Everyone is invited to join us and Durham Skies on September 30 for stargazing at the edge of Lake Ontario. Take a free look through different kinds of telescopes to get close-up views of craters on the Moon and spectacular Saturn and its rings! Learn the names of the stars of autumn and the constellation patterns they form. Peer deep into space and try your hand at spotting faint star clusters and nebulae. You can even bring your own telescope along and we'll give you advice on how to use it better.

Watch the live stream of Matt Russo's talk “Harmony of the Rings” at 8:00pm https://www.youtube.com/c/SYSTEMSounds

Watch the recorded video: https://youtu.be/RTeEyn0VG3k

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 pollution, there is so much to see. We usually observe from Long Sault Conservation Area, but this month we will be going to Glen Major Forest. Observing will begin around dusk in the parking lot. We will hold this event on the first clear night of our week-long window, so the exact date will be determined closer to the event.

Join the Yukon Centre with special guest Dr. Phil Plait from 10:00pm–midnight (EDT). Come discover the mysteries of our northern skies and what can be seen when the northern lights can’t. Impress your guests with interpretation of the northern lights and wow them with your knowledge of what lies beyond.

Hover above the moon like an astronaut and get eye-to-eye with the planets. Find colourful stars, star clusters, bright nebulae and even another galaxy. Our monthly City Star Party is the place to catch universe from within the city limits at Bayview Village Park. If you don't have a telescope then you will find many astronomers who would love to share a view. If you are thinking of buying a telescope, viewing with other people's equipment is the best way to make a good choice. If you have a telescope or binoculars, please bring it!

Dark matter is puzzling. We can't see or touch it, but we believe it makes up about 85% of the matter in the Universe. Canadian astronomers are at the forefront of the search for the true nature of this elusive substance. Join us on Monday, October 23rd for an evening of fascinating talks in celebration of Dark Matter Day. From the first evidence for dark matter in distant galaxies to cutting-edge tools for detecting dark matter right here on Earth, this is your chance to find out what dark matter is, why it matters, and how we'll find it.

Speaker: B. Ralph Chou, MSc, OD, Professor Emeritus, Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo Even the healthiest eyes undergo changes as they age. Ralph will describe some of the most common changes that occur in aging eyes. These changes can affect our ability to enjoy visual astronomy but modern technology may help to reduce the effects.

We’ve created a research lab in space. But can man really live beyond Earth’s orbit? Astronauts provide a unique perspective on both the challenges of living in a microgravity environment and the opportunities of human space missions. What are the extreme challenges of a long-term spaceflight on the body and psyche? Is there such a thing as a space gene? Does  Mars hold the key to life in space?

Everyone is invited to join us and Durham Skies on October 28 for stargazing at the edge of Lake Ontario. Take a free look through different kinds of telescopes to get close-up views of craters on the Moon and distant planets Uranus and Neptune! Learn the names of the stars of autumn and the constellation patterns they form. Peer deep into space and try your hand at spotting faint star clusters and nebulae.