The Observatory is open on most Saturday nights from the end of June until the end of October. It's your chance to see the Universe! If the sky is clear, volunteers from the RASC, Toronto Centre will set up their telescopes on the lawn of The DDO, targeting various celestial sights. You may see everything from craters on the Moon to the rings of Saturn, to galaxies, nebula and comets.
We offer two types of programs. Observing Nights are more casual. We open only if the weather cooperates. If it's clear, drop-in anytime during the posted times! The Observatory will be open for public viewing and our volunteers will be out in force, offering you lots of different ways to enjoy the night sky. There is no guest speaker scheduled for these nights. On Observing Nights you just pay at the door. ($5 for adults and $2 for children)
Our main summer program begins in late-June with Observing Nights. In July we begin our Star Talk nights. These evenings begin with a 30-minute illustrated talk given by a Canadian astronomer or space expert in the main lecture hall. These talks are geared for all ages (no math) and focus on exciting projects involving Canadian space scientists. Inside the Observatory we have experts on hand with all the latest space news and the answers to your wildest astronomical questions. If the sky is clear, you'll be treated to a view through Canada's largest optical telescope.
If the weather doesn't cooperate, we still conduct the illustrated talk and tours, multi-media presentations, astro-chats and a tour of one of Canada's finest heritage landmarks. You'll also have the opportunity to look through the big scope another night. Just hang onto your tickets and bring them to an Observing Night. Tickets for Star Talk nights are $10 for adults, $5 for youth (age 13-17) and $2 for children (age 7-12). We're only able to accomodate a limited number of people for these popular events, so please book ahead.
Summer Program 2011
Date 2011
|
Program |
First Show Time |
Second Show
|
| May 7 |
International Astronomy Day (weather permitting) |
8:30pm -11:30pm |
|
| June 25 |
Observing Night Cancelled - Overcast Skies
|
9:00pm -11:30pm |
|
| July 2 |
Observing Night |
9:00pm -11:30pm |
|
| July 9 |
Stargazing with Wayne Parker |
9:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
10:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
| July 16 |
Stargazing with Randy Attwood |
9:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
10:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
| July 23 |
Stargazing with Dr. Rene Breton |
9:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
10:00pm |
| July 30 |
Observing Night |
9:00pm -11:30pm |
Drop-in. Pay at the door |
| August 6 |
Stargazing - with Paul Mortfield |
8:30pm
SOLD OUT
|
9:30pm |
| August 12 |
Perseid Meteor Shower (open only if weather permitting) |
9:00pm -midnight |
Drop-in |
| August 13 |
Stargazing with Dr. Ann-Marie Weijmans |
8:30pm
SOLD OUT
|
9:30pm
SOLD OUT
|
| August 20 |
Stargazing with Dr. Michael De Robertis |
8:30pm |
9:30pm |
| August 27 |
Stargazing Stargazing with Michael Lennick |
8:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
9:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
| September 3 |
Observing NIght |
8:30pm - 11:00pm |
Drop-in. Pay at the door |
| September 10 |
Stargazing with Dr. John Percy |
8:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
9:00pm
SOLD OUT
|
| September 17 |
No Program |
|
|
| September 24 |
No Program |
|
|
| October 1 |
Stargazing - Jozef Winter & Dave Kobayashi |
7:30pm |
8:30pm |
| October 8 |
Observing Night |
7:30pm - 10:00pm |
Drop-in. Pay at the door |
| October 15 |
Stargazing with Dr. Roberto Abraham |
7:30pm |
8:30pm |
| October 22 |
Stargazing with Dr. Michael Reid |
7:30pm
SOLD OUT
|
8:30pm
SOLD OUT
|
| October 29 |
Observing Night - Cancelled. Overcast skies |
7:30pm - 10:00pm |
Cancelled. Overcast skies |
July 9, 2011 - Wayne Parker, Glass Tiger & SkyShed Observatories
"Astronomy on Tour". Wayne Parker is the bass player for the 5 time Juno Award winning band Glass Tiger. He'll recount his ongoing experiences of finding time to pursue his other passion for astronomy while touring with the band. When not on tour he heads a company that has created affordable backyard observatories that are sold around the world.
