Media Release

For Immediate Release

December 18, 2008

Saint Mary’s celebrates International Year of Astronomy

Saint Mary’s University and other partner members of Astronomy Nova Scotia are aligning their stars to celebrate the UNESCO International Year of Astronomy, which marks the 400th anniversary since Galileo first used his telescope to study the heavens.

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society over the past 400 years. More than 130 countries are planning activities that will spark interest in astronomy and scientific discovery.

As home of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory and Atlantic Canada’s only Astronomy program, Saint Mary’s will be the centre of several IYA 2009 events throughout the year. IYA events locally and throughout the province launch Jan. 7 with a full week of activities.

Here are some of the highlights of the opening week celebrations:

January 7

• Astronomers on the Radio: Astronomy experts will answer questions from curious star gazers who call in to CBC’s Maritime Noon phone-in show. (CBC Radio 1, FM 90.5 in Halifax).

January 9

• Café Scientifique: Join Saint Mary’s Professor Rob Thacker and McMaster University Professor Doug Welch (host of the Slacker Astronomy website) for an intergalactic discussion about aliens and life on other planets. Meet at the Uncommon Grounds coffee shop located at 1030 South Park St. in Halifax at 7 p.m.

January 10 

• Astronomy goes to Mic Mac Mall: The Halifax Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) will present a display of astronomical telescopes, information, and activities related to the International Year of Astronomy. Display hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mic Mac Mall, Dartmouth.

• StarLab for Kids: The Discovery Centre, Nova Scotia’s Hands-on Science Centre, will present StarLab planetarium shows especially geared for young astronomers. Supporting displays of telescopes and information will be provided by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. For times and more details, contact the Discovery Centre, 1593 Barrington Street, Halifax, 492-4422.

• Public Astronomy Lecture: Starting at 7:30 p.m., Saint Mary’s Astronomy & Physics Professor Marcin Sawicki will present a free public lecture entitled: Imperfect machines: how telescopes have changed our understanding of the universe and of our place in it. Dr. Sawicki, a Canadian Space Agency Space Science Fellow, will tell stories of some of the paradigm-changing discoveries over the past 400 years from Galileo’s invention of the telescope to the discovery of planets orbiting other stars. Location: Scotiabank Theatre, Sobey Building, Saint Mary’s University.

• Busking Astronomers: The outside forecourt of the Sobey Building at Saint Mary’s University will be transformed into a public observatory as students and members of the RASC Halifax Centre set up telescopes for public observing (weather permitting) before and after that night’s public astronomy lecture. Observing times are at 6 p.m. and after the public astronomy lecture concludes.

• Observatory Tour: Following the Astronomy Lecture, there will be a guided tour of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory located on the top floor of the Loyola Building. The tour will include views through the 40 cm reflecting telescope. Participation is limited to 25 persons so reserve your spot on the sign-up sheet before the public astronomy lecture.

January 11

• Halifax Planetarium Shows: At 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., free public sky shows will be presented by volunteers from the Dalhousie University Department of Physics & Atmospheric Science and the RASC Halifax Centre. It is hoped that regular public shows will be resumed early in the International Year of Astronomy. (Sir James Dunn Building, Dalhousie University, Coburg Road, Halifax, 494-2337 or 494‐2314).

• StarLab for Kids: The Discovery Centre will again present StarLab planetarium show especially geared for young astronomers. Supporting displays of telescopes and information will be provided by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. For times and more details, contact the Discovery Centre, 1593 Barrington Street, Halifax, 492-4422.

January 13

• Astronomers in the Library: At 7 p.m. at the Spring Garden Road Library, RASC Halifax Centre members Blair MacDonald and Andrea Misner will present a free talk entitled “Gravity and Black Holes.” They will also demonstrate the hands‐on “Spandex Universe,” illustrating orbital motion. This is the first in a year‐long series of talks on popular astronomy at various branches of the Halifax Public Libraries in support of the International Year of Astronomy. (Spring Garden Road Library, Halifax, (902) 490‐5700).

In addition to these events, Astronomy Nova Scotia is also sponsoring school and youth presentations during the opening week and throughout the International Year of Astronomy.

For a detailed listing of International Year of Astronomy events around Nova Scotia (and links

to events around the world), please visit: www.astronomynovascotia.ca

Astronomy Nova Scotia is a collaboration of organizatins that includes the Department of Astronomy & Physics at Saint Mary's University as well as the Halifax Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Halifax Public Libraries, Minas Astronomy Group, Discovery Centre (Nova Scotia's Hands-On Science Centre) and the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca