Stephen Slater - Footsteps on the Moon

Lunch - 12:40pm - 1:35pm (55 minutes)

1:40pm - 2:10pm Kelly Clitheroe - Dark Skies for Mental Health

2:15pm - 2:45pm Bruno Zielke - How big is the universe and what shape is it?

2:50pm - 3:20pm Dr Jacob Crossett - Jellyfish Galaxies

Afternoon Tea - 3:25pm (20 Minutes)

3:50pm - 4:40pm - Keynote Dr Eileen O'Healy - 50 Ways to Die in Space

4:45pm - 5:15pm Prof Duane Hamacher - How Aboriginal traditions describing supernovae can guide astrophysical observations

5:20pm - 5:30pm Thanks and door prize draws.

END DAY SESSIONS - 6:00pm (Room cleared to be reset for dinner)

WHAT'S IN THE SKY - Live - 6:30 - 6:55pm Bill Stent What's In The Sky for August

DINNER FUNCTION

(Keynote) 7:00pm Dylan O'Donnell - Not Just Pretty Pictures : The intersection between Science and Astrophotography

PANEL

8:00pm - 8:45pm Dylan O'Donnell, Dr Eileen O'Healy & Prof Duane Hamacher - Panel discussion on all things astronomy.

Keynote Speakers:

🔭 Dylan O'Donnell – Astrophotographer & Science Communicator

🌌 Eileen O'Healy – Educator, Presenter & Astronomy Outreach Advocate

Special Guests Include:

🎬 Stephen Slater – Acclaimed Archival Director of Apollo 8: Unseen, Apollo 11, and the newly released Sally Ride documentary

⭐ Bill Stent – “The Telescope Gent” guiding us on a Tour of the Night Sky

Included with your Day Pass:

☕ Morning Tea & 🥗 Lunch

🎤 Access to all speaker sessions

🔭 Telescope Viewing Session (weather permitting)

Optional Add-On:

🍽️ Evening Dinner Function featuring a special Q&A Panel with Dylan O'Donnell, Eileen O'Healy, Duane Hamacher, and another guest (TBC). A perfect way to end the day with great company and cosmic conversation.

A full speaker lineup will be released soon — stay tuned!