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.

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.

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.

Speaker: Randy Attwood, Executive Director - The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Amateur astronomy has changed drastically over the past 50 years. Telescopes made in the basement have been replaced with high quality instruments capable of performing astronomical research. Those new to astronomy are confronted with computerized telescopes and unfortunately, disappearing skies due to light pollution.

What would happen to you if you fell into a black hole? Why is Dark Matter so mysterious? These are some questions that will be explored with a visual showcase of cartoons and comics. A presentation by Rina Piccolo.

Don't miss Canada's most famous astronaut on-stage at the Appel Salon, presenting the practical lessons he's learned throughout his career on collaboration, teamwork and science and technology. This event is now SOLD OUT. A very limited number of rush seats will be made available on the day of the event.

Throughout its 4.5 billion year history, life on Earth has been threatened by cataclysmic events such as extreme volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts which have caused mass extinction of species. While events like these can drastically alter the face of the Earth, the planet still remains. So what would it take to completely obliterate the Earth? Starting from birth, the evolution of solar systems and the environments they exist in can put planets towards catastrophic fates. In this talk, we will explore some of the incredible ways that nature can destroy planets.