When is the Observatory open?
On most Saturday nights, beginning April 24, 2010, bring the kids 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, though, come on over! 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 mid-June with 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 2010
Date 2010
|
Program |
First Show Time |
Second Show
|
| April 24 |
Observing Night - International Astronomy Day |
8:30pm - 11:30pm |
Clouded out |
| May 1 |
Observing Night |
8:30pm - 11:00pm |
Clouded out |
| May 8 |
Observing Night |
8:30 pm- 11:00pm |
Rain |
| May 15 |
No Program |
|
|
| May 22 |
Observing Night |
9:00pm - 11:00pm |
Overcast |
| May 29 |
DDO 75th Anniversary Celebration
|
4pm - 11pm |
Fantastic !! |
| June 5 |
Observing Night |
9:00pm - 11:00pm |
|
| June 12 |
Observing Night |
9:00pm - 11:00pm |
|
| June 19 |
Stargazing - Dr. Roberto Abraham |
9:00pm |
10:00pm |
| June 26 |
Stargazing - Dr. Anne-Marie Weijmans |
9:00pm |
10:00pm |
| July 3 |
No Program - Canada Day Weekend |
|
|
| July 10 |
Stargazing with Dr. Rene Breton |
9:00pm |
10:00pm |
| July 17 |
Stargazing with Paul Delaney |
9:00pm |
10:00pm |
| July 24 |
Stargazing with Dr. Rupinder Brar |
9:00pm |
10:00pm |
| July 31 |
No Program |
|
|
| August 7 |
Stargazing with Elizabeth Harper-Clark |
8:30pm |
9:30pm |
| August 12 |
Perseid Meteor Shower (weather permitting) |
|
|
| August 14 |
No Program |
|
|
| August 21 |
Stargazing with Dr. John Percy |
8:30pm |
9:30pm |
| August 28 |
Stargazing with Dr. Chris Matzner |
8:00pm |
9:00pm |
| September 4 |
Observing Night only- no lecture |
8:00pm - 10:30pm |
|
| September 11 |
No Program |
|
|
| September 18 |
Stargazing with Dr. Michael De Robertis |
7:30pm |
8:30pm |
| September 25 |
Stargazing with Dr. Doug Welch |
7:30pm |
8:30pm |
| October 2 |
Stargazing with Paul Delaney |
7:30pm |
8:30pm |
| October 16 |
Observing Night only - no lecture |
7:30 - 10:00pm |
|
| October 23 |
Stargazing with Dr. Rupinder Brar |
7:30pm |
8:30pm |
| October 30 |
Halloween Stargazing Night |
7:30 - 10:00pm |
|
July 10, 2010 - Dr. Rene Breton, University of Toronto
"A Tour of the most Extreme Objects in our Universe" . Dr. Rene Breton is a post doctoral researcher at the University of Toronto. In his talk we'll
have a look at the biggest star, the fastest star, the biggest black hole, the most distant galaxy and other extreme objects that have been found.
July 17, 2010 - Paul Delaney, York University
"Kepler Mission Update". Mr. Delaney is the Director of the Department of Natural Science at York University. He has been a Top-10 finalist on TVO's Best Lecturer in Ontario Competition over several years. He is regularly seen and heard on TV and radio describing astronomical and space related events. For this evenings talk, he will provide an update of NASA's Kepler Mission that is hunting for earth-like worlds beyond our solar system.
July 24, 2010 - Dr. Rupinder Brar. University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
"Exoplanets: The Search for Other Earths". Dr. Brar won TVO's 2010 Best Lecturer in Ontario Competition. He was one of 970 nominees of the competition. Dr. Brar will discuss the exciting field of hunting for worlds outside our solar system.
August 7, 2010 - Elizabeth Harper-Clark, University of Toronto.
"The Science Behind the Beauty". Ms Harper-Clark is a PhD candidate in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto. There are so many beautiful images of astronomical objects now available from nebulae to the rings of Saturn. In this talk she will show some of her favorite astronomical images and explain the science behind what makes them so beautiful.
August 21, 2010 - Dr. John Percy, University of Toronto
"Variable Stars and Pro-Am Collaborations". Dr. Percy is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto.
August 28, 2010 - Dr. Chris Matzner, University of Toronto.
"Stars, atoms and us". As Joni Mitchell once sang, "we are starust, [siz] billion year old carbon". Dr. Matzner will conduct a brief tour of the life of atoms in the Cosmos and the role of cosmic atoms in the creation of stars, planets, and life, drawing examples from the sky and from the ground. Dr. Matzner is a Professor in the Deptartment of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto.
September 18, 2010 - Dr. Michael De Robertis, York University.
Dr. De Robertis is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and his research interests are in the formation and structure of galaxies. He is also a member of the Ontario Skeptics Society for Critical Inquiry. Last year he gave us an amazing talk about Black Holes.
September 25, 2010 - Dr. Doug Welch, McMaster University
"Supernova Light Echoes". Dr. Welch is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at McMaster University and Vice-President of the Canadian Astronomical Society. He is author of the illustrated children's book, "Amazing Facts about Australia's Southern Skies" and has also been a regular on the Slacker Astronomy Podcast series.
The spectacularly bright and transformational events known as supernovae are being studied in a brand new way. The light cast in all directions from these titanic explosion is sometimes scattered in our direction by dust clouds between the stars. When located, these "light echoes" allow us to study the actual outburst centuries after it was first seen on Earth. He'll talk will discuss his discovery of light echoes and what they've learned from them in the past five years.
October 2, 2010 - Paul Delaney, York University
"The History of Space Exploration". Mr. Delaney is the Director of the Department of Natural Science at York University. He has been a top-ten finalist on TVO's Best Lecturer in Ontario Competition over several years. He is regularly seen and heard on TV and radio describing astronomical and space related events. For this evenings talk, he will provide historical insight into our journey into space.
October 23, 2010 - Dr. Rupinder Brar. University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
"topic TBA. Back by popular demand, Dr. Brar won TVO's 2010 Best Lecturer in Ontario Competition. He was one of 970 nominees of the competition.