If you have a budding young astronomer or are one yourself then this is the course for you. Offered by the Earthshine Astronomy and Space Science Organization and The Riverwood Conservancy, this four-week course is open to ages 12 and up. The course is taught by members of the Mississauga Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. On clear evenings, observing with telescopes will take place from 8:30-9:30pm, extending the course time by 30 minutes.

Dr. Christopher Matzner will discuss the ethics of spreading life beyond Earth, proposals for interstellar exploration, and ideas for how we might communicate between species across deep space. All are welcome, Palmerston Library Theatre.

Science Literacy Week is an effort to showcase the excellence and diversity of science outreach institutions around the country. By joining forces in a one week blitz of activity, the goal is to highlight just how outstanding our scientists and science communicators are coast to coast.

Join John Gauvreau of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers as he takes us on a virtual tour of the universe.

Join John Gauvreau of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers as he takes us on a virtual tour of the universe.

Join John Gauvreau of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers as he takes us on a virtual tour of the universe.

By listening to the cold, dim hiss of the universe, we can learn about its fiery beginning. Prof. Renée Hlozek's talk will focus on how cosmologists use microwave instruments to measure this birth-light. She’ll describe the telescope she uses, high up in the Atacama Desert of Chile, and what we learn about what the universe contains, how it started and ultimately how it is going to end.

This unique and lively presentation is sure to entertain all ages and is especially suitable for newcomers to astronomy. In the first half of the evening travel back to Renaissance Italy in March of 1610, where Galileo himself is portrayed as introducing you to his newest scientific instrument. Hear in his own words how he built this telescope, the observations he made, and the magnificent discoveries that even he realized would revolutionize our understanding of the heavens.

Join us to view the Perseid Meteor shower on Thursday evening August 11, 2016  WEATHER PERMITTING Please check our website www.theDDO.ca after 6pm on August 11 to check if the weather and sky conditions permit viewing of the meteors. This event will be cancelled if weather conditions are poor. If the weather permits observing the meteors, the gates will open at 9:00 pm, EDT. Event ends at Midnight.

The visible matter that we can touch and see makes up less than 5% of the Universe. The rest is made up of dark matter and dark energy, and is not yet well understood. What are these “dark” pieces of the Universe, how do we know that they exist, and what are they made out of anyway? Dr.