Dr. Roberto Abraham, Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto

Presented by John Percy, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and Dunlap Institute

International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is an annual worldwide public engagement program that encourages observation, appreciation, and understanding of our Moon and its connection to NASA planetary science and exploration. Everyone on Earth is invited to join the celebration by hosting or attending an InOMN event. Join McMaster's Sidewalk Astronomy in observing the Moon through a telescope!

With Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry and his collaborators envisioned a future where technological innovation has led to a post-scarcity society, one where resources like food, shelter, and energy are abundant and available to all. This premise is crucial to understanding Star Trek's universe: technology is the key to social equity.

Debuting at the height of the US-Soviet Space Race, Star Trek offered an alternative to the adversarial ideology then underlying space exploration in the United Federation of Planets. A kind of intergalactic United Nations, the Federation is dedicated to preserving peace between species, ridding the known universe of war, inequality, hunger, and disease, and upholding the values of cooperation, equality, justice and liberty for all.

Since its debut in 1966, Star Trek has inspired people to pursue their passions and dreams in a variety of fields, from science and engineering to technology and the arts. From Martin Cooper, who invented the portable cellular phone in 1973 inspired by Captain Kirk's communicator, to Dr. Mae Jemison, whose admiration of Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Uhura led her to realize her dream to become the first African American woman in space, Star Trek has motivated fans to realize its ideals in their own lives.

Premiering three years before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Star Trek helped catalyze the public's curiosity about space travel and the existence of life beyond our planet

Many people have deeply-held misconceptions about the most basic of astronomical topics, such as the cause of the seasons. In this profusely-illustrated, non-technical presentation, we will gently "correct" a wide variety of these "heavenly errors," from everyday life to exotic black holes to the birth of the universe. Simple demonstrations will be used, where possible.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm In 1977 two small probes, Voyager 1 and 2, were launched from Earth with a mission to study the outer solar system. Both spacecraft visited Jupiter and Saturn, and Voyager 2 passed by Uranus and Neptune, returning images to Earth which allowed us to make surprising discoveries about these distant planets. Now these probes are entering interstellar space, making them the furthest man-made objects from the Earth!

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm In 1977 two small probes, Voyager 1 and 2, were launched from Earth with a mission to study the outer solar system. Both spacecraft visited Jupiter and Saturn, and Voyager 2 passed by Uranus and Neptune, returning images to Earth which allowed us to make surprising discoveries about these distant planets. Now these probes are entering interstellar space, making them the furthest man-made objects from the Earth!