The David Dunlap Observatory

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The Dome

The Observatory with its iconic blue door has been the subject of countless photographs. One of the best we've seen is by Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers.

Join Us!

Would you like to learn more about astronomy? The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre, runs a variety of programs at the DDO, the Ontario Science Centre and many other locations to put the universe at your fingertips. Contact the Society at http://toronto.rasc.ca/

Be a friend of the DDO on Facebook! Get regular updates on DDO happenings by clicking here.

We're on Youtube! Thanks to Toronto Centre member Eric Briggs for creatively marking the return of the David Dunlap Observatory.

Thanks to the more than 2000 people who brought their lawn chairs, blankets, binoculars and enthusiasm to our Perseid Meteor Night.

We hope you enjoyed the show.

Photograph by Yuri Murenko

September 4, 2010. No stargazing program tonight due to poor weather.

PLEASE BE AWARE

Some of our visitors this summer have asked whether their donations to the so-called ‘DDO Defenders’ help support the David Dunlap Observatory. You should know that the ‘DDO Defenders’ have no connection with the David Dunlap Observatory or with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Toronto Centre. No money donated to the Defenders to ‘save’ the DDO has ever been offered to the Observatory to support the facility or its programs.

In fact, the Observatory has never needed saving. RASC-Toronto Centre volunteers have been proud to run a wide variety of education and outreach programs at the David Dunlap Observatory for the past two years and we plan to continue expanding the range of activities and programs over the coming years. Our costs – for maintaining the Observatory and the Great Telescope – are underwritten by modest ticket fees for our regular Saturday public programs and other activities.

A Stellar Experience

The David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill, Ontario, houses the largest telescope in Canada.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre, operates the 74-inch reflecting telescope and is providing public education and outreach programs at the DDO. The Society has been involved with the David Dunlap Observatory since it first opened its doors in 1935 and we're proud to be part of its renaissance as an educational facility.

Public events are held most Saturday nights from early summer through the fall months. For more information check out the Schedule and Tickets page. We have limited space available for public viewing nights and tickets book up quickly.

We hope that you'll join us for public viewing nights and many special events under the stars.

Stargazing September 18, 2010 with Dr. Michael De Robertis, York University

"The Moon: Changing views of our nearest neighbour". This illustrated talk will explore why there has been such a renewed interest in the Moon.

For more information check out the Schedule and Tickets page

SkyView

photo by: K. Meema

The Moon through the 74-inch DDO telescope, courtesy David Wing.

2010 Star Talk Season

It’s time for another season of checking out the planet Saturn, the surface of the Moon and a sky full of space wonders through the largest optical telescope in Canada.

The Observatory is home to a wide range of public viewing nights, special events and educational programs. Visiting the 23-ton Great Telescope is an awe-inspiring experience. You definitely don’t have to be a rocket scientist to enjoy the view through the big scope or the many smaller scopes on the lawn set up by Toronto Centre members.

This season’s Star Talk program offers chats with Canada’s foremost astrophysicists, space scientists and experts in a wide variety of space-related fields. All share an ability to bring vividly to life complex subjects like black holes and the search for life on other worlds.

You'll find our 2010 schedule for programs at the DDO.

We marked the 75th anniversary of the David Dunlap Observatory with a StarBQ on May 29. Check out the pictures on our History page.

RASC - Toronto Centre members sharing the sky with the public circa 1975

Space News