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International Year of Astronomy events in the Victoria area during 2009
- IYA 2009 Kick-off in Victoria -
Jan 10, 2009
- IYA Report #1 (pdf)
- Jan 17, 2009 - IYA kick-off events at the Centre of the Universe
- 2pm-6pm - free family event featuring activities for everyone in
the family, including observing through telescopes (weather
permitting) atop Observatory Hill.
- IYA Report #3 (pdf)
- Feb 1-28, 2009 - From Earth to The Universe (FETTU)
exhibits at the Bay Centre downtown and at Victoria Airport.
Exhibits and video displays of beautiful astronomy themed photos can
be viewed on high definition screens all month long. Ask the
Astronomer booth and demonstration of telescopes at selected times.
From
Earth to the Universe Exhibition
is a collection of astronomical images that showcase the most
dramatic views of our Universe. The images represent the incredible
variety of astronomical objects.
Event photo gallery
- Feb 7, 2009 2:00pm - Meet and greet Alain Berinstain at
the FETTU display at the Bay Centre downtown.
- Feb 8, 2009 2:30pm - Free public lecture
Missions to Mars by Alain
Berinstain from the
Canadian Space Agency at the Bob Wright building auditorium, University of
Victoria.
Photo gallery
- Mar 3, 2009 7:30pm - Free public lecture "Dark
Matters" by Professor Joe Silk, from the
Department of Physics, University of Oxford at the Bob Wright
Centre, Room B150, University of Victoria. This lecture will discuss ongoing
efforts by astronomers and particle physicists to detect dark matter.
- Mar 16-28 -
GLOBE
at Night - our volunteers will setup their telescopes at
Cattle Point in Oak Bay on selected nights to help you complete your
observing list for this global event. Sorry, but the planned
events at Cattle Point did not happen - we have a shortage of
volunteers.
- Mar 22, 2009 - IYA Cemetery Tour
- Ross Bay Cemetery -
Astronomy has long been a hobby and profession in Victoria. This
first-time tour by Joyce Mackie marked the International Year of Astronomy
by tracing the lives of those buried at Ross Bay Cemetery connected to this
far out topic.
-
Mar 28, 2009 -
Lucidarium a performance staged by the Early Music Society of the Islands
at
Alex Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue - "pure energy on period
instruments" recreates performances of the itinerant professional
musicians of the Italian Renaissance - the same time period as when
Galileo pointed his telescope skyward for the first time.
-
April 2, 2009 -
IYA Canada Commemorative Stamps
Unveiled - Beautiful commemorative stamps were unveiled at a
ceremony held atop Observatory Hill in the Plaskett Dome.
-
April to
June 4, 2009 - Cosmic Voyage -
IMAX Victoria - Stunning computer
animation with cutting-edge science gives us a sweeping view of the
universe. A "cosmic zoom" extends from the surface of the Earth to
the largest observable structures of the universe, and then back
down into the sub-nuclear realm. COSMIC VOYAGE was nominated for an
Academy Award� in the Best Documentary Short Subject Category.
Every Tuesday evening in April:
speakers
at 6pm & 7:45pm, and
IMAX IYA Sidewalk
Astronomy at 9:30pm.
- April 19, 2009 - Sun Day - Noon - 2 pm at Gonzales Hill
Regional Park. Sunday, The Gonzales Observatory was designed to look at only
one star � the
sun! We use modern telescopes to look at the sun while
exploring the history of this unique Victoria landmark. Meet at the
observatory at the end of Denison Road, off Beach Drive.
- April 25th, 2009 (Saturday) - Earth Day celebrations at
Centennial Square from 1:00pm to 4:00pm - solar observing
(weather permitting)
event
info
- April 28th - May 2, 2009 -
100 Hours of Sidewalk Astronomy Marathon - Started at 3:00pm on April 28th at Royal British
Columbia Museum courtyard, and ended at 11:05pm on May 2nd at
the Centre of the Universe, Observatory Hill on Astronomy Day.
Event photo Gallery
- May 2, 2009 - Astronomy Day
- lots of activities were offered to the public between 10am and 4 pm at the Centre of
the Universe (CU), Observatory Hill. Unfortunately the stargazing
scheduled from 7pm-11pm was not possible due to inclement weather.
Event photo gallery
-
May 30, 2009 - Beaveree
- 10am to 4pm at Camp Barnard, Sooke - display and solar observing for
little astronomers. Event photo
gallery
- June 1,
2009 - Night Sky Viewing in Fairfield at Sir James Douglas
School from 6:30pm to 10pm in the adjacent playground and in the
Garry Oak Room.
