National Star Party 2017

This page is preserved here as part of the RASC's Digital Archives. Some information may be out of date.

National Star Party – Saturday July 29, 2017


To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday since Confederation, the RASC and the Fédération des Astronomes Amateurs du Québec (FAAQ) are sponsoring a first – a National Star Party.


On Saturday, July 29, 2017, astronomy clubs from coast to coast to coast - will hold public star parties for the Canadian public at the same time. If it is clear, visitors will be able to observe a first quarter Moon and the planets Saturn and Jupiter. Even the International Space Station will make a pass or two that night. A handout specific to what is in the sky that night will be prepared and available for download and printing.


We hope that we can make this first National Star Party a success and bring astronomy to thousands of Canadians.


Here are handouts you can use for the Star Party - in English and French, in colour and black&white.


They have a star chart showing the positions of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn on July 29.


Also the International Space Station is making multiple passes on July 29 - go to http://www.heavens-above.com and see when the ISS is passing over your observing site.


English Colour     English B&W    French Colour    French B&W


Here is a list of RASC Centres and other amateur astronomy organizations which are participating in this National Star Party.



 


























































Belleville ...
Calgary https://www.all-startelescope.com/information/observer-nights
Edmonton

TELUS World of Science: 9-11pm


https://edmontonrasc.com/2017/07/canada-150-star-party-saturday-july-29-2017/

Halifax Halifax Centre RASC https://halifax.rasc.ca/index.php/activities/43-nova-east-star-party

Nova East Star Party

Smileys Provincial Park
Hamilton Spencer Smith Park in Burlington @ 2PM- dark
Kingston No event planned
Kitchener-Waterloo ...
London Open House at Cronyn Observatory, Western University   https://www.rasclondon.ca
Mississauga

Mississauga Centre members wil be setting up at the 
Riverwood Conservancy   8:00 pm to 10:00 pm


4300 Riverwood Park Lane  Mississauga, ON L5C 2S7   Directions

CF de Montreal  
Montreal Public Star Party Doors Open: 7:30PM Presentation: “Where Are You Looking”

8PM Public Observing (Weather Permitting) after the presentation

Location: Conservations Centre, Morgan Arboretum:

150 Chemin des Pins, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9
New Brunswick

New Brunswick Centre RASC—https://rascnb.ca/

Camping Observing Weekend and Summer Stargaze—Mactaquac Provincial Park


also  St. John—Irving Nature Park—https://sjastronomy.ca/national-star-party-irving-nature-park/  9:00–11:30 pm

Niagara Centre RASC (npca.ca/conservationareas/chippawa-creek) Chippawa Creek Conservation Area

Wellandport
Okanagan  The Centre runs a star party at Mt Kobau in late July.
Ottawa ...
Prince George no event is planned
Quebec ...
Regina  no event is planned
Sarnia ...
Saskatoon Saskatoon Centre: 10am - 3pm 2323 8th St E. Saskatoon, SK. S7J2P7
Sunshine Coast No event planned
St. John's Butter Pot Star Party

Butter Pot Provincial Park, 40km west of St. John's.
Thunder Bay ...
Toronto

Ontario Science Centre

770 Don Mills Road

TELUSCAPE, outside the Main Entrance

7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Free admission

Parking is $10 per vehicle (Member discounts apply)

*Telescope observing is weather permitting. In the event of poor weather, star party activities will proceed on the Carlton Cards Mezzanine.


https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/Calendar/354


Also please see info for a second event hosted by Dunlap Institute with participation from RASC Toronto centre:


Join us for the Canada 150 Star Party at the University of Toronto! View the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter through our telescopes. And watch for the International Space Station as it passes over Toronto. Plus, have all your cosmic questions answered by the U of T astronomers and members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) who'll be on hand.


https://universe.utoronto.ca/events/star-viewing-night-in-celebration-of...

Vancouver

Selvey Park


27000 106th Avenue


Maple Ridge, BC


 


9:00 pm to late

Victoria Centre RASC RASCals Star Party Metchosin (https://victoria.rasc.ca/rascals-star-party-2017/)

Dominion Astrophysical Observatory

(www.observatoryhill.org/content/events).

