The recent discovery of gravitational waves marks the dawn of a new field of astronomy and provides new opportunities to study several elusive systems in the Cosmos. Compact binaries, made up of pairs of stellar remnants, are difficult to observe with traditional astronomical observations, but they are the most prolific source of gravitational waves. In this edition of Cosmos From Your Couch, Dr. Katie Breivik will do a light-speed intro of General Relativity, gravitational waves, and what we’ve learned from the 12 gravitational-wave detections to date!

Fourteen billion years ago, the universe was little more than a cloud of hot hydrogen gas. Dr. Patrick Breysse will tell the story of how that cloud of gas evolved into all of the galaxies, stars, and planets we see around us today. In the process, he’ll explain some of how astronomers study the history of the universe, and how telescopes are secretly time machines that let us look directly into the distant past. He’ll also talk about some of the great mysteries that remain in this story, and how we’re working in Toronto and elsewhere to solve them.

Physicist Naoko Kurahashi Neilson will share her experiences researching fundamental particles at the remote IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica.

Join us online to learn basic astronomy that you can do on your own from your backyard! We'll give you the tools to learn astronomy on your own at home, along with some observing goals to try. All you need is your computer! A pair of binoculars will help, but are not necessary. Sessions are always on Tuesdays at 3:30pm ET, but frequency of sessions changes.

This event unites Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide on one day each year to look at and learn about the Moon. Meet space professionals and explore Moon-related topics in a virtual setting. Get a chance to connect with organizations and people who are passionate about the Moon, space and STEAM.

Looking for a way to connect with the wider world–or maybe the wider universe during the pandemic? The Dunlap Institute and our partners from across the University of Toronto want to connect with you! Come hear about everything from old cosmic mysteries to the latest research, all from the comfort of your own couch. We’ll be presenting talks online via Zoom and YouTube.

So you’ve managed to open PixInsight, download the free Lagoon Nebula package from SkyNews and stack the LRGB and Hydrogen-alpha data into an image. Now you want to do more.

Looking for a way to connect with the wider world–or maybe the wider universe during the pandemic? The Dunlap Institute and our partners from across the University of Toronto want to connect with you! Come hear about everything from old cosmic mysteries to the latest research, all from the comfort of your own couch. We’ll be presenting talks online via Zoom and YouTube.

Attention astronomy fans! We hope after a summer break that you're rested and ready for another Astro Trivia Night! Play games, win prizes, and challenge your friends! It all starts Thursday, October 21 at 7:00pm EDT. The live link to play will be posted here, soon. Can't wait to see you there! *Please note that while anyone can play trivia games, we can only ship prizes within Canada - excluding Quebec.

Join us online to learn basic astronomy that you can do on your own from your backyard! We'll give you the tools to learn astronomy on your own at home, along with some observing goals to try. All you need is your computer! A pair of binoculars will help, but are not necessary. Sessions are always on Tuesdays at 3:30pm ET, but frequency of sessions changes.