The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is a new and powerful radio telescope that has recently completed construction on a high plateau in northern Chile. The first science results from ALMA include a stunning array of images of astronomical sources ranging from very young stars that are still in the process of forming to galaxies at the limits of the visible universe. Professor Christine Wilson has been involved with ALMA in a variety of roles throughout its design and construction and will give an overview of the telescope itself as well as some of its most exciting science.

Prof. Victoria Kaspi, Department of Physics, McGill University Neutron stars are a celestial gift to scientists. These incredibly dense collapsed stars act as very precise cosmic beacons that help shed light on some of the most challenging problems in modern physics. In her Feb. 3 talk at Perimeter Institute, astrophysicist Victoria Kaspi will explore these strange objects, explain how astronomers are using them to study issues ranging from the origins of the universe to the very nature of matter, and even let the audience hear the cosmic symphony they create.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm Centuries before Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter, scientists in the Middle East were building the first cameras and developing the physics of light. Without the benefit of modern technologies, they took some of the first steps in understanding the motions of the planets and in explaining the nature of the Universe.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm Centuries before Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter, scientists in the Middle East were building the first cameras and developing the physics of light. Without the benefit of modern technologies, they took some of the first steps in understanding the motions of the planets and in explaining the nature of the Universe.

Quench your thirst for astronomy! On Thursday, February 11th, at the Tranzac Club! It'll be another fun evening of pints, mind-expanding talks, games and prizes with astronomers from the University of Toronto. Plus, following all the talks and games, there'll be plenty of time and plenty of astronomers around to answer all your cosmic questions.

This is the 13th annual symposium organized by ASX and this year we'll be asking "is this science or fiction?" about topics from aliens to cosmology. We are also pleased to announce that Justin Trottier, the co-founder of ASX, will be our MC for this event. Come join us for an exciting night! We are honored to be featuring Professor Fred Adams, cosmologist at the University of Michigan and co-author of “The Five Ages of the Universe,” Professor Lynn Rothschild of the NASA AMES Research Centre and Brian Trent, science fiction writer and author of “The Nightmare Lights of Mars.”

The quest for ever-clearer views of the sky has driven astronomers to put telescopes in such remote places as the centre of Antarctica. Professor Keith Vanderlinde talks about his work with the 10m South Pole Telescope, and the science that convinced him to undertake an eleven-month "winterover" position. Drop-in program. First come, first seated.

For thousands of years, people have wondered whether life exists anywhere other than on Earth. With recent discoveries of hundreds of potentially habitable planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, we are tantalizingly close to answering this question.

The stars of the night sky appear gentle, peaceful and unchanging. But this is a lie. The Universe is a violent and catastrophic place, with dozens of tools at its disposal to wipe out all life on Earth with almost no warning. Astronomers are still only beginning to appreciate the true scope of the dramatic forces that drive the Universe's evolution. With Dr. Bryan Gaensler from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics. Drop-in program. Limited space. First come, first seated.

Showtimes: 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm Centuries before Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter, scientists in the Middle East were building the first cameras and developing the physics of light. Without the benefit of modern technologies, they took some of the first steps in understanding the motions of the planets and in explaining the nature of the Universe.