The event at Metchosin municipal grounds, on Happy Valley Road, includes afternoon solar observing and workshops. Note that there is limited attendance for the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory event, so book your FREE ticket in advance.
Winnipeg No event planned
Windsor ...
Yukon No event planned

  Fédération des astronomes amateurs du Québec

Longueuil Société d'astronomie de la Montérégie   https://astrosamo.org
Mont-Tremblant Club d'astronomie mont-tremblant https://astromt.org
Québec Cassiopée  https://sites.google.com/site/clubcassiopee/
St-Félicien Club d'astronomie les Borealides du Lac Saint-Jean Ouest   
https://clublesborealides.com
Montréal SAPM   https://www.sapm.qc.ca
Boisbriand Club d'Astronomie de Boisbriand    http://astroboisbriand.ca/
Lanaudière Observateurs du ciel de Lanaudière   http://cieldelanaudiere.ca/
Val-bélair Club d'astronomie Io de Val-bélair   https://clubdastronomie-io.org
St-Pierre-de-la-rivière-du-sud Club d'astronomie le ciel étoilé de St-Pierre-de-la-rivière-du-sud   https://sites.google.com/site/clubdastronomiedestpierre/home
Sherbrooke Club des astronomes amateurs de Sherbrooke   http://www.caas.sherbrooke.qc.ca/
Saguenay club d'astronomie Sirius du Saguenay   http://www.astrosurf.com/clubsirius/   
Outaouais Regroupement des astronomes amateurs de l'Outaouais québecois   https://www.raaoq.org
Lanaudière Vagabonds du ciel de Lanaudière    vagabondsduciel.ca
Lévis Club MARS de Lévis   https://www.clubmars.ca
Bas-St-Laurent Club d'astronomie du KRTB  https://www.facebook.com/clubastrokrtb
Rimouski Club d'astronomie de Rimouski   http://www.faaq.org/clubs/rimouski/index.htm
Laval Club des astronomes amateurs de Laval   https://www.astronomielaval.org
Drummondville Club astronomie Drummondville   http://www.astrosurf.com/cadi/
Abitibi-Témiscamingue Association des Astronomes Amateurs de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue  https://aaaat.faaq.org
Mascouche Club Astronomie des Moulins INC.  http://www.club-astronomie.org/
Dorval  Club d'astronomie de Dorval  http://www.astrosurf.com/cdadfs/    20:00 to 01:00 Dorval arena, 1450 Dawson av. Dorval, QC H9S 1Y4
Other Astronomy Organizations
Brandon

The Brandon and Area Astronomical Society will host an event at Spruce Woods Provincial Park.   The observing will start at dusk following a presentation about Dark Sky Preserve plans for the park.  Further information will be on our website and Facebook page.


Spruce Woods Provincial Park is located on Highway 5 south of Carberry


https://brandonastronomical.wixsite.com/brandonastronomical

Sudbury

The Sudbury Astronomy Club and Science North will be working together to host our local version of the RASC celebration.  It will be held at Dynamic Earth, starting at 8:30 or 9:00pm.  If the weather is less than friendly to sky gazers, then we will move indoors to provide astronomy related program in the auditorium at Dynamic Earth.


122 Big Nickel Mine Dr, Sudbury, ON P3C 5T7

High River, Alberta

The Big Sky Astronomical Society will host an event at the Big Sky Observatory. This event will start at 8:00 PM with observing starting at dusk and ending at midnight. Further information is available on our website and Facebook page.


The Big Sky Observatory is located at the Twin Valley Dam, which is on Highway 529, approximately 54 km southeast of High River.


http://www.bigsky.ab.ca/events.html


 

North Bay

The North Bay Astronomy Club will be at the waterfront in North Bay for afternoon solar viewing from 3 until 5 pm. We plan on returning for evening viewing at approx 830 to 9 PM. This is of course weather permitting.