Black holes, faster-than-light travel and time machines appear regularly in science and non-science fiction and sometimes even on the evening news. But what is really known about them?

Quench your thirst for astronomy! ...on Wednesday, February 18th, at the next Astronomy on Tap T.O. It'll be another fun evening of mind-expanding talks, games, prizes and conversation about the cosmos. All while you enjoy your favourite pint or cocktail. Plus, there'll be plenty of time for you to talk to the astronomers in attendance to get all your cosmic questions answered.

The moon is between us and the sun. Without the moon in the sky at night, deep sky objects are easier to observe.

New Observers to Visual Astronomy (NOVA) is an 8-week introductory course that is designed to show the novice astronomer the wonders of the night sky and how to enjoy them. No experience or telescope needed. (Class is full).

Join the Toronto Public Library for a night under the stars at the Gerrard/Ashdale library. U of T Astronomy Professor Michael Reid will begin with a short talk about how to find your way around the winter sky and then, if it's clear, we'll go outdoors to look at the stars. We hope to be able to see Jupiter and its moons. This definitely calls for hot chocolate. Suitable for all ages. Gerrard/Ashdale Library1432 Gerrard Street EastToronto, ON  M4L 1Z6 416-393-7717

Florida Keys, Florida, US See www.scas.org/wsp.html

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.

We will be observing this Saturday morning if skies are clear.Join us at the Ontario Science Centre for our monthly Solar Observing on the TelusScape 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.

In a world of ever larger and more expensive telescopes, amateur astronomers often pass over the wonder above them that can only be seen with the most complex yet readily available optical instrument of them all – the unaided eye. From comets to crepuscular rays and from the northern lights to noctilucent clouds, there is an entire universe waiting, both literally and figuratively before your eyes.

Eric Choi, Vice President, Responsive Space at Canadensys Aerospace Corporation

New Observers to Visual Astronomy (NOVA) is an 8-week introductory course that is designed to show the novice astronomer the wonders of the night sky and how to enjoy them. No experience or telescope needed. (Class is full).

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