See for details http://www.rascto.ca/content/nova-astronomy-course-

Measuring light pollution of your sky, see www.globeatnight.org

The quest for ever-clearer views of the sky has driven astronomers to put telescopes in such remote places as the centre 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. Drop-in program. First come, first seated.

James Edgar, President, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada All stars are born from hydrogen and during their lives they produce elements through nuclear fusion. High-mass stars end their lives as supernovae, perhaps the most cataclysmic events in the universe, producing the heavy elements. This talk merges James Edgar’s love of woodworking, astronomy, genealogy, chemistry, physics, and poetry from Northern Ireland, although the main thrust of the presentation is about how elements form within stars.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm Centuries before Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter, scientists in the Middle East were building the first cameras and developing the physics of light. Without the benefit of modern technologies, they took some of the first steps in understanding the motions of the planets and in explaining the nature of the Universe.

A popular hit in the Doc Soup series, The Last Man on the Moon tells the story of Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan. One of only three men who travelled to the moon twice, Cernan’s second trip in 1972 was NASA’s final lunar mission. Now, more than 40 years later, he is ready to share his epic and deeply personal story. It is a tale of fame and burning ambition set against the spectacular environment of space.

We all love it when a world record is broken. But the records set here on Earth are puny and pathetic compared to those set elsewhere in our vast cosmos. What’s the coldest place in space? What’s the fastest object in the Universe? What’s the biggest object we’ve ever seen in space, and the smallest? How weak and how strong does gravity get? Join astronomer Bryan Gaensler for a tour of the extremes of our amazing Universe.

Join Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson for an evening of engaging conversation on science, exploration and the world as we know it.

Showtimes: 7:00pm, 8:00pm, and 9:00pm There are many misconceptions about our universe, and the most common one is also the simplest – its size. Our universe is much bigger than we imagine it to be, and only through visual aid (such as a planetarium) can one really grasp the true dimensions of it. This planetarium show will journey through the different scales of the universe, starting with familiar objects like the moon and the Earth, and ending with the furthest reaches of the observable universe.

* * * Note: this event is a GO for tonight. We considered canceling this event because of the weather but conditions seem ok. Safe travels to all. * * * Join us for our monthly recreational astronomy night meeting. This is where our members get to show their latest projects, or give tutorials and tips on just about everything to do with Astronomy. • Chris Vaughan - The sky this month• Ron Macnaughton - How Kepler did it• Ed Treijs - The sky in 13,372 AD and other things to look forward to

Join Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson for an evening of engaging conversation on science, exploration and the world as we know it.

See for details http://www.rascto.ca/content/nova-astronomy-course-