Even photo gallery
- Cosmic Voyage - played at
IMAX Victoria until June 4, 2009 - Stunning computer
animation with cutting-edge science gives us a sweeping view of the
universe. A "cosmic zoom" extends from the surface of the Earth to
the largest observable structures of the universe, and then back
down into the sub-nuclear realm. Cosmic Voyage was nominated for an
Academy Award� in the Best Documentary Short Subject Category.
- June 2-20, 2009 - A Short History of Night - a
performance by
Theatre Inconnu -
theatrically charts the beginnings of modern science through the
dramatization of two of the Renaissance�s most colorful figures:
Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and geometrician & mystic Johannes Kepler.
Poster
(162k pdf). June 6th - night sky viewing at Fernwood Little Hall,
1923 Fernwood Road in conjunction with the play.
- June 13, 2009 - Buccaneer
Days - Bullen Field behind Archie
Browning Sports Centre.
Event photo gallery
- June 18th to September 10, 2009 every Thursday evening -
Night Sky Viewing at
The
Butchart Gardens from 8:00pm to 10:00pm (weather
permitting). In recognition of the International Year of Astronomy
(IYA2009), the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society is
collaborating with The Butchart Gardens to host "Night Sky Viewing"
sessions for the Garden's visitors.
Event photo gallery
- June 21, 2009 11am-2pm - Solstice Day - observe the Sun
at Beaver Beach, Beaver Lake Park.
Event photo gallery
- July 1, 2009 - Sidney Day - Memorial
Park Society grounds
- June 18th to September 10, 2009 every Thursday evening -
Night Sky Viewing at
The
Butchart Gardens from 8:00pm to 10:00pm (weather
permitting). In recognition of the International Year of Astronomy
(IYA2009), the Victoria Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society is
collaborating with The Butchart Gardens to host "Night Sky Viewing"
sessions for the Garden's visitors.
Event photo
gallery
- July 5, 2009 11am-3pm - Strawberry
Festival - Elk/Beaver Lake, sponsored by CRD Parks
- July 17-19, 2009
weekend -.Island Star Party -
camp under the stars on the July New
Moon weekend on the Malahat.
- August 2, 2009 - Solar and Night viewing at
Symphony Splash - 2:00pm to 10:30pm, Inner Harbour. (weather
permitting)
- Pender Island Stargazing 2009
- astronomy outreach to the Gulf Islands residents and visitors, sponsored
by Parks Canada
- Aug 2, 2009 -
Victoria Symphony Splash - solar viewing by our volunteers, musical
programs by the Victoria Symphony and friends, and finishing with fireworks
in the Inner Harbour.
Event photo
gallery
- August 1-31, 2009 - Neighborhood Sidewalk Astronomy -
events in your neighborhood.
-
Sept 5-7, 2009 -
Saanich Fair - daytime astronomy display and
viewing our Sun through special filters (weather permitting). Held at
the Saanich Fairground, 1528 Stellys Cross Road in Saanichton.
Event
photo gallery
-
Sept 11 & 12, 2009 -
Open House- Astrophysicists Open Their Doors! - NRC-CNRC -
celebrate International Year of Astronomy by taking a tour of the labs
and telescopes on Observatory Hill. Activities for children; "Ask an
Astronomer" table, self-guided tours of facilities, lectures,
multimedia, demonstrations, telescope viewing.
Event
photo gallery
-
Sept 12-13, 2009 - Metchosin Day - daytime astronomy display and
viewing our Sun through special filters on Sunday the 13th, 10am-3pm, as well as night time viewing
(weather permitting) on Saturday the 12th from 8-10pm. Held at the Metchosin Municipal Grounds near the
intersection of Happy Valley Road and Rocky Point Road.
Event
photo gallery
-
Sept 28, 2009 -
Fairfield Night Sky Viewing - night sky viewing and astronomy
displays at Sir James
Douglas School in Fairfield.
Event
photo gallery
-
Sept 29, 2009 7:30pm - Free public lecture "Dark
Matters" by Professor Joe Silk, from the
Department of Physics, University of Oxford at the Bob Wright
Centre, Room B150, University of Victoria. This lecture will discuss ongoing
efforts by astronomers and particle physicists to detect dark matter.
University of Victoria - Calendar
-
Oct 1-27, 2009 -
From the Earth To The Universe
at Mayfair Shopping
Centre.
