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| - The RASC is the primary research facility for the University of Calgary's Department of Physics and Astronomy. Approximately once a month, they host an event that is open to the general public.
The RASC and TELUS World of Science have partnered up to host a variety of events this year as 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. More info is available at http://www.astronomy2009.org/ . So there are actually more events this year than usual.
My companions and I attended the Radio Astronomy night. This visit was inspired by a Japanese show I've been watching about an astronomy club.
The observatory is a little hard to find in the dark. Yes, there is a sign but you don't see it until AFTER you drive past it. It would help if there were more lights on Highway 22 South. It would help if there were actual lights on that stretch of road. At least lights around the sign. And at least a sign saying "Rothney Astrophysical Observatory - 1 km" and then "Rothney Astrophysical Observatory - 500 m". Not just the sign right at the entrance.
What a nifty setup. For $20/car, you get to learn all about galaxies "far, far away". Snacks are dirt cheap. Coke, Barq's and chocolate bars for $1 each? Unheard of.
Inside, the hall was jam packed with everyone from young kids to their grandparents (and everyone in between). The screen shots were funky and the topic was interesting enough. The delivery? It was a little, no, it was REALLY DRY.
The fun part is outside. Follow the little red lights leading to the telescopes. The Baker-Nunn telescope is the only telescope in Canada dedicated to scoping out potential killer asteroids. Too bad it couldn't shoot them out of the sky like the Starship Enterprise.
I digress. For such a large instrument, the telescope moves quietly, while the observatory doors "ka-chunk" along. The telescope was trying to zoom in on Jupiter, but it was too low in the sky. It was also acting a little strange so the staff and students were in the viewing room troubleshooting. For a normal bystander, being in the back of that room was pretty darn exciting.
The smaller telescope in the other building was able to deliver viewers a glimpse of Jupiter. The operator told us that particular telescope can be controlled remotely. Use the Force, make telescope move, they can.
Members of the RAO Society had several telescopes lined up. Most were pointing at the waxing moon, which shines ever so brightly in the countryside. We could see the mares the presenter spoke of.
One telescope offered visitors a glimpse of the Andromeda galaxy and the M32 galaxy. They were bright dots with a lot of fuzzy light around them. Distinctly different from a star. It had me wishing for my own Stargate.
The stars are so bright and beautiful when you step out of the city. No smog, no streetlights, no honking cars or sirens. Just the silence of the countryside and those shimmering stars peppering a blanket of darkness.
Those free hot bevvies are a welcome treat after standing in the nippy fall air.
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