| Date |
Show Description |
Reservations |
| October 19, 2011 |
| The Case of the Missing Planet |
| In 2006, Pluto got demoted from planetary status. Now we only have eight planets in our Solar System. What happened?! This show will take you on a journey to the mysterious astronomical objects that we find in the furthest reaches of our Solar System. We will explore what we know about this former planet, what we hope to discover in an upcoming mission to Pluto, and discuss the events and controversies around the decision to make Pluto a dwarf planet. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
Reserve Tickets |
| October 26, 2011 |
| Astronomy in the Movies |
| Explosions. Spaceships. Aliens. Evil Sith Lords. Explosions. These few words are usually all that is needed to describe Hollywood’s view of astronomy and space science. Yet, there is a lot of interesting, and sometimes surprisingly accurate astronomy and physics that is evident when settling down onto your couch with popcorn and a good Science Fiction flick. Come along to the McCallion Planetarium to learn about astronomy through the eyes of some of our favourite movies. Could Dr. Arroway really have been contacted by alien species through a radio telescope? What is a radio telescope anyway? Would we really need to send a team of astronauts to drill into an asteroid? Are the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field really 3720 to 1? How would we travel to alien worlds? |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| November 02, 2011 |
| Cosmic Collisions |
| Whether it is the formation of our Moon by a violent collision involving a still-forming Earth, the massive asteroid impact which caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, or the eventual merger of our nearest neighbouring galaxy with our own Milky Way Galaxy, cosmic collisions are happening everywhere throughout the Universe. Join us as we learn about collision theories and explore explosive events – both past and future. You will be amazed by the chaos in the early Universe and be left in awe of what beauty such destruction can hold. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| November 10, 2011 |
| The Milky Way: More Than Meets the Eye |
| (Please note that this event is on a Thursday, not the usual Wednesday.) Have you ever been curious about the spectacular, “Milky” stream of stars crossing our night sky? Have you ever wondered what our Galaxy looks like from the outside, or what mysteries lie at the centre? Join us, as we explore some of the major historical breakthroughs in our understanding of our host galaxy, such as determining the size of the Galaxy, our location within it, and the role of dark matter. We will also discuss the various components of the Milky Way, learn about the different types of astronomical objects within it, and how the Galaxy appears at different wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| November 16, 2011 |
| A Tale of Two Voyagers |
| Between the years of 1977 and 1989, the probes Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 explored the 4 gas giants in our Solar System, along with 48 of their moons. Now approaching the very edges of the heliosphere, the Voyagers represent the two furthest man-made objects from Earth. Come follow in the footsteps of the Voyagers and explore the 4 largest planets in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. We will also explore their respective satellites, including the difficult decision which sent Voyager 1 off course and out of the Ecliptic. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| November 23, 2011 |
| Revealing the Hot Universe: The Shocking Truth |
| The Universe is filled with many objects that release large amounts of energy. Join us as we explore some of these objects such as supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, high mass X-ray binaries, black holes and neutron stars. Discover how these spectacular objects impact the evolution of the Universe. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| November 30, 2011 |
| Introductory Astronomy for Kids |
| Join us at the planetarium for a show especially geared towards a younger audience (around 8-15years old) and their family members. We’ll first take you on a tour around the night skies seen from Hamilton, and then on to the planets in our Solar System. Along the way, other fascinating objects inside and outside of our own Galaxy will also be shown if time and interest permit. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| December 07, 2011 |
| Festive Skies |
| The festive season looms as the nights draw in and we get closer to the winter solstice. Join us in the planetarium for a repeat of last year’s popular show to learn about the season’s skies – both past and present. Discover why we have seasons and why we see different constellations at different times of the year, and then explore one of the greatest astronomical mysteries: the Star of Bethlehem. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
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| December 14, 2011 |
| Festive Skies |
| The festive season looms as the nights draw in and we get closer to the winter solstice. Join us in the planetarium for a repeat of last year’s popular show to learn about the season’s skies – both past and present. Discover why we have seasons and why we see different constellations at different times of the year, and then explore one of the greatest astronomical mysteries: the Star of Bethlehem. |
| Show Times: 7:00 pm 8:15 pm |
|
Reserve Tickets |
