Physics & Astronomy Archives - Faculty of Science

Open Air Astro Fair fosters learning, local support for 91��ɫ U observatory

abanerj7 — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:50:44 +0000

A collective passion for the cosmos is driving a fundraising initiative that aims to support the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at 91��ɫ while fostering community involvement in scientific exploration.

The Open Air Astro Fair – which takes place from 5 to 11 p.m. on the first clear day between June 24 and July 4 at 91��ɫ’s Keele Campus – offers a unique opportunity for the 91��ɫ and extended community to celebrate the wonders of astronomy while contributing to the observatory's ongoing operations.

^{Community members of all ages will have an opportunity to engage with astronomy at the Open Air Astro Fair.}

The one-day fundraiser, which is expected to attract more than 500 attendees, will feature interactive displays and educational activities designed to spark curiosity about the cosmos. Attendees will have the chance to experience solar observation during the day and lunar viewing at night, with some participating vendors showcasing their products aimed at promoting science and astronomy awareness.

91��ɫ will be transformed into a vibrant hub of scientific inquiry where participants can see demonstrations showcasing solar observation, interactive games and hands-on activities suitable for all ages. The fair will feature opportunities for visitors to learn about sunspots, solar conventions and even construct their own astronomical fortune tellers. Activities will span across two locations of the Keele Campus – the Observatory Atrium atop the Arboretum Parking Garage and Allan I. Carswell Observatory Domes.

^{Elaina Hyde}

“The fair's focus on collaborative learning aims to encourage a sense of community through shared experiences in science and education,” says Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory.

Ticket purchases will facilitate repairs and essential maintenance for the observatory over the summer months. Each $30 ticket will fund Astronomy in Action’s planetarium shows, cover event costs and contribute to the observatory’s fundraising goals.

Hyde notes that several local and national partners are collaborating for this inaugural event, including three Canadian companies exhibiting at the fair.

If skies remain cloudy, a “no-go” notice will be published on the event website and sent to ticket holders by 9 a.m. daily, ensuring timely communication. If the event needs to be rescheduled due to inclement weather, tickets will automatically transfer to the following day's conditions, allowing for flexibility for those intending to visit.

“By drawing people in through the allure of the cosmos, the Open Air Astro Fair demonstrates 91��ɫ’s commitment to engaging communities in science and discovery,” says Hyde.

Tickets for the Open Air Astro Fair are .

Courtesy of Yfile

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91��ɫ U joins elite international astronomy team to research secrets of the universe

abanerj7 — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:03:51 +0000

91��ɫ will play a leading role in a new national program supporting Canada’s first-ever Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Scientists – a program that funds early-career astronomers contributing to an international radio astronomy research initiative.

Announced by the National Research Council Canada (NRC), the Canadian SKA Scientist Program supports future leaders in conducting cutting-edge research to explore some of the universe’s biggest mysteries.

Fengqiu (Adam) Dong will conduct advanced research on radio pulsars in 91��ɫ’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, as part of the Canadian SKA Scientist Program.

^{Paul Scholz}

^{Adam Dong}

Dong, currently a National Radio Astronomy Observatory Jansky Fellow at the U.S.-based Green Bank Observatory, completed his PhD at the University of British Columbia.

Dong’s research focuses on pulsars – dense, rotating remnants of massive stars that emit rhythmic bursts of radiation. At 91��ɫ, he will work with mentor Paul Scholz, assistant professor in the Department of Physic and Astronomy, whose work explores pulsars, magnetars and fast radio bursts – brief, powerful flashes of radio waves from beyond our galaxy.

Together, they will contribute to the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) initiative over a term of three to five years.

"I'm honoured and excited to play a role in bringing Canada to the forefront of this once-in-a-lifetime instrument,” says Dong. “SKA is the future of radio astronomy for the next decade. It will revolutionize our understanding of the universe, much like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes have done for optical and infrared astronomy."

The SKA is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope arrays, with facilities in South Africa and Australia. Once operational, the SKA Observatory (SKAO) is expected to transform understanding of the universe. Canada is one of the project’s member countries, represented by the NRC and supported through national partnerships with universities and researchers.

“The Canadian SKA Scientists will be the future leaders in the revolutionary science that will come out of the SKA,” says Scholz. “In his role, Adam will enhance and broaden the radio astronomy expertise at 91��ɫ and significantly bolster our involvement in the SKA.”

