Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and Athabasca University present:

Star Party - An evening of Art and Stars... and maybe a little snow

The good news is the forecast for Saturday night doesn't really matter. We have lots to see and do both inside and out. And hey - we're Canadian! What's a little snow!? If things get really snowy, we will move indoors.

We recommend you dress warm, bring a lawn chair, a ground tarp, a telescope if you have one, and a small flashlight (which hopefully you use minimally). Most importantly, be ready to have fun and engage your curiosity.

6-8:00 PM - Art Walk

• AU Art Walk and open house – ARC building
• Guided tours of the ARC building with art on display
• Art celebration featuring Pirkko and Albert Karvonen 7:30-8:00 PM

8-11:00 PM National Star Party

Main Stage

Opening of the Star Party, featuring performances by:

• Kicking Horse
• The Bailey Sisters
• Ervin Beaver

Presenters and audience Q & A:

• The Creation of the Universe and the Night Sky
  Elder, Fred Campiou
• The New Solar System (featuring planets that will be viewed through telescopes later that night)
  Douglas Hube, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta, Honorary President, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
• Owls and creatures of the night (including a film)
  Albert Karvonen
• It Happened One Night in Athabasca: Why Athabasca is the best place ever for auroras... if you are lucky!
  Martin Connors, Ph.D., Professor, Athabasca University

Kids activities:

• Building a constellation viewer
• Packing for Mars
• Planet colouring

Other activities:

• Night photography
• Telescope viewing
• Telescope tune ups - An advanced amateur astronomer will run a telescope workshop teaching how to use and making sure telescopes brought by participants are working
• Owls talk and walk to observatory
• Three Food Trucks
• Popcorn and hot chocolate - Athabasca Cheer Team

We look forward to seeing you Saturday night for Athabasca's first ever National Star Party!