
12
May
Hamilton Amateur Astronomers: A Canadian Observatory Maker Success Story!
This spring, SkyShed is launching POD MAX, a “mid sized” observatory at 12.5' in diameter, and the POD MAX funding program – The Starships Project. Wayne will be focusing on these endeavors and how they will further aid the astro community, and STEM education.
Wayne Parker
When not performing as the bassist in Glass Tiger, Wayne spends his time pursuing his other passion – Astronomy.

12
May
UofT Planetarium: A Grand Tour of the Cosmos (SOLD OUT)
Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm and 9:00pm

10
May
First light spring 2017 (2/3)
If you have joined RASC Toronto Centre in the years of 2016 and 2017 and have yet to attend an orientation get-together, we would like to formally welcome you to the society and to provide information about the activities and opportunities within the Club. We shall help you get started with observing, learning, sharing and enjoying astronomy! Above all, let’s get to know each other. Let us answer questions and address curiosities about the club and discuss anything related to our hobby!

10
May
Speaker's Night: Martian weather: Is it really any different than winter in Canada?
It is commonly believed that Mars is a cold, dry place. Due in large part to orbital imagery and robotic exploration of the Martian surface we can say without a doubt that Mars is indeed dry. The temperature on Mars is a bit more complex. As is the case with Earth, Mars experiences seasons and one would likely prefer to vacation near the tropics during winter. Temperature swings are much larger on Mars than on Earth. So while it may reach 20°C at noon near the equator during the Martian summer, by midnight it might plummet to -60°C.

10
May
Beaches Library: The Science of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare lived in a remarkable time, a period we now recognize as the first phase of the scientific revolution. New ideas about the human body, the earth, and the universe were transforming western thought, and yet, "Shakespeare" and "Science" are rarely uttered in the same breath. Dan Falk will explore Shakespeare's interest in the scientific discoveries of his time, asking what he knew, when he knew it, and how that knowledge is reflected in his work.

6
May
AstroCATS 2017 (CANCELLED)
The AstroCATS Committee has sadly decided that proceeding with AstroCATS 2017 is not in the best interests of the RASC Hamilton Centre, attendees, and especially for our valued vendors. We will however, proceed with the very popular Canadian Astrophotography School (CAPS).

6
May
Solar Observing (NO GO)
Join us at the Ontario Science Centre for our monthly Solar Observing on the TELUSCAPE observing pad. This is the area in front of the Science Centre's entrance. We use specialized telescopes that are safe to aim at the Sun. Check our home page on the Friday prior for go/no-go calls as this event is weather dependent.

4
May
RASC Hamilton: The Tale of Disks around Massive Stars
Speaker: Dr. Parshati Patel, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, Western University
Massive stars, young or old, are interesting celestial objects with fascinating mysteries. In this talk, we will explore some of the mysteries of the disks around massive stars and how their formation, dissipation and structure affect our understanding of not only the planet formation but also the star formation process.

4
May
UofT AstroTour: The Big Bang and a Multiverse
We have evidence that billions of years ago the universe we live in was much smaller in size. This evidence comes in the form of light that has been travelling for about 13 billion years. In this talk Darsh Kodwani will describe how we have come to understand this light and why we believe this would imply that the universe started in a big bang. Even though the evidence for the big bang is very strong we do not believe it can be the full story of the universe.

4
May
UofT Physics: The H.L. Welsh Distinguished Lecturer Series Program 2017
The Department of Physics invites faculty, students and the public to its 42nd annual celebration of physics.
The Welsh Lectures in Physics have been held annually since 1975 in honour of H.L. Welsh, a distinguished former faculty member in the Physics Department. They are the major public event in the life of the Department of Physics and are intended to celebrate discoveries in physics and their wider impact. They are intended to be broadly accessible to an audience drawn from across the university, other academic institutions and the interested public.

3
May
City Star Party (GO for Wednesday)
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!

3
May
Perimeter Institute: Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space: Janna Levin Public Lecture (WEBCAST)
More than a billion years ago, two black holes collided. In the final second of their long life together, the black holes banged out a rhythm like mallets on a drum, creating gravitational waves – ripples in the shape of spacetime.
One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of such waves, though it seemed improbable – if not outright impossible – that we’d ever be able to actually detect them. They were long considered too faint for any earthbound experiment to measure.