Canadian SKA Scientist participants receive mentorship from both a university-based expert and the NRC, with the goal of building a national network of researchers contributing to the SKA.

According to NRC program lead Michael Rupen, the initiative is designed to support early-career scientists while ensuring Canadian researchers have equitable access to SKA science. Dong joins Alice Curtin, a PhD candidate at McGill University, as the first two researchers selected for the program.

A second call for applications is expected in fall 2025, with subsequent rounds to follow annually.

Courtesy of Yfile

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How a forgotten manuscript brought Canada’s radio astronomy story to light

abanerj7 — Fri, 23 May 2025 12:39:50 +0000

When 91��ɫ natural science Professor Richard Jarrell died suddenly in 2013, he left behind an unfinished manuscript and a box of tapes – a chronicle of how Canada found its place in the world of radio astronomy, the study of using massive antennas to tune in to the universe’s faintest signals.

For years, the story remained incomplete, its pages gathering dust.

Richard Jarrell

That changed only recently, when astronomer Elizabeth Griffin took on the task of finishing what Jarrell had started. “Richard had a vision for telling the story of Canadian radio astronomy. He’d done the interviews, gathered the research, but the narrative was still waiting to be shaped,” says Griffin, who is internationally recognized for her research on binary stars and her efforts to preserve historic astronomical data.

With support from his wife, Martha Jarrell, and colleagues from across Canada’s astronomical community, Griffin pieced together the book Richard never got to finish. The result, (Springer Nature, December 2024), documents how Canadian radio astronomy grew from one physicist’s research into a field of international prominence – grounded in Richard's meticulous research and first-hand accounts from pioneers in the field.

Martha Jarrell, who has acted as steward of her husband’s archival legacy, says his passion for science was inseparable from his daily life. She describes how, as a child, Richard devoured astronomy magazines in German, wrote and sold his own astronomy book door-to-door, and painted constellations in phosphorescent paint on his bedroom ceiling.

Later in life, he brought home telescopes from 91��ɫ – where he was a professor in the Faculty of Science – to share the night sky with his sons, built model Apollo capsules for them to play in and turned family hikes into lessons in botany and geology. “During road trips and other outings, he explained the geological origins of road cuts and bodies of water,” she says. “He gave talks to schools, Scouts, environmental groups and other public groups.”

His passion for history was just as present. Museum visits, cemetery explorations and family history research became shared adventures. Born in 1946, Richard traced his family roots in the neighbouring northeastern Ontario communities of Cobalt and Haileybury, where his great-grandmother died in the Great Fire of 1922. Inspired by stories from his own father, who served in the Second World War, he helped his elder son build a model of the USS South Dakota, a celebrated American battleship. Alongside these family pursuits, Richard was also active in his community, volunteering on local committees in Markham and supporting efforts to preserve local history and promote Canadian science.

At 91��ɫ, Richard's influence was wide-ranging. He designed and taught courses that bridged astronomy, science, technology and society. He co-founded the Canadian Science and Technology Historical Association, edited its journal and played a key role in building the field of Canadian science history. His publication record – two monographs, eight edited volumes, more than 80 chapters and articles – was matched by his commitment to teaching and mentoring. “He worked with 91��ɫ faculty to turn the Science and Technology Studies Division into a department, the only undergraduate degree-granting program in Canada,” Martha says.

Richard's dedication to building Canadian science was evident in every aspect of his career, and it was this same dedication that guided the work left unfinished at his death. While completing Radio Astronomy in Canada without Richard's direct input was admittedly a challenge for Griffin, she credits the extensive interviews and research he left behind for helping bridge the gap between the perspective of research scientists and his broader, contextual approach to science history. The resulting book, Griffin observes, “shows how Canada’s proficiency developed from a one-man experiment to leadership in international projects – a story of growth, expertise and still more growth.”

Martha believes her late husband would be proud. “Based on his lifelong fascination with astronomy and being a champion of the importance of documenting its discoveries, he wanted people to learn about the wonder of the cosmos through the work of this lesser-known, younger sibling of optical astronomy.

"He’d feel grateful that his determination to educate Canadians about this country’s radio astronomical work had come to fruition.”

Courtesy of YFile

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Stargazing gets social: new partnership is changing astronomy at 91��ɫ

abanerj7 — Fri, 02 May 2025 13:03:02 +0000

This spring, 91��ɫ’s Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory (AICO) is drawing record crowds – not just from students, but from across Toronto’s astronomy community.

