IYA Activity Summary at Planetariums

Compiled by Alan Dyer June 10-12, 08 from reports received from various planetariums

Montreal

• A show on telescopes opening in May and Galileo Live! in the Fall (in French and English versions)
• A series of public lectures with Université de Montréal.
• About ten observing nights in and around Montreal (in parks and other public spaces) with telescopes manned by members of our astronomy club.
• A website calendar dedicated to all of the above PLUS artistic manifestations that have a link with astronomy (for example, Holst's The Planets played on the organ of a major Montreal church).
• We have contacted about 250 arts companies in Quebec (dance, music, theater, etc.) to let them know that IYA09 was around the corner and urge them to jump on the occasion. So far, the response have been very positive.
• Pierre, Marc Jobin and myself (Pierre Chastenay) will also travel to several parts of the
  province to give public lectures organized by local astronomy clubs.

Vancouver

• Staging Galileo Live! in spring 2009.
• Nothing else planned as of this time (Erik)

Calgary

• Acting as lead facility for the Galileo Live! Planetarium show, opening spring 2009.
• As part of the Galileo show project we will be supplying the participating 4 planetariums (and others if our budget can be stretched) with several authentic working replica of Galileo’s 20x telescope – it will provide similar optical views and look superficially identical. These are for use in the shows and at public outreach programs.
• Expanded hours and dates for our Friday Night Stargazing program, possibly including evening showings of Galileo Live! followed by night sky viewing.
• Possible themed lecture series (autumn 2009), perhaps in partnership with Edmonton.
• One or two of our monthly Science Cafés devoted to the topic (astronomy vs. religion as one possibility).
• Expanded offerings of astronomy courses, night sky shows and programs for community groups such as cubs/brownies.
• Something we would have done anyway … but replacing our aging Grade 6 Sky Science show with a new day-long workshop program that will include live presentations in the Dome, rather than canned shows.
• Working with local RASC and U of C to stage an expanded program of telescope viewing, both at the U’s Rothney Astrophysical Observatory at urban venues around the city such as summer festivals and the Calgary Zoo.
• Milky Way Week planned for August at Rothney Observatory Aug 19-26, for dark moonless sky observing, and dark sky preservation publicity. Coincides with actual 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first demonstration of the telescope.
• A possible special webcast link-up around the world on Saturday, April 4 at the Rothney and perhaps the TWS during the international “100 Hours of Astronomy” weekend.
• Possible promotion of “Earth Hour” on March 28, 2009, for dark sky awareness, assuming local media will help promote this (Calgary was the only city this year where power consumption went UP during Earth Hour!)

Winnipeg

• Staging Galileo Live! in autumn 2009.
• Approximately monthly observing sessions in conjunction with the RASC.
• Supporting the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's performance of Holst: The Planets with visuals (in October 2008, good promo for IYA)

Edmonton

• A full dome video show on Galileo and telescopes (produced in conjunction with a PBS series on “400 years of the Telescope”) to be shown in the Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre. Date to be determined when show is complete.
• Special themed months during the year to look at what we have learnt using telescopes (guest speakers to be determined). Dr. Robert Smith (University of Alberta historian) may kick start this lecture series. Working with the local University and colleges on this.
• Space cards (baseball card type cards with astronomical images)
• A school interpretive program where students learn about telescopes and build and take home the Learning Technologies 16X telescope)
• Special observing sessions around Edmonton (put on by Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Edmonton Centre and TELUS World of Science Edmonton)
• A bigger Astronomy Day event with more activities an observing sessions.
• An art contest in schools for kids to draw their favorite astronomical object.
• A writing contest through schools on the topic of “The importance of the telescope” (or something like that)
• Local actors and artists to showcase their talents related to the topic.
• To tie-in with the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon missions were are also looking at bringing in an Apollo astronaut for the event.
• Get started with the city to combat light pollution. This may become a major focus.
• Telescopic observing sessions in some Canada Parks during the summer (Jasper, Elk Island, etc.).

Ontario Science Centre

• An IYA public lecture series
• A new planetarium show highlighting Canadian astronomy
• A new planetarium show on astronomy in the ancient Islamic world (this will complement an exhibition we will open in the new year)
• Large-scale installation of high-resolution astronomy images in high-traffic public space in the downtown core
• 4 star parties

Others (Doran, McMaster, Victoria COU)

Nothing reported