Special Events
Special Events are programs that celebrate specific celestial events or festivals during the year. Evenings generally begin with a 35-minute illustrated presentation within the Administration building discussing the event. Following the presentation, the 74” telescope will be demonstrated. If the sky is clear, the dome will be opened and the telescope pointed to an appropriate celestial object for the visitors to view. Although the sky is not always clear enough for viewing, programs run regardless of the weather (i.e. - a talk and demonstration of the 74” telescope are always provided). An exhibit and/or special activites are also provided, as well as a second presentation in our SkyLab for a simulation and discussion about the current nighttime sky.
| Friday, October 31st "Halloween at the DDO" | Sign Up |
| Saturday, December 20th "Holidays at the DDO" | Sign Up |
Speaker Nights
Evenings begin with a 40-minute illustrated presentation within the Administration building on a variety of exciting astronomy topics and the history of the facility. Following the presentation, the 74” telescope will be demonstrated. If the sky is clear, the dome will be opened and the telescope pointed to an interesting celestial object for the visitors to view. Although the sky is not always clear enough for viewing, programs run regardless of the weather (i.e. - a talk and demonstration of the 74” telescope are always provided). Visitors will also be provided a second presentation in our SkyLab for a simulation and discussion about the current nighttime sky. On clear nights, smaller telescopes may be available for additional celestial viewing.
| Saturday, November 8th | Sign Up |
Family Nights
These evenings are intended for families with school-age children. The program provides an age-appropriate talk where we invite questions and audience participation to learn about exciting discoveries and celestial events. The talk is followed by a demonstration of the 74” telescope with viewing through this and other smaller telescopes as weather permits, craft activities & a simulation of the nighttime sky in our SkyLab.
| Friday, November 21st | Sign Up |
| Saturday, December 13th | Sign Up |
How to Use Your Telescope
If you have a telescope and need some guidance on how to use it, we can help! Participants get one-on-one instruction on how to use their telescope by experts in the field of astronomy.
| Friday, November 28th, 7:00 pm | Sign Up |
| Friday, November 28th, 8:30 pm | Sign Up |
Workshops
Intro to Astronomy
Explore the wonders and mysteries of the nighttime sky. What is the Milky Way? What are stars made of? How did the Earth and Moon form? Why do we believe the Universe began in a "Big Bang"? We will discuss these and other topics, as well as the underlying laws of nature and the tools we use to explore the universe. Join us on this four-week journey of cosmic discovery! No prior knowledge of Astronomy is required. All concepts and theories will be explained and your questions answered in simple language by our professional astronomers. A registered adult must accompany all registered participants under the age of 16.
We will update this page with dates and times for each course, as well as direct links for registration, as they become available.
Up in the Sky
This program provides an illustrated one-hour presentation and discussion about what exciting celestial events to look for during the season. The events and phenomena will be explained using simple language, with recommendations about how best to observe and photograph them.
| Friday, December 19th | Sign Up |
Group Bookings
Youth Service Groups (Guides, etc.)
This evening program is primarily intended for youth service groups wishing to satisfy age-appropriate merit badge requirements for Astronomy, Space Science or other Astronomy-related outdoor components. Participants learn about astronomy and space exploration and will be taught to find their way around the nighttime sky. The program includes a visit to see and learn about the 74” telescope. This program supports requirements for Science as laid out in the Ontario Schools Curriculum. Participants leave with a craft project as appropriate for their age group.
School Groups
This daytime program is offered most weekdays, consisting of an illustrated talk and discussion, and a demonstration of the 74” telescope. This program is designed to meet Grade 3, 6 and 9 Ontario Curriculum requirements for Earth and Space, Science, and Astronomy units at those grade levels in both the academic and applied streams. The Program can be tailored to other grade levels and specific content.
Private Bookings
This program is intended for community groups interested in learning about the Observatory's history & research highlights and can include a discussion about recent celestial events and discoveries, all explained in simple language.
To book any one of these programs, please use the online DDO group booking request form, provided by the City of Richmond Hill.