The reason isn’t a rare celestial event, but a new partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Toronto Centre (RASCTO). For the first time, the observatory’s powerful one-metre telescope is open to RASC members and the public, marking a shift in how the University shares the night sky.

“We’re seeing new faces and new energy,” says observatory director Elaina Hyde, an associate professor in the Faculty of Science who notes that RASC members are now applying for telescope time and joining 91��ɫ-led public observing sessions at Downsview Park. The partnership, she says, is changing the atmosphere at 91��ɫ U – making astronomy more open and the conversations more lively.

The shift is especially apparent during 91��ɫ’s Recreational Astronomy Nights, a monthly event typically held on the first Wednesday of each month. Hosted in collaboration with RASC Toronto Centre, these sessions invite everyone – students, amateur astronomers and those who are simply curious – to gather in person or online for presentations, tutorials and hands-on demonstrations.

“Having the Recreational Astronomy Nights at 91��ɫ gives students an opportunity to meet RASC members who can communicate their enthusiasm for astronomy,” says Ralph Chou, executive officer for RASC Toronto Centre. He sees these monthly gatherings as “a form of citizen science that complements what the students are learning about in their classes.”

^{Elaina Hyde}

Once a niche campus event, Recreational Astronomy Night now draws a broader crowd and encourages deeper conversations about the cosmos. The next session, , will give the public a chance to experience this new dynamic firsthand, with RASC members and 91��ɫ astronomers sharing projects and tips in Room 317 of the Petrie Science Building, as well as online. After the meeting, visitors can join weekly public stargazing in 91��ɫ’s Arboretum – another example of how the partnership is making astronomy more accessible.

This approach reflects a broader trend in Canadian science outreach: making research infrastructure available to the public, even in urban environments where light pollution is a constant adversary. 91��ɫ’s advanced telescopes offer a rare, hands-on look at the night sky.

“The observatory’s facilities give the public a hands-on experience of looking at celestial objects with state-of-the-art equipment,” Chou says. “Even in the city, you can still make useful observations.”

That spirit of openness will be on full display at the 91��ɫ AICO Open Air Astro Fair, planned for the first clear night between June 24 and July 4. Running from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Keele Campus, the fair will feature solar observing, night sky viewing, planetarium shows, interactive booths and activities for all ages. RASC Toronto Centre will be on hand with telescopes for both solar and nighttime viewing, while 91��ɫ’s own astronomers will lead workshops and demonstrations throughout the evening.

As with any stargazing event, success will depend on the cooperation of the weather – a perennial challenge for astronomers in Toronto. For now, Hyde and Chou are watching the forecast – and the growing crowds – as 91��ɫ’s astronomy community looks upward.

Courtesy of Yfile

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Cosmic honour for 91��ɫ U astrophysicist

abanerj7 — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:20:14 +0000

In the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, an asteroid measuring up to 1.5 kilometres across quietly traces its orbit, tilted 15 degrees from the planetary plane.

This celestial body, officially named Marshall McCall, honours a 91��ɫ Faculty of Science professor emeritus whose research has illuminated the intricate structures of galaxies and their evolution.

^{Marshall McCall}

For McCall, the recognition carries personal significance. “I was deeply honoured,” he says. “The recognition makes me feel that my work in astronomy had some value.”

The initiative to name the asteroid was led by Canadian astronomers Paul Wiegert (a former postdoctoral fellow at 91��ɫ U) and David Balam, who sought to recognize McCall’s contributions to astronomy. “Marshall McCall’s research has had a lasting impact on our field,” says Balam, an asteroid hunter based in British Columbia who first encountered McCall’s work decades ago.

McCall’s fascination with the universe began on Vancouver Island, where he pursued an undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria before earning his PhD at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1988, he joined 91��ɫ’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, where he not only advanced research, but also helped shape academic programs that have inspired generations of astronomers.

Among those mentored by McCall was Wiegert, now a professor at Western University. “My time at 91��ɫ deeply shaped my career,” Wiegert says. “It’s a true pleasure for me to have been involved in naming an asteroid after Marshall McCall. This feels like a meaningful way to give back to that community.”

