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?

Cosmichronos is an exhibition of new images from photographer Nathan Cyprys, exploring the cosmic perspective as it relates to humanity. Capturing light from distant stars, documenting SETI researchers and visiting a meteor impact site, this work bridges Cyprys’ arts-based and documentary approach. Contrasting the mysticism of human existence with the pragmatism of the scientific method, Cyprys implores his viewer to consider deep time on the cosmic scale.

The two Voyager spacecraft were launched in 1977 - 40 years ago. Over a period of 12 years, they explored the four outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The discoveries changed our understanding of our solar system.

International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is an annual world-wide public event that NASA organizes to help celebrate, appreciate, and understand our Moon. BeSpatial Consulting is proud to host InOMN in the City of Mississauga! Join us on October 28th in the Frank Bean Lounge at Mississauga Valley Community Centre from 6:30pm to 9:00p and learn about our Moon through various activities. Open to the general public and all age-groups!

A century ago, Gustav Holst had 7 planets to inspire his composition, The Planets. With Earth, these were the known worlds. Holst evoked the planets’ astrological characteristics, assigned in the distant past by sky watchers trying to make sense of their world.

The quest for ever-clearer views of the sky has driven astronomers to put telescopes in some pretty remote places, ranging from arid deserts, to the tops of mountains, and even the middle 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 working on-location with the telescope.

The night sky is shared by everyone on Earth and every culture has its own experience with the stars and sky. In this special AstroTour event, you’ll explore the night sky from the perspective of the Indigenous people of North America.

As a child, Quebec native Pauline Gagnon dreamed of understanding what the universe was really made of. As an adult, she studied exactly that, working at the largest experiment ever built, CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. In her role as a Senior Research Scientist, based at Indiana University and working at CERN, she searched for dark matter particles in the decays of the famous Higgs boson, in the form of hypothetical particles called dark photons.