Category: Astronomy
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The 2024 total solar eclipse
On April 8 in the mid-afternoon, a rare astronomical event will occur for observers in Ontario: a total solar eclipse. We’ve compiled a few FAQ to ensure you’re aware of eclipse safety information and best practices should the eclipse overlap with a visit to one of our parks:
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The 2024 total solar eclipse — what is it?
Today’s post was written by Bruce Waters, former educator at the McLaughlin Planetarium and founder of the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory. Midafternoon this April 8, one of the rarest events in the universe will occur for observers in Southern Ontario: a total solar eclipse! A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the light…
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Eyes on the skies – January
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This “space” will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. The cold, crisp days of the New Year often reward us with fantastically beautiful nights, rich with bright…
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The astronomical origins of the calendar
Most of us live by our calendars to keep our schedules straight. But did you know the calendar has astronomical origins? While the constellations were, largely, created to help people remember significant star patterns, they have plenty of other uses. One of these is for the formation of the calendar.
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Health benefits of dark skies
Today’s blog comes from Senior Marketing Specialist Sarah McMichael-Chen. My most memorable camping memory didn’t come from a crackling campfire, a panoramic lookout, or a stunning sandy beach. It happened at 3:00 am at Lake Superior Provincial Park. As I stumbled out of my tent for a late-night bathroom break, I noticed something different about…
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Stars over Killarney 2023 recap: a marriage of culture, beauty, and science
Stars over Killarney is an annual festival celebrated at Killarney Provincial Park. The event’s 2023 theme — Colours in the Cosmos — was inspired by the parallels between the beauty and the colour in provincial parks and the beauty and colour of the skies above. And beautiful colour was found everywhere at this year’s event! The program took…
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Featured constellations: the epic of Andromeda and Perseus
In this month’s edition, we trace an ancient Greek myth across six constellations. The story will start high in the sky, near Polaris the North Star, and plummet far to the south.
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Eyes on the skies — November
Welcome to the Ontario Parks “Eyes on the Skies” series. This will cover a wide range of astronomy topics with a focus on what can be seen from the pristine skies found in our provincial parks. November usually brings our first snows and the opportunity for some great outdoor adventures. The early sunset and later…