As a reporter with CHCH-tv for many years, Karen Cumming was used to telling other people’s stories. Turns out she has a pretty interesting one of her own to tell now. In February of last year, Karen was chosen as one of 100 people from around the world who are moving on to the final round of astronaut selection in the Mars One Mission. They’re known as “The Mars 100”. Their goal?

What star is that? How can I spot Orion’s Belt? How many planets can I see without a telescope? Learn your way around the night sky. The Riverwood Conservancy, The Earthshine Astronomy and Space Science Organization and the Mississauga Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada are teaming up to offer a 4-week course on astronomy. Upon completion the student will be able to identify the brighter stars and constellations.

Dr. Marianne Mader, Managing Director, Centres for Earth & Space and Fossils & Evolution, Royal Ontario Museum

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.

Moonless night allowing to see deep sky objects

We have a special treat – we’re going to do some science and everyone gets to take part in the grand experiment. The audience will be divided into several teams and each team will construct a chamber that will reveal the presence of cosmic rays and other particles that make up our Universe. Our guest Science Professor will be Ted Rudyk who will supervise the construction of your lab experiment and provide some insight about what you will witness when your lab experiment is ready to unveil. This is going to be a ton of fun! Science is COOL!

Meteor Shower

See the milky way and galaxies with the unaided eye. Point your telescope to find the many dim deep space objects that sprinkle the sky. Away from Toronto's light polution, there is so much to see. We observe from the Long Sault Conservation area, an hour outside of Toronto. We meet around dusk once a month in the parking lot for views only seen in dark sky conditions. We hold this event on the first clear night of our week-long window, so the date and time are determined closer to.

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

Escape to Planet ROM for the Holidays and come on a planetary odyssey through the Milky Way and beyond. Bring your space gear along for this epic adventure as cosmic wonder and intergalactic activities fill the Museum’s galleries from December 26 to January 3. With close encounters of the hands-on kind including a Mars rover prototype, courtesy of the Canadian Space Agency, a Space Arcade featuring new video games, and a meteorite you can touch, Planet ROM takes you to a galaxy far, far away while keeping your feet firmly planted on Earth.