McCall’s scientific career is marked by discoveries that have revealed hidden gems in the cosmos. While studying galaxies whose light is obscured by interstellar dust within the Milky Way, McCall and Ronald Buta of the University of Alabama identified four previously unknown celestial objects. Named MB 1, MB 2, MB 3 and MB 4 – after their initials – the discoveries include two nearby galaxies (MB 1 and MB 3) located just 10 million light years away. MB 2, once thought to be a galaxy, turned out to be an unusual nebula within the Milky Way whose origin remains a puzzle. MB 4 is another nebula, likely formed from gas expelled during the birth of twin stars. “You never know what you will find when you penetrate the fog,” McCall says, capturing the thrill of exploring the unknown.

Building on his discovery of MB 1 and MB 3, McCall’s work mapping galaxies within 30 million light years of Earth uncovered larger patterns that reshaped how astronomers view the cosmic landscape. Among these findings, he confirmed that the Milky Way is embedded in a vast, flattened arrangement of galaxies known as the “Local Sheet,” a structure stretching 34 million light years across but only 1.5 million light years thick.

He also identified the “Council of Giants,” a ring of massive galaxies 24 million light years in diameter encircling the Milky Way and its companion Andromeda. These galaxies act as cosmic gatekeepers, siphoning intergalactic material away from the “Local Group” and limiting its ability to grow.

McCall’s work reflects a deep curiosity about the universe’s interconnected structures.

In a public lecture, he outlined how the Milky Way fits into the broader celestial arrangement: “We live on a planet around a star in a galaxy in the ‘Local Group,’ encompassed by the ‘Council of Giants of the Local Sheet’ next to the ‘Local Void’ at the periphery of the ‘Local Supercluster of Laniakea.’”

While these terms are technical, they describe how galaxies like ours are shaped by their surroundings – how gravitational forces and spatial patterns influence their evolution within the vast cosmic web.

For those who have worked alongside him or followed in his footsteps, McCall’s contributions transcend scientific achievements; they represent landmark discoveries that inspire further exploration and wonder. Now immortalized by an asteroid bearing his name, his legacy reaches beyond Earth into the cosmos he has spent his life studying.

“It is nice to feel that my efforts were not completely in vain and that there will be a memory of them up there when I am gone,” McCall says. “Most importantly, I feel privileged to have had even had this chance – to seek knowledge for its own sake as part of a society willing to enable such pursuits.”

McCall joins a distinguished group of 91��ɫ faculty members who have had asteroids named after them, including: Professor Emeritus Paul Delaney, Professor Michael Daly, Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering; Professor Patrick Hall, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science; the late Professor Emeritus Kim Innanen, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science; and the late Professor Richard Jarrell, Department of Science, Technology & Society, Faculty of Science.

Courtesy of YFile

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91��ɫ U prof makes astronomy history with largest-ever observation grant

abanerj7 — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:06:00 +0000

Adam Muzzin, a professor at 91��ɫ's Faculty of Science, is "over the moon" about making astronomy history.

Granted 260 primary hours and 127 parallel hours of observation time with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) – which is orbiting in space near the sun – means Muzzin is the recipient of the largest single program ever given to an observer. He will use the JWST to study the universe's most distant galaxies and the first stars – in order to enhance our understanding of cosmic history.

^{Adam Muzzin}

Muzzin knew the science from this program could be revolutionary if approved, but the size of his request made it a longshot. Securing any amount of time with the world’s most powerful telescope is highly competitive – only 10 per cent of applications are successful – and he was asking for nearly six times his previous allocation in 2023 to explore the depths of the universe.

His new request would expand on Muzzin and his team’s earlier researcher with JWST’s multi-colour imagery, which uses multiple filters to produce detailed and highly colorized images of distant galaxies, revealing cosmic objects previously hidden from traditional methods.

The previous project looked at three small pieces of the sky. The new one proposed to survey a much larger region of the sky – approximately 20 times larger – as long as the JWST time request panel agreed to it.

Then the news came.

"I almost fell out of my chair," Muzzin says. When he was informed of the approval, his cry of joy was so loud his graduate students came running down the hall outside his office to check if he was okay.

It was a milestone achivement.

With the new historic allocation – the largest JWST has ever given – Muzzin and his team will conduct an extensive astronomical survey with an eye towards, among other goals, capturing images of distant galaxies and uncovering the first stars that formed after the Big Bang.

^{James Webb Space Telescope (image by NASA)}

“They have to be out there, but we’ve never seen them,” says Muzzin. “This program gives us arguably our best shot at finding them.”

