Cold gas giant planets with long orbital periods make up half of the planets in our Solar System, yet we have observed only a handful of similar exoplanets around other stars. Is this due to the limitations set by our observation methods, or are cold giants truly rare in nature? In this talk, Miranda Herman  will explore the difficulties associated with finding such exoplanets, describe her efforts to increase the number of known cold giants, and discuss how they can inform us about the population of exoplanets as a whole.

Several space agencies have launched orbital missions over several decades, and the volume of data and imagery they have acquired is staggering. The unprecedented level of detail available has allowed scientists and engineers alike to explore surfaces well beyond Earth. Join Dr. Bhairavi Shankar as she highlights the findings and explores how and why we investigate planetary surfaces.

One of the primary goals of NASA’s landmark Kepler Space Telescope Mission, which launched in 2009, is to identify “Goldilocks” planets beyond our solar system — that is, planets orbiting other stars in our Galaxy that are just right, “neither too hot nor too cold," for hosting life as we know it.

See the milky way and galaxies with the unaided eye. Point your telescope to find the many dim deep space objects that sprinkle the sky. Away from Toronto's light polution, there is so much to see. We observe from the Long Sault Conservation area, an hour outside of Toronto. We meet around dusk once a month in the parking lot for views only seen in dark sky conditions. We hold this event on the first clear night of our week-long window, so the date and time are determined closer to.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:10pm, 9:15pm

Join us at the Ontario Science Centre for our monthly Solar Observing on the TELUSCAPE observing pad. This is the area in front of the Science Centre's entrance. We use specialized telescopes that are safe to aim at the Sun. Check our home page on the Friday prior for go/no-go calls as this event is weather dependent.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:10pm, 9:15pm The stars in the night sky seem unchanging and eternal, and have remained the same for the history of human civilization. However, over millions and billions of years, new stars are born, live out their long lives, and eventually die in a blaze of glory. In this show, we will be exploring the lives of stars by visiting stellar nurseries, supernova remnants and much more!

Join scientists from McMaster University’s Physics and Astronomy Department for an entertaining night filled with scientific discussion, trivia, and beer. At Science on Tap, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with researchers in various scientific fields as they present some of science’s most intriguing phenomena. There will be plenty of time to ask questions while the scientists are on stage, or afterwards over cold pints. Come try this educational twist on a night out at the pub. Admission is FREE! Doors open at 7:00pm, event starts at 7:30pm.

Unpack the fabric of space-time with Dr. Rainer Weiss’ exploration of gravitational waves in the era of multi-messenger astronomy. This ground-breaking discovery earned Dr. Weiss the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics, along with his work on LIGO.

The Allan I. Carswell Observatory is please to invite you to a special screening of the movie Clara on Tuesday November 27, at 7:00pm, in the Nat Taylor Cinema, N102 Ross, York University. The free screening will be followed by a Q&A with the writer/director of the movie Akash Sherman, technical advisor to the movie Dr. John Moores and Prof. Paul Delaney, the Allan I. Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:10pm, 9:15pm

Join us at the Ontario Science Centre for our monthly Solar Observing on the TELUSCAPE observing pad. This is the area in front of the Science Centre's entrance. We use specialized telescopes that are safe to aim at the Sun. Check our home page on the Friday prior for go/no-go calls as this event is weather dependent.