SOCIAL THEME EVENINGS

Starting this Fall Thunder Bay Observatory will be hosting regular small group social evenings. (10-16 people)  Perfect for the individual looking to meet others with similar interest, or for couples or small groups looking for a different experience.   The Evening will include  cocktails and a variety of appetizers, a informative and visual introduction into astronomy with a focus on a particular subject, and then a hands on tour of the universe through the telescope.  So far themes on the list include:

• Life out there...UFO's, Extra Solar Planets, Seti..etc
• Astronomical Research...whats the scientific community up to?
• Space Travel . History and Future of
• Big Bang to Black Holes ...the violence in our universe
• The Scale of things!

If your interested in signing up for a Theme Night...let me know.

NOLALU ECO CENTRE - ASTRONOMY EDUCATION

Thunder Bay Observatory will once again be putting on educational talks at the Nolalu Eco Centre www.nolaluecocentre.org/ if your interested check the web site.  Next lecture scheduled for Sept 27th.

WELCOME LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS - USING THE OBSERVATORY   

Starting September 2008, Lakehead University will be hosting an new elective in the 2nd Year Physic program.. Observational Astronomy.   The practical portion of the class, the students research data collection will be taking place at the Thunder Bay Observatory.  This partnership has been a few years in the making .  Good luck to all the students...I look foward to working with you this semester.

 Randy

OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT - SUNDAY AUG 10, 2008

Forcasting clear skies...the meteor shower peaks in 24 hours put we can still expect a couple dozen fire balls an hour... Jupiter is up high enough to see until about 2 am.  The Moon will set about the same time and visitors can see a couple faint nebulas and galaxies.

Annual Kick-Off  coming Early August

Every year I shut down the observatory for maintenance during the "no darkness" time around the summer solstice (June 20th)  A few weeks later the darker skies start to return and by the Annual Perseid Meteor shower (Aug 11/12)

 So each year I host a public event at the observatory ...my kick off to a new year of dark skies...

 Stay tuned for more details...I suspect it will be the Aug 9th for working and the late night of August 11 / morning of the 12th for the true die hard fans.

 Please email me if you exect ot attend so I can gauge interest.  Thanks, see you then.

 Randy

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 Due to the growing interest in accessing the observatory,  I am now offering SIGN UP VIEWING nights.

Its your chance to come out and see one of the largest professional telescopes in Canada in operation.  On typical viewing night you can see with your naked eye.. 

• the rings of Saturn
• the storm bands and moons of jupiter
• the bright colors of Mars, Neptune or Uranus
• the dust regions of a nebula
• the spirals arms of distant galaxy. 
• the shape and size of many unusual nebulas

Also visiors can request to join me in an imaging or scientific data collection session and learn how to acquire and use astronomical data. 

How it works: 

• I will select a number of dates that are well suited of viewing (see below). 
•  If your interested in attending any of the nights, send me an email, and let me know how many will be attending and how likely your attendance will be.   ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it )
• Once I have enough confirmed visitors, I will then proceed.  And you will be notified by email.   
• All viewing nights start at sunset and run until about midnight.  Everyone is welcome to stay as long as they wish.
• There is a limited number of visitors that can be supported at a time, so sign up is first come first serve.
• If you need to cancel, please give me 24 hour notice
• Most viewing nights have a back-up night in case of clouds.
• Cancellations of viewing will be posted on this web site if weather or other reasons occur
• New dates are added regularly , check back.
• Donations of $5 per person, or $10 for a car load is asked to help support the facility.

Planned dates are as follows:

March 7/8  Cancelled, cold temperatures and not enough participants signed up
Dark sky nite...great nebula and galaxy viewing.  Saturn's rings and Mars will be up

March 12  Booked - private party

March 13 :  Young moon, great viewing of craters and can still see brighter nebulas.  Saturn's rings and Mars will be up

April 4/5 :  Dark sky nite...great nebula and galaxy viewing.  Saturn's rings and Mars will be up

May 2/3:   Dark sky nite...great nebula and galaxy viewing.  Saturn's rings and Mars will be up

More dates will be posted soon...

Thank you,

Randy