Detecting these stars is challenging because they lived in the early universe and had short lifespans. Muzzin’s program is uniquely positioned to discover these stars by capturing subtle color variations that indicate their presence. Identifying the stars, he says, will prove essential for understanding how the universe evolved, as they are the origin of all the heavier elements found today. “This is about uncovering the origin story of our galaxy, our sun and ultimately, humanity,” says Muzzin.

Muzzin is thrilled not just for the opportunity for himself and his team, but for the chance to produce important data for the wider scientific community. The JWST is part of a treasury program, which means any data Muzzin’s allocation produces will be made publicly available for future research long after the program’s completion. “That’s very gratifying,” he says.

But, it’s not just that. As a colleague told him: “A program of this size is really making astronomy history.”

Courtesy of YFile

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Postdoctoral fellow receives prestigious physics prize lectureship

abanerj7 — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:32:44 +0000

^{Chapin Korosec}

Congratulations to postdoctoral fellow Chapin Korosec, Department of Mathematics & Statistics, who has received the Michelson Postdoctoral Prize Lectureship for his exceptional early-career research achievements during his PhD in physics.

Read the full story in YFile.

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Faculty of Science prof launches 91��ɫ U’s first astronomy podcast

abanerj7 — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:45:23 +0000

Elaina Hyde, a professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Science and director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory, has launched 91��ɫ’s first-ever podcast dedicated to astronomy.

Hyde’s existing Monday night audio program, “91��ɫ Universe” – already boasting an archive of more than 500 episodes as a radio show, internet program and YouTube broadcast – can now be found on all podcast-streaming platforms, further expanding its potential reach and impact. Listeners can join the Allan I. Carswell Observatory’s group of professors, students and alumni for an astronomical adventure, covering history, news and telescope-viewing insights.

^{Elaina Hyde}

“91��ɫ Universe” started in 2009 as an online radio show on astronomy.fm. When that station went off air in 2023, the show’s audio broadcast was incorporated into the Observatory’s online public viewing program on YouTube. Since radio shows have been reaching fewer and fewer members of the public, and podcasts have conversely risen in popularity, the Observatory realized offering the show in podcast format was the natural next step.

With a team of seven regular hosts and 10 repeating guests, the podcast covers topics including what the Observatory is up to, current research at 91��ɫ U and life on other planets. Some recent episodes have focused on retro rockets and spooky stars – a Halloween episode that coincided with the Observatory’s Halloween event.

“Since most of the hosts, cohosts and organizers of ‘91��ɫ Universe’ are current 91��ɫ students and Observatory alumni, it is a great chance for the community to share in the accomplishments of some of our most accomplished grads – and undergrads,” says Hyde. “The student perspective and knowledge included in the broadcasts offers a chance for everyone to join in the exciting Observatory discoveries and observations.”

All episodes of “91��ɫ Universe” are recorded live from the Allan I. Carswell Observatory on 91��ɫ’s Keele Campus, making it easy for students and researchers to join in person. Videoconferencing programs like Zoom make it possible to welcome guests from anywhere in the world.

Past guest speakers have included Blake Nancarrow from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (episode 512), and science communicators Emily Lakdawalla (episode 270), Sara Mazrouei (episode 124), David Levy (episode 117) and many more.

Looking ahead, listeners can look forward to more interesting guests and more astronomy news in the episodes to come. Given astronomy’s new focus on machine learning and data science, Hyde and her team plan to provide a window into some of the latest developments in those fields.

“One of our big plans for 2025 is to set up an episode from our Killarney Provincial Park collaborators in Ontario,” explains Hyde, referring to the Allan I. Carswell Astronomer in Residence program held annually at Killarney’s dark sky preserve. “We are looking forward to bringing one of our astronomers live from the site during residence to discuss astronomy, stargazing and, of course, the telescopes.”

The team also plans to convert past archived episodes of the show into podcast format, increasing the public’s access to valuable astronomical information.

“Reaching into the fields of history, physics, chemistry and biology is one of the things that astronomy does best,” says Hyde. “With the ‘91��ɫ Universe’ podcast, we can do all of that and include a 91��ɫ perspective as well. With this new format, we hope to reach a wider audience of both student scientists and science communicators.”

The “91��ɫ Universe” podcast is available on the and can be streamed on all podcast platforms. The live broadcast takes place every Monday night at 9 p.m. on YouTube in conjunction with the Observatory’s online public viewing program, where live or archival images from the telescope are shown, depending on the weather.

