Join Dr. John Percy, Professor Emeritus, Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto as he discusses the amazing universe. Learn about alien worlds, extraterrestrial life, the birth and death of stars, cosmic catastrophes, black holes, dark matter and dark energy. The real universe, and the study of it.

Pulsars are magnetized spinning neutron stars that emit a beam of radiation. Since the first pulsar was discovered in 1967, thousands have been detected since, and they continue to be one of the most interesting objects in the sky. In this talk, Nikhil Mahajan will go over the history of pulsar astronomy, the reasons why we care about pulsars, and of course, what pulsars really are. Hopefully, this talk will leave you with an understanding of what current pulsar research is all about, and what it may lead to in the future.

Almost a century ago, Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxies appear to be moving away from us and that farther galaxies moved at faster rates. This discovery revolutionized our view of the Universe and started the field of modern cosmology. Ever since, astronomers have been trying to better measure the expansion of the Universe, the Hubble constant, using numerous standard candles.

Enjoy and learn about the night sky through an engaging presentation delivered by an astronomer. Learn about history, mythology and how to identify star constellations overhead.

Elizabeth Muir, author of Canadian Women in the Sky: 100 Years of Flight, tells the story of how women in Canada first boarded planes, then became pilots and eventually astronauts. For more information, call Business, Science & Technology Dept. 416-395-5613

Presenter: Heather Fong, Graduate Student, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics. The direct detections of gravitational waves mark a monumental breakthrough in physics and astronomy. Gravitational waves - ripples in the fabric of spacetime - were first predicted to exist by Albert Einstein in his theory of general relativity.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm For thousands of years, humans have studied the heavens from the confines of the Earth. In the last century, however, we have begun sending both people and machines to other worlds. Where have we gone, and what discoveries have we made? This planetarium show will delve into the history of space exploration, from the first tentative steps made during the Space Race to the first-ever flyby of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft and the ongoing mission of the Juno probe to study Jupiter.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm For thousands of years, humans have studied the heavens from the confines of the Earth. In the last century, however, we have begun sending both people and machines to other worlds. Where have we gone, and what discoveries have we made? This planetarium show will delve into the history of space exploration, from the first tentative steps made during the Space Race to the first-ever flyby of Pluto by the New Horizons spacecraft and the ongoing mission of the Juno probe to study Jupiter.

Come join the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers this November 19th between 1 and 4pm for their Telescope Clinic and Open House! At this event you’ll find knowledgable amateur astronomers with their telescopes and gear on display and available to answer questions. This is a great opportunity if you’re thinking about getting into astronomy! Learn where to get started, the type of gear you should buy and, more importantly, avoid. Already an amateur astronomer?

An illustrated, non-technical presentation that will describe the astronomy of civilizations ranging from the seagoing Polynesians, to the builders of Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, to our own First Nations. Also being mentioned will be the astronomy of China, India, and the Islamic world, since it is often under-appreciated. Throughout, we will emphasize the challenge of understanding the astronomy of long ago, in civilizations which, in many cases, left no written records. Drop-in program. First come, first seated.