July 16, 2011 - Randy Attwood, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
"The Space Shuttle Program Winds Down - a personal look at the last two missions"
Randy Attwood has been following the space program for over 40 years and witnessed 13 spacecraft launches. He is a Senior Editor with SpaceRef International Group and the Managing Editor of a new Canadian and International magazine called Space Quarterly. He is also a past President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and is currently president of the Earthshine Astronomy and Space Science Organization, an astronomy and space education not for profit charity and president of the Mississauga Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
July 23, 2011 - Dr. Rene Breton, Dept of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto.
"Celestial Fireworks: The Origin of Meteor Showers". Anyone who has been observing the sky on a summer night knows that they should make a wish when they see a shooting star. Mid-August is particularly amazing because of the Perseids meteor shower during which 50 to 100 shooting stars illuminates the sky per hour at the peak of the event. Did you ever wonder what physical phenomenon gives rise to this celestial fireworks? It's nothing less romantic than simple sand grains and dirt left behind by comets that came close to Sun. In this presentation, I will explain what are comets, how do meteor showers work, and everything you need to know about them.
August 6, 2011 - Paul Mortfield, RASC, David Dunlap Observatory.
"The Sun & Spaceweather". Mr. Mortfield will talk about the Sun and the impact our local star has on our technology dependent society.
Mr. Mortfield has worked on NASA's Solar & Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft misson to study the sun. He has hosted many educational science broadcasts on NASA-TV, and monitors solar flares using radio telescopes. In his spare time he photographs outer space with a remote controlled telescope in California and plays blues piano.
August 13, 2011 - Dr. Ann-Marie Weijmans, Dunlap Institute, University of Toronto.
"The Quest for Dark Matter". Dr. Weijmans joins us again this summer to discuss another one of her favorite topics in our journey to understand the universe.
Dr. Weijmans' research studies the properties of the outer regions and dark haloes of nearby elliptical and lenticular galaxies. In her free time she plays oboe in the North Toronto Community Band.
August 20, 2011 - Dr. Michael De Robertis, Department of Physics & Astronomy, York University.
"Adaptive Optics". Dr. De Robertis will discuss the advances in technology that allow ground based telescopes to compete with space telescopes in revealing fine details and exquisite images of space.
Dr. De Robertis is a Professor at York University with research interests in the formation and structure of galaxies. He is also a member of the Ontario Skeptics Society for Critical Inquiry. His past talks at our summer programs have been about Black Holes, and The Moon.
August 27, 2011 - Michael Lennick, Director, Foolish Earthling Productions.
"Mars Attacks". Filmmaker and historian Michael Lennick invokes our centuries-old obsession with the planet Mars. He'll take us on an epic journey through space and time inspired by science, science fiction and the blood-red planet next door.
Mr. Lennick is an award winning filmmaker creating uniquely entertaining science, space and SciFi based films, documentaries and TV specials including Discovery Channel's "Rocket Science"
September 10, 2011 - Dr. John Percy, Professor Emeritus, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics , University of Toronto.
"A Century of Citizen Science in Astronomy". Did you know that "ordinary" people like you with binoculars and backyard telescopes can make important contributions to the frontier of astronomical research? No PhD needed. The American Association of Variable Star Observers has been doing this since 1911. Come and find out how by observing "variable stars" you can help astronomers understand the nature, evolution and the often explosive deaths of stars.
October 1, 2011 - Jozef Winter & Dave Kobayashi
"An Uncommon View: Earth & Space from 110,000 feet". Jozef and Dave will describe their homemade space payload built from everyday items that climbed to 34km above the Earth's surface to take extraordinary photographs that only space travellers can enjoy. They'll comment on the exploits of finally recovering their payload 9 months later.
October 15, 2011 - Dr. Roberto Abraham, Professor & Associate Chair, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics , University of Toronto.
October 22, 2011 - Dr. Michael Reid, Lecturer and Educator, Dunlap Institute , University of Toronto.
"Habitable Worlds: The Search for Another Earth".