With files from Elaina Hyde

Courtesy of YFile

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91��ɫ professor emeritus gets asteroid named after him

abanerj7 — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:30:29 +0000

An asteroid first discovered more than 20 years ago has now received a new name: Asteroid (700818) Pauldelaney.

The naming honours 91��ɫ Professor Emeritus Paul Delaney, who was a faculty member in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science, for 35 years before retiring in 2021. Delaney was the director of the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory and the inaugural Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy at 91��ɫ. His passion for teaching and community engagement led to him receiving the Sandford Fleming Medal for excellence in science communication and the Qilak Award for Astronomy Outreach and Communication.

^{Paul Delaney}

The discoverer of the asteroid, Canadian astronomer Dave Balam, who is a former colleague and longtime collaborator of Delaney’s, led the naming effort.

“I’ve known Paul since his graduate student days at the University of Victoria,” said Balam, who is now based at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, B.C. “Aside from my personal friendship with Paul, I decided to name the minor planet owing to his public outreach activities for the public understanding of astronomy and current astronomical events.”

Balam first discovered the asteroid (initially named 2003 OE34) on July 31, 2003, using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope located on Mauna Kea mountain in Hawaii. The object is in a typical main asteroid belt orbit, located midway between the planets Mars and Jupiter, and orbiting the sun about every four and a half years. It’s considered small, likely a little less than one kilometre in diameter, and while no image exists, it’s probably irregularly shaped, like a potato.

The naming of small asteroids is overseen by a committee of the International Astronomical Union called the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN). Namings become official after their publication in the , in which Delaney’s appears in the Nov. 4 issue.

Delaney joins a distinguished group of 91��ɫ faculty members who have had asteroids named after them, including: Professor Michael Daly, Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering; Professor Patrick Hall, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science; the late Professor Emeritus Kim Innanen, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Science; and the late Professor Richard Jarrell, Department of Science, Technology & Society, Faculty of Science.

Courtesy of YFile

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91��ɫ students shine as astronomers in residence

abanerj7 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 18:47:17 +0000

Two 91��ɫ graduate students recently made history in the annual Astronomer in Residence program, a partnership between 91��ɫ’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory and Killarney Provincial Park. Sunna Withers, finishing her master’s degree, and Anna Skrinnik, a PhD candidate, completed a combined tenure, marking a first for the initiative.

The Astronomer in Residence program allows qualified astronomers to provide astronomy tours and programming at the certified dark sky preserve located on the Georgian Bay. Now in its third year, the program continues to offer unique opportunities for aspiring astronomers.

“This one-of-a-kind combined tenure allowed our two students to tag-team on events, support each other with telescope operations and provide a wonderful experience for the general public who participated on their tours,” says Elaina Hyde, director of the Allan I. Carswell Observatory.

At Killarney, Withers and Skrinnik independently created observing campaigns, set up telescopes and developed educational materials. This hands-on experience proved invaluable, offering a rare opportunity to work under truly dark skies.

Hyde emphasizes the rarity of such an experience, even for professional astronomers, due to increasing light pollution in urban areas. She notes that viewing objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way with the naked eye can be truly inspirational.

The students’ 91��ɫ background prepared them well for this role. Hyde points out that 91��ɫ offers astronomical resources rarely found elsewhere, including the largest telescope on any Canadian campus.

Both Withers and Skrinnik have received extensive training at the observatory, with Skrinnik working on the Quail instrument mounted to the 60-centimetre telescope for her master’s thesis. This experience, combined with 91��ɫ’s weekly public viewing sessions, honed their skills in telescope operation and public outreach.

During their residency, Withers and Skrinnik captured impressive astrophotography, showcasing their work on the observatory’s blog. Their images not only highlight celestial objects but also demonstrate their ability to integrate astronomy with an appreciation for the park’s natural environment. “It was wonderful to spend time under dark skies, to see the Milky Way for the first time and to share this experience with the campers at Killarney park,” Withers says.

The students’ Drop in on the Night Sky program attracted more than 70 park visitors. “Sunna and Anna showed visitors Vega, the Ring Nebula and Saturn through the 16-inch scope,” says Kate Ward, senior park naturalist at Ontario Parks. “They did a good job adapting their delivery to different audiences, including lay people, astronomy enthusiasts and children.”

Hyde adds that the experience allowed the students to enhance their public speaking skills and gain valuable experience in setting up astronomical programming independently. “This program development is exactly what they will need to be able to do should they decide to become educators, scientists or even go into the realm of business after graduation,” she says.

Courtesy of YFile

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