Back in Victoria by popular demand. Celebrate the stunning beauty of the
Universe on a spectacular journey through 13 billion years of the
evolving Universe. In addition to stupendous photographs of space
created by international and Canadian astronomers both professional and
amateur, this digital exhibit features artwork by Greater Victoria
schoolchildren as well as universe-inspired art. Members of the RASC
will be on hand Friday through Sunday at the following hours to answer
any questions about the show. Fridays 3:00 to 7:00PM; Saturdays and
Sundays 12:00 to 4:00PM.
-
Oct 16, 2009 7:30pm - Free public lecture by Dava Sobel, award
winning author of "Galileo's Daughter", "Longitude", and other books -
at the Bob Wright Centre, Room B150, University of Victoria.
-
Oct 17, 2009 7:10pm -
Galileo's Daughters with Dava Sobel and Ronn McFarlane - a performance staged by the Early Music Society of the Islands
at
Alex Goolden Hall, 907 Pandora Avenue. "On the 400th anniversary of
Galileo turning his telescope to the night sky comes a multi-media
tribute to the great astronomer. Music of 17th century Italy is
complemented by spectacular projected images of the cosmos and the
narration of best-selling author Dava Sobel (Longitude, Galileo's
Daughter)."
Event
photo gallery
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October 19, 2009 6:30pm - NRC Movie Night at the Centre of the
Universe. This family event
features Jodie Foster in "Contact". Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the
movie as it is projected against the dome of the Plaskett Telescope at
the National Research Council�s Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, 5071
West Saanich Rd.
Centre of the Universe Sponsored by
National Science and Technology Week.
-
October 23, 2009 2:30 to 3:30pm - An Astronomer�s Life.
Free talk
for kids 8-12 with National Research Council astronomer Dr. Alan
McConnachie,
Nellie McClung Library, 3950 Cedar Hill Rd, PM. Sponsored by the
Greater Victoria Public Library and
National Science and Technology Week.
-
Saturday 24 October 24, 2009 10:30 to 11:30am - How We Find Planets
Around Other Stars. Free talk for kids 8-12 with National Research
Council astronomer Dr. Brenda Matthews,
Emily Carr Library, 3500 Blanshard,. Sponsored by the Greater
Victoria Public Library and
National Science and Technology Week.
-
Oct 25, 2009 1:30pm -
Music of the Spheres
- Victoria Symphony at the Royal Theatre.
Take a musical adventure through space in Music of the Spheres. Written
and conducted by Music Director Tania Miller in celebration of the 400th
anniversary of Galileo�s first use of a telescope and the 2009
International Year of Astronomy.
Event
photo gallery
- Nov 1, 2009 at 2:30pm & Nov 2 at 8pm -
The Planets
Victoria Symphony at the Royal Theatre - Tania
Miller, conductor / Sara Buechner, piano - Berlioz Roman Carnival
Overture, Stravinsky Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, Holst The
Planets. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Gustav Holst�s
dramatic masterpiece, as visual artist Dr. Jos� Francisco Salgado�s
video suite is projected on a giant screen while the orchestra performs.
Pre-concert talk in the West lobby, 45 minutes before curtain.
Nov 28, 2009 at 6:30pm - Night Sky Viewing at Cattle Point
CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
(see Dec 4th event for next opportunity at this location)
-
400 years ago Galileo first gazed at the first quarter moon and forever changed our view of the cosmos. To celebrate this event the
Victoria Centre is hosting a public viewing event at Cattle Point.
Poster (178k pdf)- Nov 1-30, 2009 - Neighborhood Sidewalk Astronomy -
locations and time to be decided by each volunteer. Keep watch for this
event coming to your neighborhood.
- Dec 2, 2009 7:30pm - Galileo, Shakespeare, and Van Gogh: Creative
Reactions to the End of the World - by Dr. William Harris, McMaster
University - at University of Victoria, Bob Wright Centre, B150 -
Poster
- Dec 4, 2009 6:30pm - Night Sky Viewing at Cattle Point - in conjunction with the Sea of Lights event by the Royal
Victoria Yacht Club. Poster
(178k pdf)
Event
photo gallery
- Christmas Night Sky Viewing at
Butchart
Gardens - Dec 5, 12, 17, 26, 2009 & Jan 7, 2010 - our
volunteers had telescopes setup by the totem poles very
close to the new Children's Carousel on the
Saturdays listed above. This was our last formal IYA event - family,
friends and visitors saw the seasonal light displays, and the celestial
displays at the same time!
Event photo gallery
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