The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Friends of the DAO and the Royal BC Museum present
International Astronomy Day
at the Royal BC Museum and Observatory Hill, Victoria, BC, Canada
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Amazing Astronomical Activities for all Ages!
Free admission (regular rates apply to Museum exhibits)
2025 Astronomy Day Poster – 17Mb PDF, 8Mb PDF
News Release – Press contact: Randy Enkin (email) (250) 588-4904
Royal BC Museum – 10AM to 3PM – event
675 Belleville Street, Victoria
- Intractive activities outside on the plaza
- View the Sun safely through solar telescopes (weather permitting)
- Ask an Astronomer – find answers to those questions about astronomy and space you always wanted to ask
- Interactive activities inside in Clifford Carl Hall (Museum main level)
- RASC Welcome Table – ask questions, get free stuff
- Telescope show-and-tell – try out telescopes and ask questions
- Astrophotography – take photos of the night sky with your own camera and see our members’ work
- Children and families astro crafts – kids make their own astronomy and space souvenirs
- Ask an Astronomer – find answers to those questions about astronomy and space you always wanted to ask
- Responsible Lighting – get pointers on how to reduce your own light pollution, and feel better for it
- UVic Astronomy & Physics – interactive astronomy for students
- Science Venture – hands-on, minds-on science, engineering and technology learning opportunities for youth entering grades 1 through 12 (STEM). Experience the Spiro Mars Rovers (robots)!
- Camosun College Astronomy – astronomy courses, university transfer
- Shawnigan Lake School – physics and astronomy
- Stellarium Sky Simulation – interactive planetarium to explore the Universe
- Centre of the Universe – Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
- Cosmic Series at IMAX – Celebrate Astronomy with a cinematic voyage through space. Regular admission rates to IMAX apply. May 2-4 & 8, 2025.
Public Lectures in Newcombe Auditorium
10:30 am – The Language of the Stars – Nathan Hellner-Mestelman
If you were tasked with texting an alien civilization, where would you begin? In this whimsical yet profound trip through cosmic history, we’ll analyze what life has shared in common since day one. From paired-up particles to brains and wings, planetary pinball to proteins, and even a shared understanding of math, we and alien life might realize we’ve got a lot more in common than we expect!
Bio: Nathan Hellner-Mestelman is a Grade 12 student at Mount Douglas passionate about pursuing cosmology and astrophysics, a proud nerd, and the author of the popular science books Cosmic Wonder and The Language of the Stars. He’s a lover of poetry, camping and standup comedy; he lives in Victoria with his two cats and family.
11:30 am – Imaging Saturn through its Orbit – Brock Johnston
Brock will be speaking about both his journey learning about planetary imaging, and Saturn’s journey through its orbit and how that affects how we see it.
Brock Johnston is a board member of the FDAO and a RASC member with a life-long interest in the night sky. He has both Mechanical Engineering and Economics degrees from UVic and is presently the Director of Innovation & Development at FLT, a local manufacturer of solar lighting products. For the past 25 years he has been designing products in the vibrant Victoria tech community, with a focus on solar powered lighting & signaling. He enjoys seeing his creations in use around the world. He’s also an avid mountain biker, enjoying the local trails as often as possible.
Brock has always been passionate about science and interested in astronomy, with a penchant for sharing his interest. He has fond memories of setting up his small telescope at his family’s beach resort on Saratoga Beach and showing Saturn & Jupiter to guests in late August. He enjoys sharing scientific subjects with the public and believes sound epistemology, rooted in science, is critical for the future of our pale blue dot. His favorite constellation is Orion both for its appearance with the naked eye and the wealth of interesting features visible through a telescope. He only wishes he got to see it more often through the winter weather here in Victoria, but maybe that’s part of the appeal.
12:30 pm – Sir James Douglas…Astronomer…Black Pioneer…Politician – Amy Archer
Amy will be speaking about Sir James Douglas, and black pioneer and the first governor of Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
Bio: Amy is the Vice Chair of the Centre of the Universe, located near the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, BC, and has been involved with the organization for the past 7 years. Amy is a first generation Canadian with roots from Trinidad and Tobago, she was born in Edmonton, Alberta and has spent most of her life on the West Coast. Amy is the mother of one inquisitive teenager, whom she is always learning from. She has a love for her community and is always looking for opportunities to make the world a little better for her daughter and future generations.
1:30 pm – Canada and the Hubble Space Telescope – Dr. Chris Gainor
The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe in the 35 years it has been in space. Throughout the history of the Hubble telescope, Canadian astronomers and experts have played important roles in its work that has given Canada a major role in space astronomy. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Hubble telescope played a role in the creation of the Canadarm and the extension of the internet to Canada.
Bio: Chris Gainor is the author of the official NASA History of Hubble Space Telescope Operations and of five other books. He has served as national president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and as president of the RASC Victoria Centre. He is the editor of Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly. Chris holds a Ph.D. in the History of Technology from the University of Alberta.
Star Party at the Centre of the Universe – 7:30PM-11:00PM – event
Children’s Programming and Dome Tours
Observing the Cold Universe with ALMA – Dr. Gerald Schieven, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
RASC National Global Star Party – May 3, 2025 4-8PM Pacific Time
News and media coverage
Greater Victoria explores cosmos at International Astronomy Day events – Victoria News